So on my way to do just this-and-that, I was able to stop to take a moment in Port Orchard. It’s really beautiful here.
Just as a side note, Casey took the picture of the starfish. The water is so clear that he was able to see it, despite the fact that it was 12 feet deep into the Sound water. The starfish was at least 2 feet long – it was the largest either of us has ever seen.
So today we took a trip to Downtown Seattle. We started from Bremmerton where the Seattle Ferry picks up. I didn’t get a ton of pictures once we hit downtown, because it turned out to be close to 4pm. Because of this issue, I didn’t even get that many good pictures of the Pike’s Place Market or downtown.
However, the pictures are still fairly decent, and I’ll have an opportunity to get many more.
I’m not sure exactly where this comes from, but someone shared something with me today that I must repeat in its entirety. Read it; it’s really hilarious.
Today a representative of the DirecTV Corporation explained to me that my DVR has not been playing video back correctly for the last 6 weeks because it is snowing out today. When I expressed skepticism that snow today could cause problems for the six weeks before today, she said I’d be surprised what snow could do.
Internally, this caused me to wonder, can snow on a satellite receiver somehow reverberate through time? If as she suggested, clearing any snow from my dish would solve the problem, would it solve the problem now, or would removing the snow actually solve the problem for the last six weeks, causing my DVR to have always worked correctly? Wouldn’t that create a paradox, because then I would never have called and learned that I needed to remove the snow? Perhaps removing the snow would create a new reality where my DVR had always functioned. I wanted to pursue this further, but I doubted she had the needed understanding of quantum physics. So I asked to speak to her supervisor.
Her supervisor, however, simply said that no, snow on my dish had not echoed back in time and cuased six weeks of problems. But for a brief moment, my universe had been full of wonder and mystery at the magical possibilities of snow on a satellite dish. Or maybe I was just kind of annoyed. Get a better script for your call center, DirecTV.
[Update: this came from here.]
So I’m just wondering, is our national unemployment really at an all-time low? US Labor Board has our unemployment at a low, 8.5%, since the great national shit-pants crash of 2008. However, every time I read these statistics, I always read the fine print and notice that they measure this percentage by the number of people who are still collecting unemployment.
Let me reiterate: the 8.5% unemployment means the number of people vs. the national total who are collecting unemployment. Have you noticed that gobs of your friends, neighbors, and relatives, are complaining that their unemployment has ended, meaning that they’ve been on it since 2008, haven’t found a job, and now their grace period has run out?
So, to recap: the reported unemployment rate is going down, not directly related to whether or not it’s actually going down, but directly related to how many people are actually collecting unemployment.
I’m not suggesting that it isn’t going down; I am suggesting that this figure isn’t accurate based on how much of the nation is now officially worse off than they were in 2008 because they have both no job, and no unemployment benefits anymore. I do believe the economy is getting better, but I don’t believe it’s really at 8.5%. Really, all this number is good for is celebrating that there’s less draw on state and local government funding (Republicans, rejoice!).
What do you think? Log into Facebook and leave a comment below.
So today, I had to experience absolutely useless attempt at “advice.” You will notice here that I am <netninja>, and the user known as <jetchisel> is attempting to help me, but then later goes completely back on what he says. Here was the transpiration of what happened:
00:17 -!- Irssi: Join to #vbox was synced in 0 secs
00:18 < netninja> I’m using Ubuntu 11.10 host and Windows7 in vbox, and no matter what I try to do, when I connect a USB device and then select it inside the windows vbox, it won’t install/work. I’ve added myself to the vboxusers and installed the Utilities I’m supposed to… any thoughts?
00:19 < Jetchisel> extension packa installed?
00:19 < netninja> yes, sorry, that was what I meant by Utilities. badly worded.
00:20 < mr-rich> I was going to suggues the vboxusers thing … that’s what worked for me …
00:20 < netninja> and I’m hesitent to try and install it again, because I always end up fighting with the video portion of extensions pack to allow it to go into seamless mode afterwards.
00:20 < netninja> yeah, added to vboxusers (even when I did this initially it kept failing, I had to fight that too)
00:20 < mr-rich> did you install guest additions?
00:21 < netninja> is there a difference between the extension pack and guest additions?
00:21 < netninja> I loaded the ISO as a virtual drive. I have the vbox icon in my windows notification area. that’s to what you’re referring?
00:21 < mr-rich> you install guest addions on the guest …
00:21 < netninja> for things like USB, video, etc.
00:21 < netninja> yes
00:22 < Jetchisel> netninja: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/VirtualBox/USB
00:22 < mr-rich> Click on Devices->Install Guest Additions …
00:22 < netninja> Jetchisel: the only thing on that page relevant to my install is adding myself to vboxusers as I’ve said I already did.
00:22 < netninja> For Oneiric Ocelot 11.10
00:22 < netninja> Add yourself to the user group vboxusers, then log out and back in, to make use of available USB devices. To do this via the graphical interface, click System Settings/Users and Groups/Manage Groups.
00:23 < netninja> mr-rich: again, I’ve already done this.
00:23 < Jetchisel> which version of virutalbox and where did you get that package?
00:24 < netninja> from the virtualbox.org website
00:24 < netninja> um, 4.1.2 I believe
00:25 * netninja checks
00:26 < netninja> Virtualbox4.1.2_Ubuntu38459
00:26 < netninja> thanks to everyone that’s helping btw
00:29 < Jetchisel> vbox website has virtualbox-4.1_4.1.8-75467~Ubuntu~oneiric_
00:30 < netninja> I remember I had some problems on install
00:30 < netninja> perhaps I had gotten it from Ubuntu Software updater
00:30 < Jetchisel> netninja: your package prolly is from the your distro package
00:30 < netninja> perhaps
00:33 < netninja> however, I would have thought that, if that is the case that I did use my distro’s version, wouldn’t that have better support for my distro?
00:33 < Jetchisel> !editions
00:33 < erstazi> Jetchisel: Editions – http://virtualbox.org/wiki/Editions
00:33 < Jetchisel> see editions for that matter
00:35 < netninja> ok, well, that page doesn’t really tell me anything
00:35 < netninja> does that mean that this is a problem with my edition?
00:35 < Jetchisel> yup it eas change
00:35 < netninja> “eas change?”
00:35 < Jetchisel> i cant help with ubuntu specially if it is package by your distro
00:36 < Jetchisel> you can try the vbox website package and see if usb works
00:36 < Jetchisel> its change*
00:37 < Jetchisel> for example in opensuse the distro package does not allow usb to work by default you will have to edit some udev files from vbox itself to enable usb support and without the extension pack it is only usb 1,
00:38 < Jetchisel> dunno about *buntu but alot of folks here is using your distro maybe some of them are awake ^^
00:39 < netninja> I see
00:39 < netninja> would you recommend that I uninstall and then reinstall from the website, keeping my vhds?
00:39 < Jetchisel> yes the vdi is not remove
00:40 < netninja> but I mean, do you recommend that I reinstall the program to correct this?
00:40 < Jetchisel> yes remove the distro package and use package from vbox website
00:42 < netninja> ok, I guess I’ll try that
00:42 < netninja> thanks much for all your guidance
00:42 < netninja> I’m sure I’ll be back when/if this assplodes :P
00:43 < Jetchisel> good luck
00:43 < netninja> thanks :)[short break while netninja reinstalls]
01:43 < netninja> Jetchisel: still having exactly the same problem
01:44 < netninja> with 4.1.8
01:44 < netninja> no usb sticks working, no usb printers working, no iphone working (when selected from Devices)
01:44 < netninja> just epic fail every time
01:46 < Jetchisel> sorry you have to wait for some folks that uses your distro
01:46 < netninja> I’ve googled this problem, and every instance of the problem I seem to find has “add user to vboxusers” or whatever and that’s not it
01:46 < netninja> but I’m not using that distro now
01:46 < netninja> why do I have to wait for said “folks” when I’m not using the Software Center distro, I’m using the one from the virtualbox.org website?
01:47 < netninja> I mean, is this still assumed to be a distro problem, now that I’m not on the newer (unsupported) distro?
01:47 < Jetchisel> i dont use ubuntu so i cannot trouble shoot your issue ^^
01:48 < netninja> ok
01:48 < netninja> well, thanks for trying
01:49 < Jetchisel> mostly europe is sleeping right now and its a week end ^^
01:49 < netninja> so it *IS* still a distro problem despite the fact I used the version from the website?
01:50 < Jetchisel> as i said i im not an ubuntu user sorry
01:50 < Curly_Q> Is there a way to disable write protect from a Guest OS install?
01:50 < netninja> I’m not trying to be an asshole, but you’re not answering my question
01:51 < netninja> I’m not asking if you’re a ubuntu user, I’m asking if you’re still considering this a distro problem when before you said it was a distro problem because I installed an unsupported/unofficial version from Ubuntu’s Software Center and *NOW* I have a version installed straight off the website
01:52 < Jetchisel> i did not say anything about unsupported/unofficial, in only said that for some distro specific version you have to edit some things manually.
01:53 < netninja> um, yes you did:
01:53 < netninja> 00:40 < Jetchisel> yes remove the distro package and use package from vbox website
01:54 < Jetchisel> and? is ther anything there that unsupported/unoffical?
01:54 < netninja> you said that I should uninstall the version which was not the official version on the website, which I had gotten through Ubuntu
01:54 < netninja> now I’m on the version which you recommended
01:55 < netninja> I totally get it that you can’t help with this, and that’s fine, but I’m confused why you appear to be saying you didn’t say what you said
01:55 < Jetchisel> <Jetchisel> you can try the vbox website package and see if usb works
01:55 < netninja> riiiiight… which is what I did
01:56 < Jetchisel> there is no unsupported/unoffical in there so get it straight
01:56 < netninja> my understanding was that, in using the Ubuntu version, I had installed a distro-specific/non-official release
01:56 < netninja> so, I installed from the website
01:56 < netninja> exactly like you said
01:57 < netninja> and now I’m confused because you’re saying I have the same problem I had before, when I already corrected what you said to correct
01:58 < netninja> the version I’m NOW running is straight off the website, and not the software center (remember my previous version was NEWER than what was on the website?)
01:58 < netninja> I’m also amazed that you would say “get it straight” when I’m asking YOU to clarify
01:58 < Jetchisel> righ, good luck with your issue
01:59 < netninja> thanks
Hopefully, I’ll be able to solve this problem.
So for those of you watching the Republican Caucus primaries today in Iowa, you know what happened. It came down to eight votes. That’s it. Romney beat Santorum by eight votes (Romney with 30,015 and Santorum with 30,007), in a Caucus where over 122,000 people voted.
A lot could be said for what this will mean for the race, what this means for the country, what this means by demographic area (say, the Mid-West or so-called “Evangelical Republicans”), but before I get ahead of myself and into future blog posts, I just wanted to reiterate: it all came down to eight votes.
So I have to say, I’ve had an AiRave with Sprint now three times over the last five years. Even when I move to an area where I don’t need one, I still hold onto it, because you never know when you’re going to need it.
For those of you that don’t speak Sprint, an AiRave is a device that basically acts as a mini personal cell phone tower for your home or office, and they’re just great. If you happen on anywhere where you have an internet connection but bad cell phone coverage, an AiRave is the way to go.
Additionally, if you tell your carrier (yes, almost all carriers have them, not just Sprint; I’ve installed them for AT&T and Verizon as well) that you have no coverage and therefore need to be let out of your contract, you can pretty much get an AiRave or other carrier-specific femtocell at no charge because they’d rather give you the device on lease than lose your contract (many carriers will not force you to keep your contract if you cannot use your device where you live and/or work).
Long story short, an AiRave is a great device, and I’m so happy I’ve had one for a while. Here on the West Coast, the cell reception is spotty and this device really lets me communicate despite the bad coverage here and there.
Well, it’s the Pacific North-West, so it always rains here. While this proves to be a little less than desirable to walk a dog in, at least once the dog, say Henrik for example, is out in the rain, you can easily wash him when he comes inside. While this isn’t what one would hope for regarding a dog-walking condition, at least he gets frequent baths this way.
Today I got set up with internet, although I don’t yet have wireless. The only thing hooked to it right now is my AiRave, so at least, after I get the GPS set up on it, I’ll be able to make phone calls. Yes, the GPS has to be working fully on it or one cannot use the telephone features it is designed for. They tell me that this is to “determine which cell phone tower is closest,” but I’m pretty sure it’s so that you can’t use it overseas.
So, soon, I will have working wireless internet so that I can easily use my laptop and other computer equipment, and also my AiRave, so I can use the phone. It’s been so weird to be largely off the grid for the last few days.
So far, it’s turning out to be a pretty good setup here. Just have to finalize some health insurance stuff, get my big scary eye surgery scheduled (I have to go for my second and final Vitrectomy [image] — not a fun thing), and work on a few IT items on my todo list. All in good time, SouthSideFlash, all in good time.
Heyburn Idaho. Wow. There’s nothing here but dirt. Actually, the most interesting feature I’ve come upon so far is a cow that we just passed, but I’m not taking a picture of that because, well, it’s a cow. You know what a cow looks like, right?
As we drove along, however, the sights in Idaho got much more interesting. Around 11am, an hour or two from Boise, the pictures started to get much more interesting. For lunch we stopped into a little diner called “Eddies” in Boise. The food was pretty good, actually, and the place was really busy, and the staff was very competent despite the rush.
We pushed on through Idaho, and into Oregon. It was dark, and we really didn’t get to see any of the landscape at all. At the 84-82 split, we pressed on towards Seattle.
We arrived in Port Orchard at around 11:45pm tonight. We were both tired, and very happy to be in. Henrik, however, was probably the most happy of all: he had been pressing to get out of the back seat for a while now.
As we awoke in our Super 8 motel in Cheyenne Wyoming the wind was howling. As we packed the truck, I immediately noticed something very interesting: there was a standard trailer being pulled by a standard truck. Neither looked very corporatized, although there was a logo on it. What really struck me about the truck is the fact that the trailer had its hazard tags, on all sides, flipped to “Radioactive.” And we were parked right next to it.
We started our treck across Wyoming. The wind and cold was unbelievable. For many parts of Wyoming, there is just nothing. The only thing that exists is landscape and an occasional gas station. And 55mph winds.
The same snowstorm that almost caused our death in Colorado/New Mexico had blown through Wyoming, but it apparently was much worse in the South than where we were. What struck me, though, as we drove through the beautiful yet seeming uninhabitable state was the drift fences. They’re everywhere. Apparently, due to wind and weather patterns and the relative flatness of the landscape, drifting is a massive problem. Luckily for us, I-80 was not closed (although they apparently close it sometimes when the snow and conditions get bad enough.
Windy and cold it certainly was, but absolutely beautiful. There is literally nothing for miles, but the scenery is unbelievable. And I do mean unbelievable. The rock formations were just incredble. What a beautiful and untouched state.
As evening dawned, we crossed Wyoming finally and headed into Utah. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see much of Utah. We drove around the outskirts of Salt Lake City, but it was dark. We looked for a place to stop, but Hotels.com couldn’t find us anything, so we pressed on into Idaho. Using the Hotels.com Android Tablet App and my Maps app, coupled with my cunning stradegizing, I managed to book us the room we needed for the night. Welcome to Heyburn, Idaho.
