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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
Wed, 01 Jul 2009
Sometimes you stick with what you got
For some reason, I'm still thinking that I can do a little better with the eeePC OS. I'm liking the flexibility of the Debian version of eeePC. But one of my biggest complants is the inflexibility of the wifi (running Wicd). For some reason wifi works great at home, but whenever I'm on a free wifi at a hotel or Panera, I can never, never get connected.
I suppose I should check the FAQs file and boards for some type of tweak.
So, that's where I should head, eh?
2009 Jul 01 [/eeepc] permanent link
Wed, 20 May 2009
Lori's family is from Lancaster Co., PA and her grandmother made her chicken corn soup on one of our first visits and I was so happy. Eventually, Lori asked for the recipe and what she got back was fairly typical of folks there: some of this, a little of this. So, I've taken it upon myself to make a chicken corn soup that isn't the same as Grandma's, just the same idea.
So, here's my current version of chicken corn soup with some homage to the kind folk of Lancaster Co., PA and my desire for something that isn't too labor intense:
Stage one:
Ingredients:
- 5 boneless Chicken Breasts
- 5 Cups of Water
Bring to a boil and then set to simmer and cover for 2 hours.
Stage two:
Ingredients:
- 7 cups of chicken broth
- some salt and pepper
- Frozen Corn (32 oz)
- Wide Egg noodles (12 oz)
Keep the remaining broth from the boiling and cut up the chicken in bite-size pieces. (This last time, I put the broth in a large bowl and just took a knife to the chicken to cut it up...that seemed to work fine this time). Return the broth back to the pot with the chicken and add everything else in. (Note: I use the Daus Essenhaus noodles because it's local and it feels Amish). Bring to a boil and then set to simmer; cover.
Stage three:
Ingredients:
- some salt and pepper
- some butter
- some sugar
Uncover and add about 2 tablespoons of butter and just under 1/4 cup of sugar (I know, but apparently some cooks do this and it does make a difference). Add salt and pepper for taste. Stir up and cover and cook for another 5 minutes or so.
That's it. Make a big pot of chicken corn soup and it'll leave a lot for leftovers for the next few days.
2009 May 20 [] permanent link
Wed, 06 May 2009
Installing vimoutliner correctly
One more time: so when you install the vimoutliner remember to use the cli for unarchieving the .gz command as outlined in the INSTALL file. Basically it's:
tar xzvf vimoutliner-0.3.x.tar.gz
For some reason, this is the better way to do things.
2009 May 06 [/eeepc] permanent link
Sat, 02 May 2009
Some customization to my debian-eeePC
So, as I've been tweaking the debian-eeePC, I'm needing to jot a few things here to remind me next time I have to install my desktop. So, here's the rundown:
Pretty happy with how things are shaping up again.
2009 May 02 [/eeepc] permanent link
So, I lasted on the eeePC default OS for all of 3 days and I missed my debian version and its flexibility and quirks. Honestly, the eeePC seems to be a nice hackable machine and why wouldn't you put another distro on it?
So, I'm starting again and reinstalling the programs I need and trying to remember why I gave up in the first place...oh, that's right: sound in Skype. It'll be important this summer that I have Skype with video and sound to talk with the family and so, I'll need to figure out that issue (instead trying to ignore it).
Nice to be back.
2009 May 02 [] permanent link
Mon, 27 Apr 2009
Back to the Default OS for eeePC
And maybe I should be ashamed of myself, but I decided to go with the easy way out and just make sure that everything works without a bunch of hacks. Don't get me wrong: I want to do the hacking, but sometimes it's nice to go with a default and rely on reliablity.
I'll probably reinstall debian-eeepc after awhile, but for now: I'm back to simple.
2009 Apr 27 [] permanent link
Tue, 14 Apr 2009
Free Software Foundation Stickers
So, usually we allocate some monies to give toward charities of our own chosing and last year I decided to give some funds to FSF and the work they do on our behalf in "Free and in Freedom" in regard to computing and software.
Yesterday I got FSF-themed stickers in the mail and I have to say: I like stickers now that I have a laptop (well, the eeePC) to use as my backpack/locker to display my "personality."
2009 Apr 14 [/eeepc] permanent link
Tue, 10 Mar 2009
And I know that I shouldn't complain...enough other people are doing that. And, I'm not sure if this winter's been that cold...but that's what other people say.
Me, I'm fine with the 3-5 inches of rain that we've been getting and I also remind myself that it is winter in northern Indiana.
2009 Mar 10 [] permanent link
Wed, 18 Feb 2009
I'm trying, slowly, to remove myself from the wonderfulness of Google. Today, it's a really hard one: GeeMail. I like many things about GMail, especially the archiving feature where I can find old emails by searching. But recently, I'm back to not GTD with my email and just letting things hang around for awhile instead of acting on those tasks immediately.
So, I'm back to mutt.
For one thing, I'm able to just get through my email knowing that if I have deleted something that I really do need, I can get it through the website.
Also, mutt just fits my eeePC use (and screen). My hands stay on the keyboard and I can whiz through screens easily. In fact, much easier than Alpine (which seemed a bit slow on the eeePC).
Lastly, the set up was so easy this time.
Nice to take control of another area of my tech life.
2009 Feb 18 [/eeepc] permanent link
Thu, 12 Feb 2009
So, with Gregg dropping out because he really, well, is taking back everything he said a week, the Republicans are pretending to have principles for...well, to not work with the President.
This reminds me once again that the last Administration wasn't that interested in working across the aisle and really getting things done. They seem to be listening to Rush's chant that "let's see if this President will fail in the first 100 days...let's hope for it."
Hoping that their move costs them the 2010 election. Come on people, let's get stuff done.
2009 Feb 12 [] permanent link
