Fresh Pi, Have a Taste

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Here’s a shot of the screen:

Big screen running from new computer

Big screen running from new computer

The screen is running from my newest linux-based computational device, which you can see at the lower left of the picture above.

It's a Raspberry Pi!

It’s a Raspberry Pi!

I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it, yet, but at $35 plus shipping, I’m sure I can find a cost-appropriate use… I got in on one of the first few batches manufactured, placing my order last February, I think. It arrived today, a few weeks ahead of original schedule. They’re supposed to be opening up ordering again in a few days (whenever “mid-July” is, in marketing-speak), at this Newark/Element14 page.

Anyway, I’ve got to go roast coffee, but I thought I’d show you the newest small member of the menagerie around here. Ciao!

Sunday, continued.

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And I’m back, having not forgotten my self-imposed duty to recognize, this day and every day, the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform on our behalf.

Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

  • Staff Sgt. Robert A. Massarelli, 32, of Hamilton, Ohio, died June 24, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
  • Sgt. Michael J. Strachota, 28, of White Hall, Arkansas, died June 24, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
  • Pfc. Cody O. Moosman, 24, of Preston, Idaho, died July 3, in Gayan Alwara Mandi, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
  • Capt. Bruce A. MacFarlane, 46, of Oviedo, Florida, died July 6, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Tiger lilies blooming

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Just wanted to share this with you. There’s ALSO a tomato or two headed through orange on their path from green to red, but that’s a week or so out.

The tiger lilies are doing gangbusters this year, even in all this heat.

Tiger lilies - 8 July 2012

Tiger lilies – 8 July 2012

Lucky Us…

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We have power. As of this afternoon, there are still six hundred thousand without that boon, in Maryland alone. Lucky us. Stores are closed, or selling dry goods only, using generator power. Gas stations that have power (and still have gas) have lines around the block. And the power companies are saying that they might be at 90% restored by the week’s end. Yeah, a hurricane-style  hit to the region without warning, without the ability to call in out-of-state help in advance, and pre-position assets really sucks. But temps are staying in the high 90’s through at least the fourth. Sucks to be without power and AC, and your food is rotting in the fridge.

Lucky us…

*      *      *

Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

  • Maj. Paul C. Voelke, 36, of Monroe, New York, died Jun. 22 in Mazar E. Sharif, Afghanistan.
  • Pfc. Steven P. Stevens II, 23, of Tallahassee, Florida, died June 22 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Lance Cpl. Hunter D. Hogan, 21, of Norman, Indiana, died June 23 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Lance Cpl. Niall W. Coti-Sears, 23, of Arlington, Virginia, died June 23 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Leach, 29, of Ferndale, Michigan, died June 26, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
  • 1st Lt. Stephen C. Prasnicki, 24, of Lexington, Virginia, died June 27, in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
  • Sgt. James L. Skalberg Jr., 25, of Cullman, Alabama, died June 27, in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Stormy Weather

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Well, not anymore, just back to HOT. It was 104°F according to my car, on the drive home yesterday just after 1600 EDT. By 2130, the lightning was lighting up the sky in the west. Fast moving storms with big winds, shedloads of lightning, and hail plowed through here. Maybe half an inch of rain, too, much of that within a 15 minute period.

The good news, from my perspective, is that other than a few blips, we kept our power, both here and at work. More than a million other folks in the greater Metro DC area … not so much. They’re talking about several days to get everyone restored, and it’s supposed to stay hot.

We have some plant damage, and fence damage, but nothing major, and the veggie garden came through unscathed, best I can tell. I’ll wander out that way very shortly. But my focus is on the schoolwork, which I need to get to right now. Ciao!

Too Early Hot

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It’s not July yet, and we nearly cracked 100°F this week. Yowza!

Small amounts of yardwork this weekend (no mowing needed since it’s so freaking hot), and shedloads of schoolwork going on. By CoB yesterday, I’d gotten all of this week’s assignments submitted.

Today I started on the Big Bad for the summer session, an “Authentic Assessment” for the database capstone course. It’s going to be the equivalent of an entry page and 16 data display and/or modification programs (show, add, delete, or modify for four different tables in the database), and it’s due in 2 weeks from today. I made a huge dent in it, getting ALL of the display functionality done, and implementing the POST logic for getting to the Mod servlets for each table. Once I write one of those, it should be easy to generalize to the others.

Yeah, servlets. I’m using Java and Glassfish for this assignment. The best reason I can give for this choice is that it’s not ASP.NET, and it’s not the crufty PHP I’d have to deal with instead. That and it’s most relevant to the environments I support at work, so that’s a good thing, too.

*      *      *

Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

  • Pfc. Jarrod A. Lallier, 20, of Spokane, Washington, died June 18 in Zharay, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when individuals in Afghan Police uniforms turned their weapons against his unit.
  • 1st Lt. Ryan D. Rawl, 30, Lexington, South Carolina, died June 20, in Khowst province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire and an improvised explosive device.
  • Sgt. 1st Class Matthew B. Thomas, 30, Travelers Rest, South Carolina, died June 20, in Khowst province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire and an improvised explosive device.
  • Spc. John D. Meador II, 36, Columbia, South Carolina, died June 20, in Khowst province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire and an improvised explosive device.
  • Sgt. Jose Rodriguez, 22, of Gustine, California, died June 19, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from enemy small arms fire.
  • Lance Cpl. Eugene C. Mills III, 21, of Laurel, Maryland, died June 22 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Happy Father’s Day

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Of course, that subject doesn’t apply to those who either aren’t, or don’t have, “happy fathers”. So goes life. I’ve been busy, no point in boring you with the details this time. School, work, yardwork, sleep – that’s it, in a nutshell.

*      *      *

Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

  • Pfc. Nathan T. Davis, 20, Yucaipa, California, died June 9, in Tore Obeh, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when his vehicle was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device.
  • Spc. Bryant J. Luxmore, 25, New Windsor, Illinois, died June 10, in Panjwai, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when he encountered enemy small arms fire.
  • Cpl. Taylor J. Baune, 21, of Andover, Minnesota, died June 13 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Sgt. 1st Class Barett W. McNabb, 33, of Chino Valley, Arizona, died June 12, in Khakrez, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device.
  • Sgt. Nicholas C. Fredsti, 30, of San Diego, California, died June 15, in Spedar, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.
  • Spc. Trevor A. Pinnick, 20, of Lawrenceville, Illinois, died June 12 in Panjwa`l, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
  • Sgt. Joseph M. Lilly, 25, of Flint, Michigan, died June 14 in a medical treatment facility at Kandahar Air Field of wounds suffered in an attack at Panjwa`l, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device on June 12.

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Monday: The dog was happy I broke her out of jail (the kennel).

Tuesday: Regular work day, then schoolwork – ASP.NET. I am a lucky, lucky guy. Not!

Wednesday – Friday: Ditto.

Saturday: About 6 hours of work, at the office in the morning, and at home in the evening, doing a large data migration project. Nearly finished my ASP.NET project, but not quite.

Today: Work – half hour wrapping up yesterdays work. Shopping. Coffee roasting. Haircut. Yardwork – weeding, taking out the dead-ish snow peas and transplanting peppers from elsewhere in the garden. ASP.NET to completion. Review project against requirements, finish documentation and packaging. Upload. Whew.

This database class requires very little database work, and a lot of programming in languages I don’t use, ever. Next up? Java. I am a lucky, lucky guy. Not!

Transition garden

Transition garden

I call it a transition garden, because all the brown bits? Those were snow peas. Snow peas don’t like 90 degree weather, and we had about a week of that. So they’re brown, dead-ish, and “transitioning out.” Meantime, I’ve got some red habañero that were being overwhelmed by squash in the back right box – now they’re back in full sun, and likely to be very happy there. I also had my started-from-seed jalapeño plants that needed to be moved to an area with more space, so those are next to the habañero. I left one small section of peas in, for the peas to finish maturing and dry. I’ll harvest them, and use them to plant, next spring.

Last night I heated some “rattlesnake pasta”, I think Uno-brand, and amended it with more chicken, more cheese, and every serrano pepper I could pull off the little plants. I want them focusing on growth, rather than “fruit”, and I’m happy to use them rather than mulch them. They added a lot of heat and flavor to the dish – that’s why I like the serrano.

*      *      *

Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

  • Spc. Gerardo Campos, 23, of Miami, Florida, died June 2 in Maiwand, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
  • Lance Cpl. Joshua E. Witsman, 23, of Covington, Indiana, died May 30 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Pfc. Vincent J. Ellis, 22, of Tokyo, Japan, died June 4, in Landstuhl, Germany, from wounds suffered June 1, on Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with improvised explosive devices and small arms fire.
  • Capt. Scott P. Pace, 33, of Brawley, California, died June 6, in Qarah Bagh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his helicopter crashed.
  • 1st Lt. Mathew G. Fazzari, 25, of Walla Walla, Washington, died June 6, in Qarah Bagh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his helicopter crashed.
  • Cpl. Anthony R. Servin, 22, of Moreno Valley, California, died June 8 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Pfc. Brandon D. Goodine, 20, of Luthersville, Georgia, died June 7 in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
  • Master Chief Petty Officer Richard J. Kessler Jr., 47, of Gulfport, Florida, was found deceased in his berthing compartment June 8 on board USS Enterprise (CVN 65).

 

Married in Atlanta

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We travelled to Atlanta for a wedding this weekend.

Our friend Jennifer married her beau Kris in an evening ceremony on Saturday, and everyone had a great time. We’re really happy for both of them!

Our flight down was good – we got out of town before the storms hit late Friday afternoon, forcing a ground stop on all the DC area airports. We had the excellent company of a Marine officer who was just home from an eight month deployment to Afghanistan, managing health-care financial teams doing knowledge transfer to their Afghani counterparts, as well as investigating and keeping track of the money we spend in that arena to help those folks. This Marine was really glad to be home, and looking forward to her new posting in Dallas, and seeing her husband and four kids. You, ma’am, rock!

We got into ATL without difficulties, and hared across town in a Dodge Charger, getting to the church in time to crash the rehearsal! Saturday was a quiet, uneventful day spent resting up and preparing to be up and about late. After the ceremony, the reception was at Aunt Sarah’s gorgeous home, then about half the crowd went on to a popular alehouse near by the hotel. We bailed out “early”, and got back to our room a bit past midnight. Others were several hours later than that.

This morning we swung by the new (to them) house that Jen and Kris just moved into a few weeks ago – they’ve been putting a lot of work into it already, it’s a very nice place in a quiet little neighborhood north of Atlanta. Finally, with Kris’s mom in tow, we went back to ALT, and got on our plane home.

It’s good to be home … and I’ll pick Lexi up from the kennel tomorrow morning.

*      *      *

Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

  • Spc. Vilmar Galarza Hernandez, 21, of Salinas, California, died May. 26 in Zharay, Kandahar  province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
  • Spc. Tofiga J. Tautolo, 23, of Wilmington, California, died May 27, in Bati Kot, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device.
  • Capt. John R. Brainard, 26, of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, died May 28, in Kabul, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his helicopter crashed.
  • Chief Warrant Officer Five John C. Pratt, 51, of Springfield, Virginia, died May 28, in Kabul, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his helicopter crashed.
  • Sgt. Julian C. Chase, 22, of Edgewater, Maryland, died May 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Lance Cpl. Steven G. Sutton, 24, of Leesburg, Georgia, died May 26 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Cpl. Nicholas H. Olivas, 20, of Fairfield, Ohio, died May 30 in Zharay, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
  • Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean E. Brazas, of Greensboro, North Carolina, died May 30 while conducting combat operations in Panjwa’l, Afghanistan.
  • Staff Sgt. Roberto Loeza, 28, of El Paso, Texas, died May 25 in Charkh, Logar province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
  • Staff Sgt. Alexander G. Povilaitis, 47, of Dawsonville, Georgia, died May 31, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when the enemy attacked with an improvised explosive device.
  • Spc. Kedith L. Jacobs, 21, of Denver, Colorado, died May 27, in Chak-E Wardak District, Afghanistan, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces.
  • Pfc. Leroy Deronde III, 22, Jersey City, New Jersey, died May 27, in Chak-E Wardak District, Afghanistan, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces.

Memorial Day 2012 is tomorrow

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In a sense, every Sunday is Memorial Day for me – I don’t need a Federal holiday to remind me to stop, think, and give thanks for the sacrifices of the men and women of the United States who have died in service to our country. But tomorrow is the official Memorial Day, and I am deeply honored and touched by the sacrifices that men and women have been making for America for the last 236 years.

*      *      *

Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

  • Capt. Jesse A. Ozbat, 28, of, Prince George, Virginia, died May 20, in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
  • 2nd Lt. Tobias C. Alexander, 30, of Lawton, Oklahoma, died May 20, in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
  • Spc. Samuel T. Watts, 20, of Wheaton, Illinois, died May 19, in Bethesda, Md., of wounds sustained April 25, in Zharay, Afghanistan, when he was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device.
  • Spc. Arronn D. Fields, 27, of Terre Haute, Indiana, died May 21 in Qal-ah-ye Mirza Jal, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with rocket propelled grenades.
  • 2nd Lt. Travis A. Morgado, 25, of San Jose, California, died May 23 in Zharay, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his patrol with an improvised explosive device.
  • Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan J. Wilson, 26, of Shasta, California, died of complications associated with a medical condition May 20 in Manama, Bahrain.
  • Pfc. Cale C. Miller, 23, of Overland Park, Kansas, died May 24, in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
  • Cpl. Keaton G. Coffey, 22, of Boring, Oregon, died May 24 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
  • Hospitalman Eric D. Warren, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, died May 26 of wounds received in action due to an improvised explosive device blast in Sangin District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.