29 Jul 2007
So Ubuntu is utterly refusing to install and I’m scared to use Gentoo, which was vaguely the next resort. And I’ve had enough of CentOS’ absurd package management system (really, RPM does make things impossibly difficult compared to apt-based systems). I’m going to try installing FreeBSD tomorrow and compiling bits and pieces, because that’s how metro stayed online all those years and whilst I don’t have Dale’s skill, I don’t doubt that the methodology was sound. Plus, FreeBSD is one more environment to test this project on — a dedicated server we were vaguely offered a few months back is running NetBSD, so it’d be good to begin scratching together a handful of skills in that area, just in case!
On the plus side, I got all system configuration stuff (esp. Samba, which can be a lot more difficult than perhaps it should be at times) worked out last week (i.e. the system was nearly perfect, but for being utterly unable to install even SRPM packages of a more recent Python version), and Michael went through installing everything with me at work… we had to battle Windows a little there, but even it relented. So close. Then I’ll spend heaps of time cutting layouts to markup and seeing them working, and non-Youthworks time taking Satchmo for a spin (which will hopefully lend itself to a certain application very nicely). The lovely thing about all this is I need Django to work for CYIADA, so I’m supported in getting it up and running, but then have enough ‘spare’ hours in the week that I can engage in freelance projects that ultimately mean I know what’s going on with CYIADA and am mildly more competent to make minor modifications as required accordingly.
Some of those projects might even feed back into the project, which would be a bonus — but even if they come to nothing, it’s worthwhile for skills development alone.
29 Jul 2007
Hitachi US have produced a number of particularly spectacular “true stories” regarding their deployment of various technologies across the US. When I say spectacular, I’m not really referring to the plot of these stories, but just the production quality. It’s very well done. I think the target medium is exclusively the web, though I’m not certain — 5 minute packages are too long for TV by far, and marginally too long for cinema advertising. It’s quite good fun, though it’s difficult to identify a particular target. I clicked an ad to get there which was something to do with installing FTTN in some obscure US town (procrastinating), but… really… that was mostly because I didn’t know Hitachi were a service provider (turns out, I think, they’re not… but the ad seemed that way)
What I want to know is, why do infrastructure companies need lots of positive PR? Sure, they make CE products, too, but that’s absolutely nothing to do with this technology. We have a social conscience, buy our CE gear?
21 Jul 2007
I have been to New Zealand; learnt to snowboard; entered a country alone for the first time; updated Facebook as a matter of first priority — surprising Claudia by turning up a day early was second, I should have reversed the two!; presented CYIADA (the name is changing, I haven’t shared it here just yet) to a large number of internal stakeholders, with whom the idea went down fairly well; started to feel on top of work; decided I’ll be doing less uni this semester (and probably will be on my own in the course, which is sad); started research into a project I’ve been wanting to get off the ground for some time now, with moderate degrees of success; and not spending nearly enough time on freelance commitments, but knowing it will provide good experience for CYIADA’s imminent implementation of similar things (yes, the freelance clients in question are aware of this motivation!).
I’ve also hit a bit of a slump in bible reading which isn’t magically solving itself… I put it down to playing too much catchup when I got back and not prioritising God’s word anywhere near as highly as I should have done. But now it’s a matter of actually resolving that before all of a sudden I’ve been back a month and still haven’t! Prayer is welcomed, of course.
I have also been sleeping well (if anti-socially?) — New Zealand does good things to you like that. I think I could quite happily live there, though a few more warm clothes would need acquisition first. That said, I have no plans to run away. Quite enough is keeping me here for the next 2 years or so, methinks. This is the latest I’ve been up in nearly a month methinks, so I’d best be off. More regular updates may be forthcoming at some point in the future. Life gets in the way of blogging sometimes — it’s not all bad!
p.s. yes, Harry Potter comes out in about seven hours. No, that does not qualify as ‘life’. (Close, though)
02 Jul 2007
Our leaders were all fantastic, Andrew was used so powerfully by God to speak to people who follow Jesus and those who don’t alike, and there were more engaging discussions had than at… somewhere that would have a lot of them. So many people seeking something, and so many who seem close to finding, but that’s all outside of our power. To God alone be the glory.