December 31, 2008
Good Greif! I'll have to add a new section for my archives page! Holooooo 2009!
Cathy is out drinkies with the girls, so I get to write something in my journal. She'll be back in time for us to see the New Year in, which, making our own traditions, will not involve Auld Lang Syne (not in the usual place). Instead, Red Beach will be treated to a semi-inebriated version of Pink Floyde's On the Turning Away
.
It's interesting to see that Auld Lang Syne has the most misquoted lyric in history: ...for the sake of auld lang syne
... leave out the sake
my dears, and you'll have it.
Lang Syne is a teary/beary sentimental/nostalgic song about the good old days, with a bit of hope for the future tacked in on the last verse. Turning Away has a sharper note, and a warning for the future.
While we toast the changing of the calendar, with our wine and our whiskey, there are those who are raising a cup of water, or, a cup of no-water-left. For these people, looking hopefully at the future is harder and easier. Harder, when each year offers so much less. Easier because; that the next day will see something to eat, and maybe there will be someplace warm to sleep come winter, are easy hopes.
There is hope though. Viewed through the smeared bottom of history's beer-glass, we see that things do get better even as life gets more complicated. Though we have reached for the horizon of a distant Utopia, only to find it still out of reach - tantalising ... As we stare, blinking and puzzled, into that Sun, we are careful not to be blinded to the great strides we have made. One look behind proves Our collective achievement.
Now it make sence to take courage, to look a little ahead to Our next steps, we clasp hands, draw breath, trudge on... eventually pushing our children on ahead of us. We need to tear up the path behind us, erect barriers, so there is no going back - no slipping behind. The "good old days" have not gone, they never existed. Or if you want to insist that they were, then lets make sure that better old days lie ahead.
I don't normally embed a movie - if you are on a slow connection, my apologies. For the rest of you, here is Pink Floyd from 1988. Sing along, have a glass of something inebriating.
[Object Removed: See it on YouTube.]
December 25, 2008
Merry Xmas
Miserable week, all humid, drizzly, and wet - by turns. The weather broke this morning for a quite nice day. not too hot, not too cold - all roung blue skys and fluffy clouds. Cathy and I have had breakfast on our small balcony - ham-n-bree croissants and strawberry champaigne. Still a lttle dizy. Good stuff.
Nothing on my x-mas wish list turned up ... again. The only large oblong package turned out to be a desktop easel for wifey. Quite nice really. Look outside - nope, no Cylon raider for the second year running. Though I should point out that I'm not really all that surprised.
However - there were some nice gifts - one neighbor gave us a bottle of wine and another a x-mas cake. That makes two surprises - so I can't complain. And, since the entire town knows about Corwin, people have been nice. We did take the opportunity to spoil the neighbors 14-month old boy - he got a collection of bubble mix (for blowing) which has him entranced and a brightly colored candy-cane. So we are probably honorary relatives as far as he's concerned.
Been watching rental wovies instead of regular TV. Avoids the silly-season programming. I've been watching season one of Farscape. A silly muppity thing which is curiously addictive. The movie was "Sleuth" with Micheal Cane and Jude Law. A bit strange - I don't think the premise really holds up.
Cathy is calling me to coffee - then we have aged "P"'s to visit. I'll get back to you.
December 17, 2008
Curious... I have been sending an xhtml edition of my CV with job applications, sort of a way of showing off. However, I have just had a report that, when the document is opened in IE, the user is greeted with a warning...
To help protect your security, Internet Explorer has restricted this
webpage from running scripts or ActiveX controls that could access your
computer. Click here for options ...
This is wierd because there is no scripting at all in the pages, and the same browser renders
this without comment. This page contains javascript. So it seems that IE is protecting the user against a perfectly innocuous page and passing scripted pages without comment. Perhaps Windows is just not ready for the desktop?
December 14, 2008
Ubuntu development procedes at a breakneck pace. The next version is codenamed "Jaunty Jackalope", and is expected to emphasise boot speed for Ubuntu 9.04. This is already lightning fast, but is touted as a priority for Windows 7 as well, and we don't want to be left behind. Also like W7, there will be more integration for web applications - so-called "Cloud computing".
A Jackalope is a Jackrabbit with antlers. This is also the description of Hern the Hunted, the god of all things small and frightened from Terry Pratchett's Diskworld. "Jaunty" can play this role for a certain Steve.
I expect that W7 will acheive high boot speed by removing applications (relegating them to online services through MSN) and providing even less functionality than now. Note: XP and Vista manago to give the illusion of a fast boot by displaying the login-screen and a few icons before the OS is actually functioning. Same when the desktop loads - experienced Windows users know to wait a bit after they see the first icons. This makes it look busy, and the time passes faster. By comparison, GNU/Linux does not display anything until it can be used.
Ubuntu, in particular, has been getting very fast by parrelell-processing the boot sequence. It is difficult to see how this can be improved further without mandating a hardware upgrade - the other Windows trick. However, each release so far has been an order-of-magnitude improved on the previous one. MS struggled to match 5-year-old GNU/Linux features with Vista. 8.04 took the lead again back in April, 8.10 - the current release - sits comfortably in front of everybody. By the looks of things, 9.04 will feel like it comes from another universe. I shake with anticip...
Ubuntu 8.10 is a sturdy release, intended for long-term use by businesses for whome a six-month upgrade cycle is just too onerous. This is also good for people on slow or limited connections - you only get a big download every few years. For the rest of us - Jackalope goodness is streaking our way fast.
Xmas, on the other hand, plods on.
Our rich neihbors threw a cool party for the whole street, complete with live band. It was nice - but I ducked out when the little kiddies arrived. This is why I tend to hide at Xmas. That and the general nuttiness that overtakes the entire population.
Drive safe folks. And if you see a little blue car with a "CORWIN" license - that's me. Don't honk, you'll scare me. Just... wave or something...
December 11, 2008
I have started applying for teaching positions around Auckland - though I'll consider moving for the right position. So far, the early advertisers are all Catholic Girl's schools crying out for Physics teachers.
This is sort-of interesting. Amongst scientists, the theist count is around the 7-8% mark (compare 60% in the general population). Amongset physical scientists, this is usually about 6-7% while biologists usually hit around 2-3%. Easy to understand - Biologists are better agquainted with Darwin, and are in a good position to appreciate the imperfections of creation. Physical Scientists deal more with fundamental Laws Of Nature (TM) and so tend to appreciate the harmony more. All this is interesting because Christian special-character schools appear to have especial trouble hiring and keeping Physics teachers. Seems they have no trouble at all finding and keeping Biologists.
Sort of suggests there is something wrong with the statistics. Perhaps there is something in Biologist-culture which makes them uwilling to put "theist" on a survey?
In general, schools in NZ have trouble finding and keeping physical scientists anyway. OTOH: physical scientists have trouble getting hired - they find that schools prefer to hire non-physicists to teach physics, for eg. I suspect we are seeing the effect of the classic conflict between Science and the Arts.
School administration tends to be dominated by Artists (usually in English). Arts subjects have very few certainties compared with Sciences, so scientists tend to come across as hugely arrogant - ruling out whole classes of speculation as "untrue" regardless of it's antecedents.
Which is what science does of course. The scientist says "I know better than you". That is arrogant.
Physical scientists tend to much more of this kind of arrogance than any other kind. There are a lot of certainties in physical feilds, usually due to the simplicity of the subject. Fire is hot, water is wet, rocks are hard... if you go messing with those descriptions you end up in trouble. So it is hardly surprising to find physicists at odds with artists quite a bit.
This conflict can be glimpsed in the word "billion". The word is shorthad for bi-million which is "million twice". So you'd be forgiven for imagining it was 2,000,000. But that is not what it means. It is actually, unspoken, "million writ twice" or "million million" which is 1,000,000,000,000.
This makes sence to people who write for a living, but not to people who use numbers. Those who use math for more than counting money don't use the word professionally. Instead, they have devised a system of metric prefixes for these numbers writ down (billion-things = tera-things) and an exponential notation for when you use numerals (1,000,000,000,000 = 1012).
Artists find this confusing because it bears little relation to how you converse. It is not "social".
In recent years we have seen a rise in metric prefix use due to computers. Though care needs to be taken, because a "kilo" is a "kay" which is 1024 (210) to a computer, and not the even 1000 it's supposed to be. So - to a computer - a million is 210x210=220=1048576 which is a "Meg" and a billion is 240=1099511647376 or 1.0995e12 which is a Gig.
Notice that a gig is closer to 1.1 billion than to a billion... a difference of 100,000,000 which is sort-of large. But computer people find the approximation useful anyway.
All this because computer use kinda spans the gap between sciences and the arts, to annoy everybody. But they do use a different pronounciation (kay instead of kilo, meg and gig instead of mega and giga) to distinguish the different uses. The slang-use of these words is also Arts-freindly. Hopefully I'll be able to use my computer experience to avoid annoying the people who will interview me.
Darwinism is still tricky for Catholic Schools, with the Church OK about natural selection and also pushing intellegent design - last time I taught is a Catholic school, I had to teach evolution in the same week a papal bull came out declaring it false. I had to present the curriculum as "this is the majority belief of scientists, the pope says different" and the kids all got it.
I'll probably write more on philosophy of science vis a vis creationism later. It will make a change for GNU/Linux.
That is actually the easy part. All these schools are Microsoft Shops... I see exchange server headers on the emails, rtf for goodness sake, and DOC attachments. Does nobody think?
So..................
The schools I am applying to are:
- St Mary's
- Diocesian
- One Tree Hill
... all right - the last one is not religious. At least not to the extent that they get awarded "special character" status.
I replied to the Education Gazette ad for each and, so far, Diocesan and OTH have got back. D wanted more information on an application form... DOC format! Usually I do not accept DOC format attachments as a matter of principle.
In this case, I'll have to send a pdf back with apologies if the document is not quite right.
December 8, 2008
X-mas grinds ever closer like a big grindy... rumbly... Thing. So it is time to consider my xmas wish list.
Last year I wanted a Cylon raider or an Su-27 fighter. Neither arrived, I understand there was some issue with Customs - so I figure I'll set my sights a little lower this time. Which is not to say that I would not be just thrilled to receive either (or both) this year!
I'd be quite happy with everyone deciding to stop fighting for a bit, though I'll settle for universal adoption of free software. I know - how about all the readers try out gnu/linux just once, and tell me about the experience?
For those who find world peace or installing software too much to handle along with their personal xmas shopping, I'll consider material goods along the lines of large LCD TV sets. These seem to be pretty cheap this year and several readers could band together... if one is received, I'll hold a DVD marathon, bbq and the works, and everyone will be invited.
Apart from that I am rather partial to Jameson's Irish Whiskey, and Lindts chocolates - the darker the better.
Cathy would like our little boy back please - but I think that may be too much to ask. Instead she will be entertaining the neighbors toddler for an afternoon - so I guess I'll be stringing up that swing again.
Meantime, we'll be settling in to DVDs. I note that Hogfather will be on TV this year. This is worth a look even if you are not a Terry Pratchett fan. David Jason gets extra admiration as a proffessional on this one by giving himself only a supporting role and not hogging the top billing.
The production values are extremely high - setting, scenery and costumes awe-inspiring - making up for the occasional lapse in the acting. However, strong performances abound. Susan Sto Helit is particularly compelling - and the Wizards are so crusty they leave the throat dry.
Quantum of Solace, at the Berkely, was dissappointing. This movie is clearly setting up "Spectre", but JBs investigative style, never too hot anyway, involved crashing into the evidence. The whole plot development was heavily contrived. Chase and fight scenes very disjointed and chaotic. The whole thing reminded me of the Roger Moore Bond films - not to be taken seriously.
I've still to pick out the collection of horror films, but we have started on re-watching Babylon 5 and Battlestar Galactica. Suitable seasonal fare and, if I'm going to view repeats, let them be repeats I can stand.
So say we all.
December 2, 2008
New month new set of statistics...
In November there were 1400 visitors generating around 20000 hits total. Most people checked in over the weekend or on Friday afternoon - surfing on the boss. Most of you wanted to know about the Acer stuff - but there is still a lot of interest in the 8.04 page. Fair enough, that is the one with the most fixes, and it's a Long-Term release of Ubuntu.
I have only moved the Acer over to 8.10. The course HPs and the my main desktop hybrid have not been upgraded. Though I see a bunch of security updates in the pipeline.
The blog now ranks a steady third-place in the hit-score. Thus I am motivated to continue with all this. If you want to hear about a particular subject, do let me know.
Oolite has featured in the last month, so it is interesting to see that page holding at number eight and the most popular OXP has been the typhoon ships. Possibly as the first one that got announced and the ones which depart the least from the standard look-and-feel of the game. That OXP has been updated to use shaders more completely, check it out.
The OSs still sit at 50:50 GNU/Linux:Other with a steady 2/3rds of you using Firefox. About a fifth are still on IE - for goodness sake! You'd better be using that from work and the boss won't allow anything else.
About half the page hits came from private bookmarks - so I have fans? Cool! I'm also getting people linking in from some other blogs like Jun's Scribbles and Paton-Simpson and Associates(!!?), then there's discussion boards like LQ and Aegidean.
Most of the word searches arriving here are about Ubuntu. There is one about Vulture's Ee, which I've stopped supporting because the maintainer has made it hard for me te get. I'll figure it out - but maybe I should distribute the tarball I have?
Google Ads have been running for a while now - I thought I'd mosey along to adsence ta see what the activity has been. I'm not expecting much, I've been low-key about the ads and they are often about Windows. Still.. I'd have thought I'd have done better than $4.90!! Obviously this site is not nearly big enough to get the gazillions of hits needed to be self-sustaining. At this rate I'll never manage to get that Cylon Raider.
Never mind - I'm not exactly commercial anyhoo.
This months album is Distant Activity by Adam Fielding. It is techno/ambient - some vocals, which some of you have noticed that I'm not too big on. Adam is from Huddersfeild, which is also the place featured on my birth certificate. Check it out - for those of you without Javascript, and who can blame you, there is an m3u stream as well.
