As I write this there's a big meeting going on in the depths of the corporation I work for. All the software leads from a variety of companies are going to get together and discuss standards across the group, give presentations of work and generally get all touchy feely about the future. I was expected, but have to bail on it. There's too much else for me to be doing besides planning a future I'll never enter. No regrets there.

In 2 weeks from now I'll be several thousand feet in the air somewhere over south east asian, trying to avoid DVT. Seems like there's lots for me to do [and there is], but I'm going to take it issue by issue. Paid off the ticket yesterday, so the next one is finding a box for my bike. Most bike shops here will gladly give you an old packing box, so it shouldn't be any harder than a few phone calls.

It's been a long June. I'm glad to see the end of it. Now I just want to get swept up in the events of July and see how it all turns out.

Looks like some of the big guns in weblog software are backing ECHO. Gonna have to keep my eye on these developments, because no doubt I'll have to implement ECHO in dt.

As expected, at the beginning of my last 2 weeks at work, the last minute requests start flooding in. I'll try and forfill as many as possible, but already this morning [Monday] I've accumulated more work than it's possible for me to complete in 2 weeks. I hate to say it, but...typical.

That state that ranges roughly 2 weeks before and after a major move. Can't stop thinking about what's going to be. And what has to be done to make that future come true. I get it in a mild dose when shifting house, although I've shifted house enough times that it's almost second nature. Usually only takes me a full day to shift houses. This latest move is something different. Not only a house shift, but also a lifestyle and culture shift. A country shift. Language shift. Damn.

Probably won't post too much in the next few weeks...but you never know. If I can get access I will. All dt development has been put on hold as I have to tear down my LAN, reduce a software collection to the few valuables that will fit in a CD wetsuit, burn as much of my record collection as possible and choose the alphas from the few clothes I have. Trumps.

...is still raging. Here's Dave Sifry's latest account on the topic, and Sam Ruby and a bunch of supporters are getting serious.

When I resigned almost two weeks ago I decided to run a little experiment on my boss. He's a great guy, but a really bad communicator, so I thought I'd just keep the news to myself and see how long it took for him to inform the relevant people [with a few exceptions of course...I told all the developers I'm in charge of]. I think he spilled the beans two days ago at our management meeting, which I couldn't attend because I was away on that day. The last two days I've been getting a small stream of visitors asking questions like "so what are you going to do now?". To which I reply "Whatever I want to do"...but in a little more detail.

One of my concerns about running this blog, developing this blog/aggregator software and generally having a content management system always online was pushing the window on my allocated monthly transfer rate. I have a virtual server hosted with rosehosting [they're great btw] which has a 15GB per month limit on data transfer. Then I saw this post on Jeremy Zawodny's blog and it makes me feel a lot better [safer]. If his blog can run a year and only transfer the amount he has specified, my transfer rate will come well within the boundries. I'm assuming this blog will never be as popular as Jeremy's - at least for a few years anyways ;)

Just while I'm blogging about Jeremy, I'm interested in finding out more about his Linux-server-making-him-less-reliant-on-any-given-desktop. I've been doing the same thing for about a year now. At present I have my internal network [which is where I do all my development] down to the following;

• 1 Linux Server [most of my development is based on the LAMP technologies]
• 1 [desktop replacement] notebook - [gotta have that 1400x1050 15" LCD]. I run W2K on this and probably won't install Linux on it until I find some Linux apps to replace Photoshop�, Premiere� and the 3D apps I use [Maya�, 3DSMax�, Bryce�, etc].
• 1 tablet pc - I needed a 'puter that I could carry around with me [my other notebook is heavy, hence the desktop replacement description] and I really like the Compaq TC1000 [explanation pending]. Unfortunately it runs Windows� XP Tablet Edition. I'm currently in the process researching Debian as a replacment to XP [which I loathe with a new found passion I previously though was lost].

So I guess I'll add a few bytes to Jeremy's statistics while I search his archives for any more comments on the subject.

I also found this on his site. Every American who travels should have one.

I've been waiting for this to come out. Still not much info around. I'll do some research when I have some spare time. And pick one up next time I've got a spare US$500+ to throw around ;)

Joi Ito has one.

UPDATE: If you read the comments on Joi's post, you find that it's actually been out for a while now [in Japan]. Here's the Sony product page.

And it looks like there's an issue with the batteries, which only last for 9mins [acting as a UPS and shutting the system down]. I think I'll wait for the next version.

I was also planning on designing and producing some tshirts while in ニセコ. There's not enough time to do it while I have a 9-5, but hopefully with a variable schedule I'll find some space for it.

The other cause for concern was the materials. Screen printing requires a fair amount of space to setup. But these guys might be onto something. This tutorial is good. Might be able to keep the required production space to a minimal.

In a few weeks [25 days to be exact] I'll be returning to ニセコ. Too early for the powder I know, but I want to get an early start ;) embed myself with the troops like a Iraqi War reporter. Apart from having a great time with the people I'll be hanging with, I have a few other obligations that I must forfill during my stay. These include:

• a new web project...explanation pending
• 日本語　べんきょしっています
• dt development - my continued efforts to get this weblog/aggregator software up and running.
• mountain biking and climbing - when you're in ニセコ and there's no snow, the first thing that pops into your head [well...my head] is mountain biking.
• 3D modeling and animation
• make some music
• website maintenace - I have a growing list of websites that I'm responsible for...not content wise, but sofar as maintenance is concerned.

Not a lot really. There's probably a few things I've left out, but that's it in a nutshell.

I think I'm going to have to do some major redesigning to deepthought. Bummer I Know. Means I may have to start from scratch [figuratively speaking] again. Better do it quit though, or I'll loose morale ;)

This is the first of 4 weeks that I have left at my current day job.

myelin of Second p0st has written some good notes on authenticating weblog comments. Another link to look into when building my next 'features list'.

Tim Bray has started a series of articles on search technologies. This'll be a pack of permalinks well worth keeping track of.

I'm going to freelance it for a while and spend time on some of my own ideas [including dt, the unfinished software I'm using to publish this blog]. Being productive in a positive way and hanging out in places I long for. Say good bye to the corporate world.

Just over 9 hours ago I resigned from my current job. Weird feelings happening now. It's cool...there's nothing like change to get you excited. Dreams are just an drill for the real thing. Action always outweights theory.

"It felt like something snapped. A rubber band. It felt like gravity." "That's what it feels like," Blackwell said, "when you decide."

Idoru - William Gibson

Another Japanese blog review. This one is run by a がいじん called Vincent who lives in Yokohama with his wife and child. If that doesn't sound like a beautiful life already, get this...he works for Sony.

Achikochi means 'here and there' and it's a good description of this diverse blog. He's big on food [it's hard not to be living in Japan] and posting pictures...two things I dig in reading/viewing blogs. Besides that the content is interesting and original, ranging from square watermelons [well...that's a bad example of the originality ;) ] to proof that the Japanese Way� isn't always trustworthy.

I'm not quite sure how, but this is the first blog where I've seen r0nin.org in the blog roll. He probably found me in his referrer listing...in any case thanks vincent...nice one mate.

And I can't believe he knows the accordionist Hiroko Ito. Coooool...she rocks [in an accordionist sort of way].

More on the weblog specifications front. This time it's a Daring Fireball [John Gruber] post about Trackbacks, that ever difficult to understand feature provided by MT.

I also came across this RSS tutorial. While RSS is simple enough to understand, it's always good to find [and remember] a nice tutorial in case you have to pass it on to someone else.

Found a good excuse for guys whos girlfriends hate them playing PS2 games. Buy this game, with the 'Trance Vibrator' and she'll suddenly think the PS2 is the purrrrrrrrfect home accessory...something a girl can't live without. Sound unlikely....not so.

Check out this site for some of the best night-time photos of the southern Japan sprawl. I like making panoramic shots with my PC100E [taking several shots and pasting them together], but this totally in another ball game. And a good time killer.

According to REITOEI, it restarted 4 day and 22 hours ago. I remember this because VNC wasn't running one day and I had to SSH to REITOEI and start it up. I wonder what it was that caused the restart, or if it was some sort of Linux/RedHat thing [which I doubt]. Anyways...worth documenting.

There's been many a bit sent around the place these days regarding the SCO/IBM Unix/Linux drama. Thankfully it all seems to be coming to a head. Now there's even more Unix court talk happening. I can't help thinking that someone with a hidden agenda is pushing this whole OS issue into the light...forcing the unrooted to make a choice that could stick with them for a long time.

In my never ending quest to find definitions of weblog technologies to incorporate into dt, and after having found Dave's great description/definition, I came across a post by mpt [aka Mathew Thomas] today called The Ultimate Weblogging System Outlined. There's some good points included in this list, and well worth adding to my list of features, which is currently more of a to-do list.

On my continued romp through to Japanese blogsphere, I find myself at a blog called Japanish Journals.

This is live journal site run by [apparently] a seventeenish old 'full blooded' [her own terms] Japanese girl. I'll give it to you in her own words:

I am a full blood Japanese. I'm a senior in highschool, studying to get in Sophia Univ, and am somewhat bilingual in English and Japanese. I love pr0n and all that, but I have another journal to write about my personal life somewhere else.

I think pr0n is actually p0rn 'cause in one of her posts she offering for sale her collection of chick mags.

The site is enjoyable enough to read, but she seems to have a chip on her shoulder. She would probably be a interesting person to meet, if you could get past her keen desire to stereotype people. At least she is active in her comments. The discussions of some of her post are and enjoyable read, and I have to give her credit for a cool style.

All in all a interesting blog. Well worth checking out, but be prepared to be relentlessly flamed [but who isn't ね].

Some notes on getting Debian / X11 / Gnome running nicely on a HP TC1000 tablet PC. Matthew Allum Installing Debian === I tried initially with a usb cdrom and a debian netinst cd. Though this booted ( and through trying various kernel versions ) , the installer simply didn't detect the plug in usb keyboard nor the network so it was difficult for me the proceed with the installation.. In the end I pulled the hardrive out of the tabletPC ( actually pretty painless ) and stuck it in a desktop machine with a IDE adaptor type thingy. I got the debian base installed this way, making sure hotplug package is installed - this is needed for the keyboard to work once you put the drive back in the tablet. I then installed the various packages I wanted, built a kernel etc. Note, other distros such a Mandrake seem not to suffer the keyboard problem. Getting an X you can Rotate === The TC1000 has a Nvidia chip in it and XFree nv driver works fine with it. Follow the instructions at [1] to get the touchscreen working. I installed Danial stones 4.3 X11 packages with no problems. Alternatively also install this [2] KDrive Xvesa server which although slightly slower than nv, you will be able to do screen rotation :-). This XVesa server is modified one from the XFree dist ( see hh.org CVS for source ) so it understands the touchscreen protocol. You'll also need the fpi [3] module built, installed and loaded. Then; - Put Xvesa in /usr/local/bin/ - Link /etc/X11/X to /usr/local/bin/Xvesa - Then start X like; startx -- -screen 1024x768x16 -mouse /dev/input/mice Your can rotate the display with the xrandr command, or grab grandr [4] which give you a nice GNOME2 panel app for rotation too. Other Stuff === You then may wanna install a recent matchbox WM [5] ( use -theme Gorilla switch ), which works fine with a recent GNOME ( Hint: set WINDOW_MANAGER env var ) and xkbd ( theres a tabletpc layout in dist ) to enter text with the pen. More info soon. [1] Also See: http://linux-tablet-pc.dhs.org/index.html [2] http://handhelds.org/~mallum/xpkgs/tabletpc/ [3] http://linux-tablet-pc.dhs.org/fpi2002-0.1.tar.gz [4] http://handhelds.org/~mallum/grandr_applet-0.2.tar.gz [5] http://handhelds.org/~mallum/matchbox [5] http://handhelds.org/~mallum/xkbd

Yeah, that's right
It's time to set the record straight

Ain't nobody got to spell it for me
Ain't nobody got to yell I can see
Ain't nobody got the pain I can hear
But if I have to I'll yell in your ear

Time for living
Time for giving (x4)

Ain't nobody to to spell it for me
I said ain't nobody got to yell I can see
I said ain't nobody got the pain I can hear
But if I have to I will yell in your ear

Soul fire
Soul fire
And we ain't got no water
We don't have no water

Time for living time for giving
No time for making up a monster to sell
Time for living time for giving
No time for breakin' out a lie to sell

Lately [the last 5 years], when developing applications, I've had the philosophy of 'Always Plan To Start Again', meaning that after developing the app for a while, it's quite possible I'm going to have some fundamental changes that will require a [almost] total rewrite of the application. I'm sure this is mainly due to the limited time I spend on specifications and design. I've got myself into the habit of having the design in my head and perfecting it as I go. Well, I think I reached a point with dt where I can't [or don't want to] step back and restart. There are a few fundamental changes that I need to make, but I just can't see my self restarting the application. Looks like I'm taking myself into the uncharted territory or software updates. Which is good, right? 'Cause it means the applications is moving on. I don't really know what I'm talking about ;)

Last night I did some work on the menuing system. More specifically, on the ordering of the menu items. The menu interface has been initally taken from Dave Winer's menu editor he displayed on his Harvard blog a few months back. I worked out the process for ordering the menu items yesterday at work [not doing much else there at the moment, so I may as well work on dt code ;) ], and them last night sorted out the interface to accept the processes. Now I just have to code the processes into the dt_menu class and she'll be trumps. After that I just need to write the code to insert a new menu item, profile and edit a menu, and that should be about it for menus. Of course, there'll be something I've forgotten, but I be closer in any event.

Bruce Simpson, owner of the Aardvark Daily and New Zealand citizen, has been building homemade pulse jet engines for quite a while now. Recently, Bruce stated that he wanted to make a cruise missile and a local news site picked up on his work and ran with it.

I got this link sent to me a few days ago via email, and since then have seen Bruce on almost every news channel in Australia. Of course the news media are trying to make him out as some sort terrorist helper, but you can tell when he's on screen and buy his writings on his site, that he's just a geek having fun, exploring his own abilities. Compare this guy to George Dubbya...who do you think is more likely to cause load of trouble and kill thousands of his own and other country's citizens?

I'll be keeping my eye in his progress.

I seem to have a visitor. Initially I wasn't expecting anyone to find this site just yet. I'm developing my own blog software from scratch and I haven't implemented any of the syndication services [RSS, etc] yet, so I would have thought I'd be here on my own...left alone to ramble away while practicing my writing style [ha!] and deciding what sort of content should be publicly accessible. It's nice to see this user agent repeatedly appearing in my log files. It's probably just some random hit from a search engine 'cause the site get hit by scooter quite a bit, or maybe my sites appeared as a referrer in someone else's log files, but it's nice to think there might be someone out there interested enough to keep track of my progress...even for a little while. Unfortunately I haven't even implemented comments yet [well...I've implemented them, but haven't turned them on yet as there's still a few asthetic issues I want to address first], so I guess I'll just have to keep track of my log files for instances of my visitor.

This site run by this girl [her name is Asobi Tsuchiya] is kinda cool in that cool way that only the Japanese can do. It contains only short, mainly image based posts that link to other sites, but there's always something interesting there. I've been checking it for a few weeks now, and I'm hooked. Asobi has a 日本語 site as well where it looks like to writes more. Latest gems from her site include this nice bit of video production from serratedimage, a site dedicated to cardboard house painting and my first introduction to Japan's answer to TaTu [which, I gotta tell ya, are much more appealling that the original]. Bring it on Asobi!!!

According to this article Microsoft is going to phase out stand-alone versions of IE, so it can push it's MSN Explorer. So now if you want a new version of IE, you have to upgrade Windows�. @#$% that!!! Time to shift to the Windows� version of Mozilla/Firebird.

Dave Winer has a short but sweet view on the subject.

Oh...I say apparently because I can't really see Microsoft doing this in the near future. My bet is that they're just testing the waters to see how the public will react. At the moment I think most users will stick with the current version or dump IE for Mozilla rather than use MSN Explorer...and I don't think Microsoft could handle loosing on another market share front [after all, they're already going down in server os sales, enterprise email & db sales and the amount of developers adopting .Net is nothing like they expected].

The Register has lost all cred. Not only have they been plagued with incompitent writers...well, isn't that enough?

Anyways, they're at it again. They posted a story titled 'Make way for the contender to Google's crown' which, in brief [really...there's no need to go and read it] talks about...ummmm...let me just insert the first paragraph:

You're not going to believe this, but a new search engine has just appeared and, well, it may be better than Google.

Now if that doesn't make you roll around on the ground laughing up your breakfast, then get this. Not only is this new wiz-bang search engine a meta search engine [which basically means it searches other search engines for you and therefore is not technically a search engine itself], but when trying to go and have a looksee, I got this message:

News Flash: Beta Version. Our search function is currently disabled. We are experiencing a very high load. Please try again later...

So it doesn't even have enough bandwidth to support a fraction of the requests it should.

Wait...there's more. For a new search engine [they say it's in beta] to be already asking for advertisers to login is a bit much I reckon. Don't these guys [and the Register] know that the bubble burst years ago, and that any Internet business had better have something special from the technical department before so grossly overstating themselves.

Shame on you Register. Shame on you Turbo 10. ;) lol

I'm not really big on the ComputerWorld site, 'cause they implement pop up adds, but there are some stories over there about SCO's CEO hinting that everything could be ok if they come to some sort of arrangement. Which reads like, 'If IBM want to buy SCO, then we'll have enough money to go back into business, and therefore drop all this Linux bashing business'.