Lee.org

Watchmen – Pretty good. Though I was expecting more given the original graphic novel; it’s really hard squeezing all that amazingness into a movie. You know, after another viewing, I really like it. It’s more elegant than I initially thought. Update 1-30-11: after a few more viewings, wow, what a fantastically produced film

Big Lebowski – I’m only barely getting how my friends feel that this movie is mythic. Maybe it has to sink in. It was good nonetheless.

Zombieland – great zombie fun

Moon – I don’t know, I found it to be a bit predictable and slightly contrived. Of course the contrived part wasn’t the main storyline but the hints and clues we get to see. But it was good. update 1-30-11. I caught a few bits of it a few days ago and it felt like a much better film. Maybe I should see it again!

(audiobook) The Survivors Club: The Secrets and Science That Could Save Your Life By Ben Sherwood. I gave up on it. It’s full of sensational anecdotes that don’t give me a real feel for how to survive. You could distill the book down to “Stay alert, don’t freeze up, be lucky.” He’s more interested in telling gossipy stories about people that beat the odds (IE, were lucky) than looking at the secrets and science that could save your life.

I started skipping around and heard bits like “A human jaw generates 64 PSI when it masticates, a tiger generates 900 pounds of force… ” Um, choose your units dude, especially when it’s important for the story. “A plane had a mid-air collision and there were no survivors. Local townspeople were looking through the wreckage and heard moaning, it was [the woman who survived].” Umm,  you just said there were no survivors. There were LOTS of annoying bits like this. And lots of anecdotes that don’t illuminate a point. And lots of “the moral of the story is, be lucky” stories.

In Lucknow India, I saw a kite about 50 feet up that was flying without any wind. I think the pilot was yanking the string to keep it aloft but I can’t google up any reference to such kites. Have you heard of such a thing?

65 days after I left 3 SWARM robots in a room in Kanpur India, packed and ready to ship, they have been delivered to me here in San Francisco. I took delivery at 1pm today.

This has been such an ordeal. Ask me to tell you about it. I’ll teach you about the 50% rule and demonstrate the use of multiple four-letter words.

I am looking for VoIP telephone service for a business I’m working for. Can you recommend a provider? They have 4 phone lines and want to keep similar services but save money. (though some bells and whistles would be nice too)

This is old info but I needed to refer to it after my Windows reinstall so I’ll just put it here for easy reference.

Windows Explorer Command-Line Options

————————————

Explorer [/n] [/e] [(,)/root,<object>] [/select,<object>]

/n                Opens a new single-pane window for the default
selection. This is usually the root of the drive Windows
is installed on. If the window is already open, a
duplicate opens.

/e                Opens Windows Explorer in its default view.

/root,<object>    Opens a window view of the specified object.

/select,<object>  Opens a window view with the specified folder, file or
application selected.

Examples:

Example 1:     Explorer /select,C:\TestDir\TestApp.exe

Opens a window view with TestApp selected.

Example 2:  Explorer /e,/root,C:\TestDir\TestApp.exe

This opens Explorer with C: expanded and TestApp selected.

Example 3:  Explorer /root,\\TestSvr\TestShare

Opens a window view of the specified share.

Example 4:  Explorer /root,\\TestSvr\TestShare,select,TestApp.exe

.

.

.

.

Here it is explained in a slightly different way:

This page was lifted from http://cpcug.org/user/clemenzi/technical/WinExplorer/CommandLineOptions.htm.

Parameters are

separated by commas. Many combinations are allowed, but only a few examples are

given.

Explorer.exe c:\                Open directory as a single pain of icons

Explorer.exe /e,c:\             Explore drive as 2 lists – 
                                  directories on left & files on right
Explorer.exe /e,/root,c:\       Explore drive without showing other drives
Explorer.exe /n,/e,/select      Opens showing only drives
Explorer.exe /e,/idlist,%I,%L   From Folder\..\Explore in the registry
                                  %I – ID number
                                  %L – Long filename
Explorer.exe  /e,DriveOrDirectory
Explorer.exe  /e,/root,directory,sub-directory
Explorer.exe  /e,/root,directory,/select,sub-directory

/e	List (explorer) view, Show large icons if missing (Open view)
/root	Sets the top level folder.
/select	Specifies that the directory should be selected without displaying its contents.
/s	????
/n	Do not open the selected directory, no effect on NT
/idlist,%I	Expects an ID/handle. May help with cacheing. By itself, opens the desktop as icons.
/inproc	Stops display of window (I don’t know why this is useful)

Windows Explorer contains 7 icons. In 95 and NT, the 3rd and 4th are

different. Use

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SHELL32.DLL

I have not found a single reference explaining all the options. Some

parameters were found by searching the registry, some are from the sources

below, and a few are from browsing the executable.

• C:\WINDOWS\TIPS.TXT (95 only)

  provides basic command line help. Search for explorer.

• Additional notes are provided here.

URL: http:// cpcug.org / user / clemenzi / technical / WinExplorer

/ CommandLineOptions.htm

I tried to wind my way through “H&R Block at Home Free Edition” but gave up when it kept asking inappropriate (and unanswerable) questions about my business and hobby. And it kept pissing me off how it would ask questions in a wonky order (IE for the sale of stock, it first asks about the sale on one page, then when I bought the stock, then another detail about about the sale on a third page)

I tried Free Tax USA at random off the IRS website and I liked it a lot. I’ll definitely try it again next year.

Taxes done! And with an hour and a half to spare. No problem.

I’m part way through recovering from a hard drive crash. Last week my computer made the dreaded clicking noise. So I decided it was time to transfer my computer life over to a new hard drive.
Old: 180gb main drive, 500gb secondary, 250gb external
New: 1500gb main drive, screw-the-rest eh?

Spinrite told me there were like 3 unrecoverable errors on the old main drive.

My big question is: I have backups; how can I easily tell which files went bad and need recovering? I’ve got something like two hundred and fifty thousand files. (crap, I’ve got two hundred and fifty thousand files!). RAID-5 would automagically do it but Windows doesn’t support software RAID-5 and I don’t want to spend another $600 on drives and controllers. Other solutions?

I’ve got Windows and Outlook reinstalled. Next, the myriad support programs I rely on.

Sorry I haven’t been blogging, I’ve been doing.

Teaching Kinetics 9-12pm and 1-4pm takes a lot out of you, especially when there are always some challenging kids in the group. Those 2 weeks are done. There will be another round shortly!

Tutoring twice a week to a 3rd grader and 4th grader. Last week we played Flash Card battles, it was cool. I’d hold up multiplication flash cards in my fist and throw punches at him from across the room. When he answered them, I’d throw myself back across the room. Then we’d switch sides. Yes kids, math can be fun ;-)

Doing a fabrication project for a company team building project. They got 80% through designing and building it with my help. Now I’m doing the other 80% to finish up.

Doing another fabrication project for a person at the Crucible: making a 2 stage foot pedal for his glass working torch

I haven’t told many about this but I’m STILL trying to get the SWARM robots back from Techkriti in Kanpur India after 7 freaking weeks. The local shipper, Airlift Global has been dragging their feet the whole time. I’ve been calling several times per week for most of these 7 weeks. On Friday I escalated it by writing to the Dean of Student Affairs and the Techkriti Festival Chairman. That seems to have gotten them going but the next step is to call my local federal official, Nancy Pelosi.

I’m still working with a local machine shop, helping to get their computers working well, hunting down viruses, wrangling giant Hurco CNC mills, fixing internets and intranets, and VoIPing.

Been hunting down a few more people to teach at the Crucible. I got some very impressive people responding to my call!

I’m making the lesson plan for a computer controlled flame effects class that’s starting in 2 weeks!

I’m still trying to source products and get a web site for the T. Pen.

While Charlotte and I are very good friends, we’re not dating any more. I’ve been looking for a relationship. I’ve been using OKCupid and enjoying it.

Been recovering from a hard drive crash. I don’t -think- I lost any data. But seriously, how do you tell? I’ve got hundreds of gigs to protect. Considering RAID 5 in software on Win XP Pro.

Been working on Vivoliths with Marnia. There’s an art show in June that we’re going to have them set up for! They’ll chirp kinda like crickets, light up as if they’re bioluminescent and react to people’s presence.

Been working on a mechanical heart art project with Schuyler. It’s going to beat in response to your body heat when you hold it in your hands or against your chest.

Phew!

There’s gonna be a Neumann Prep Reunion June 26th. I might attend… haven’t made up my mind yet. For more details, get on the Neumann Prep Reunion Facebook Group

————————————————–

Wendy ParkerApril 5, 2010 at 5:52pm
Subject: Invite
Your Host: The Neumann Prepsters
Host’s Message: Seriously, this event is gonna be AWESOME.

We’re transforming the old gym into the hottest hot-spot ever.

Includes: 2 Full Open Bars, ’80s DJ, Hors d’oeuvres, Dinner, Desserts, Old Friends & Special Surprises!

COST:
$75 / person if paid before 5/20
$100 / person if paid before 6/20

Please see the EVENT WEB PAGE for info & payment details.
What: Neumann Prep “Junior Citizen Ring Dance” Reunion
Where: The School Formerly Known as Neumann Prep
970 Black Oak Ridge Road,
Wayne, NJ 07470-6306
When: June 26th, 2010, 8pm
More info:
Brought to you by the Class of ’90, this trip down memory lane is open to EVERYONE who ever went to Neumann Prep. We want to tear the roof off that mother. So break out your Dippity Doo and your Aqua Net and join us for a spectacular evening. It could very possibly be the best night of your life.

WHEN?
Saturday
June 26th
8pm – midnight
After-party at HoJo’s (or whatever it’s called now)

WHERE?
The School Formerly Known As Neumann Prep.
In the Old Gym.
But don’t let that scare you.
We’re turning it into the hottest club in Jersey.

WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO THERE?
With 2 full open bars, amazing appetizers, a smorgasbord to salivate over, delectable desserts, a stellar dance floor with an incredible DJ spinning all your 80’s faves, photo booths, old friends, lots of laughs, special guests and wild surprises… what AREN’T we going to do there? We’re gonna reclaim that school, by golly! Breakfast Club style.

PAYMENT INFO:
RSVP and Pre-Registration a MUST!
$75 per person if paid before May 20th
$100 per person if paid before June 20th
No paying at the door… sorry.

TO PAY BY CHECK, make it payable to:
Wendy Parker Events / Memo: Neumann Reunion Payment
1226 South Crescent Heights Blvd.
LA, CA 90035

TO PAY BY CREDIT CARD, go to:

(link) http://www.facebook.com/l/14e94;www.wendyparkerevents.com

Click on the “Buy Now” button.

This will take you to the paypal page and you can either:
1. enter in your paypal login info
2. Click on “continue” if you want to pay via credit card
Please follow the instructions to process your payment.
All credit cards are accepted.

If you have any questions, email us at neumannreunion@gmail.com

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THIS INVITATION to any of your classmates that weren’t included on the guest list.

It’s Easter so I called lots of family. My dad asked me if I went to church. Of course I said “no.” I asked him back and he said…

“I went to church today. I couldn’t tell if the priest was a pedophile or  embezzler.”

Hahah!

Of course we then discussed the plight of the church, how the present scandal was nothing new and how the vows of chastity had been manufacturing pedophiles for centuries.