For skeetos.
I’ve squished a bunch today. The kids have already been victimized by them several times. The one good thing about July and August is that they’re basically gone by then.
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Author: Gerry
Man, coordinating host files on multiple computers sucks. I wish there was a way to map computer names to IP addresses and have the other computers just query a central one for the names and addresses so I can just update host names in one spot.
Sigh.
WAIT!
That’s what DNS is for! And since I’m running a Debian server, I can just install a DNS server!!
Oh man, that’s just another thing I have to learn. Now I have to figure out about MX records and zones and new config files. Plus, what do I need a full-blown DNS server for? I’ve got a network with like, 6 computers on it including the mobile ones. So I’m going to setup a full blown DNS server, to handle my local network of 6 or so computers? That seems like a touch overkill.
I wish there was a simple alternative that could be simply configured to handle a local network. I suppose it would be perfect if it could just serve up a version of a hosts file or something and then forward non-local names to a real nameserver.
Sigh.
What’s that you say? dnsmasq? A caching DNS server? It has just 3 dependencies? It reads the hosts file as well as other files if configured to do so? It has 1 config file? With all options documented? Plus it has a DHCP server that can handle multiple networks? It automatically adds host addresses assigned via DHCP? I can probably have it running in 5 minutes? No tutorials?
Really? Can it really be that simple?
Why, yes.
Yes it can.
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On that Harvard Email…
Having read the email, I’ll say I don’t understand the controversy. Alright, on the part of the usual suspects I understand it. People are the same. Everywhere- full stop. Deviation from this dogma WILL not be tolerated. Full stop. Do not go there. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The email itself, contrary to what’s been widely reported, is not that controversial. Go ahead, read it. The argument relies on the science of intelligence. As of this day, the science hasn’t resolved anything related to race and intelligence. That’s a fact. That’s all the email says.
I’d also like to know- why does this matter? Why do we care that one race might be smarter than another? Why is it so crucial that all races be completely identical, except for those pesky physical differences? Why does it matter? If everyone is equal, isn’t the argument bolstered by the notion that even though not everyone is equally capable (physically, intellectually, whatever yardstick one chooses) everyone is born into this world with the same rights to pursue their life in a way of their own choosing?
Just an observation, but doesn’t it seem like the same ones screaming “scientific consensus” regarding global warming awfully eager to kick science to the curb regarding this topic? Why is that?
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Department of “WOW”
Via Instapundit, a British sniper set a new distance record for a kill- over a mile-and-a-half away. Twice.
He had to adjust for bullet drift by aiming 6 feet high and 20 inches left.
Amazing.
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Closures
I recently implemented a feel-good bit of functionality with my awesome window manager. I figured out how to use the builtin popup menu to drive the uzbl browser. In doing so, I thought I understood how it worked. To be thorough; however, I decided to do an investigation. I learned that my original understanding was flawed and that I had inadvertantly stumbled across a software concept I’d heard of but never properly understood- the closure.
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What’s Old is New Again
I’m sitting here trying to simply explain the He-man universe to the boy. When I was growing up we had the cartoons and my parents humored us by getting us most of the action figures and accessories. My brother and I played with them constantly- creating and destroying worlds. Even today, it’s still second nature to me. I imagine it’s the same for the brother.
The boy doesn’t have that reference to work with- so he’s sitting here fascinated by Castle Greyskull wondering how it came into being. He’s wondering what’s so special about He-man. I explain that He-man is super strong and can punch through walls. The boy wants to know if he can fly- I tell him no. Then he sits back and ponders the windows and doors in Castle Greyskull and concludes that He-man must have punched through those and how can a toy actually break rock?
So then I explain that it’s all in the imagination. That when he’s playing his toys are only limited to what he thinks they can do. That’s it’s pretend and that he can build his own universe and rules. That it’s important for him to have an imagination so that he’ll be able to look at problems and dream up solutions to them.
He turns and stares at the castle and ponders my words now.
All of this is over his head right now, but someday it won’t be.
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Tattle-Tail!
One behavior I’ve noticed in the kids that quickly drives me to drink is the tattle-tailing. It would be one thing if we got useful updates like “The boy is lighting the curtains on fire!” or “The lass is dipping the dog’s tail in milk and flour!” or “She’s drawing a picture on the couch in permanent ink!”
These are, you know, useful pieces of information that I can act on.
I had my first opportunity to eat one yesterday. I’ll save you the trouble- DO NOT EAT THEM. They are awful. Horrible. Beyond words. Really- I’m speechless.
Instead, you should immediately contact me via the comment section of this post. I will then provide mailing instructions for you to send them to ME. I can then dispose of them properly, as I have had extensive training in this sort of thing.
I repeat- DO NOT EAT REESES DARK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS. Contact me so that I can dispose of them properly.
That is all.
For whatever reason, the boy has been fixated on fishing this week. First he asked me if we had a fishing pole. We do- I was gifted one many moons ago.
Could he use it to catch fish?
No. He can’t. There is no hook on it, nor any fishing line.
Can we put that stuff on it?
Probably. I’d have to go and buy it somewhere.
Can we go get it the stuff so that we he can use the fishing pole to catch a fish? He wants to catch a fish. He’s sure he can be patient enough to catch a fish. How do you catch a fish? How do you hold it? Does the fish die when you catch it? How do you get the hook out of it’s mouth? Do all fish have teeth? Why do only some fish have teeth? Do fish bite? Does it hurt when a fish bites? How do you hold the fish so it won’t bite you ’cause it’s slippery? Can we eat the fish after he catches it? He doesn’t want to eat the fish- he’ll just keep is as a pet. I don’t have to worry, he’ll take care of it. How do you take care of a fish?
Can we go to get the stuff to catch a fish?
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Name That Song
The boy sang the following in the car on the way home:
Threader shocker,
Threader shocker,
Door may move,
Door may move,
Sunny lay martina,
Sunny lay martina,
Ding, Dang, Dong
Ding, Dang, Dong
I wish I could make that up.
Also, the kids had the following conversation:
the lass (in exaggerated, whiny tone): Mommmmaaa, I’mmmm thirrrrrsteeeeee….
the boy: Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
the lass: THAT’S ANNOYING!
the boy: Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
the lass: THAT’S ANNOYING!
the boy: Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
the lass: THAT’S ANNOYING!
the boy: Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
the lass: THAT’S ANNOYING!
the boy: Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
the lass: THAT’S ANNOYING!
the boy: Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
That’s actually the abbreviated version, lest ye think I exagerrate.
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Roethlisberger Suspended
Good.
I had doubts about whether Goodell would really crack down on him in this case. He largely proved me wrong. I’d have preferred an 8 game suspension. I also think the “good behavior” aspect of the punishment gives it less sting. Still, Roethlisberger hasn’t been convicted of any crime- yet the commissioner still chose to act. Not an insignificant precedent to set.
I guess it’s inevitable that in a league where athletic ability is prized above social maturity, there will be Roethlisbergers. It just means that the league has a responsibility to act as parent and discipline the child to make sure he learns what is acceptable behavior. The league did the right thing.
Hopefully, Roethlisberger learns the right lessons.
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Going Backwards
The current window manager I’m using, awesome, is a fork off another window manager named dwm- dynamic window manager. It’s supposed to be smaller and faster than most WM’s. I felt like awesome was becoming sluggish with some of the recent changes. Most noticably on my EEE.
So, I’ve decided to go backwards a second time and try dwm on my EEE for a bit. So far, the most interesting exercise was converting the mercurial repository to a git repository. Fortunately, there’s hg-fast-export which was easy enough to get and use. I didn’t want to get cluttered up learning another DVCS, this saved me from having to do that.
My dwm impressions later.
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Opening Day
We left around 9 for the field yesterday. Since the festivities were supposed to start at 9:30, I figured we’d be lucky if we could park near the field. Apparently, the start time is more in the “when-everyone-has-shown-up” category and it didn’t start until 10 or so.
Opening ceremonies consisted of introducing all the teams and the coaches. The most interesting thing, from my perspective, was the late addition of myself as a coach on the boy’s team. Guess that’s what I get for helping out.
The T-ball games took about 15 minutes each. Each team got to bat once. Each kid got to bat once. Getting them to run the bases was a challenge. Getting them to shag the balls that were hit was a treat. Several kids figured they could play offense and defense. They ran the base path and then chased after the ball that was hit. Good entertainment.
The boy was convinced his team had won. We certainly don’t have to worry about his competitiveness. Hopefully I can teach him to rein it in.
That was it. We were all done before noon.
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Don’t Go There
More in the amusing story genre actually. The Wife wanted the kids to go outside and play today. They drug their feet. So the Wife started counting.
She got to 3, and the kids both started scrambling to get out the door. The lass was the first to the door and she wasn’t moving fast enough to suit the boy’s taste. So he pushed her out, at which point the following exchange occurred:
the lass: HEY!! Why did you push ME?!?
the boy: Because I didn’t want Mom to get to ‘4’!
The Broncos drafted Tebow as a quarterback. That’s what they’re saying. That will be a disappointing pick. He was a good college QB because for 4 years he had superior talent around him. His receivers were faster and his running backs were better than the defenses they played against. The SEC championship game showed that when they finally ran into a team that could match their talent level. He’ll linger in the league, but not as a QB.
Donovan McNabb to the Redskins is interesting. The Eagles got worse for the next few years and McNabb likely shortened the remainder of his career by a year or two.
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Respect My Authoritah!
For those interested in being their own certificate authority, as opposed to self-signed certificates, this site is a fantastic resource. I used it a year ago to setup certificates for my mail server and I used it again today to update the certificates.
Definitely worth a read through.
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French Toast!
Proof positive that anything can be made funny.
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Thunder and Lightening
We had a small t-storm go through today. The boy is still intimidated, but not as panic-stricken. The lass is trying to convince herself that she’s afraid of thunder. Mostly because she wants someone to hold her. The Wife and I don’t buy it though.
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T-Ball- The Adventure Begins
Long day yesterday.
It started with the kids arguing about who gets to watch what cartoon. Followed by a trip to the vet for dog number 2. He’s touch excitable about these things, and whines incessantly. The silver lining is that he exhausts himself and eventually calms down and takes on the appearance of a respectable member of the canine species at that point. Until then, my ears hurt.
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The Kids Return
The kids returned home triumphantly today from their Grandparents. Cymbals crashed and horns blared as we drove down the driveway…
And then the pink monkeys flew out of my butt.
The boy’s balloon popped. Apparently, this wasn’t any old balloon. This balloon was his most treasured item ever. The one thing he had spent his 5 years on this earth wishing for. It completed his life.
Thus, when it popped, he cried. He cried while he brought it’s airless corpse up into his room. He cried while he finished unpacking all the stuff he brought to the Grandparents. He cried when he put on his pajamas. He cried harder when he threw it into the trash. He cried while he brushed his teeth. He continued crying after we kissed him goodnight.
The lass decided, seeing that the boy had already taken that act, opted for the little angel routine. She chirped and flitted about taking care of all her stuff. Brushing her teeth, examining all the work the Wife and I had done in the bedroom were all done with the utmost perkiness and cooperation. She climbed into bed without a complaint.
Life returns to normal.