New repository: aquilax/go-genetic-bet - Genetic betting with go
New repository: aquilax/go-perlin - Perlin noise generator in Go
@bo_go Black Books http://t.co/EmGWztn
Upcoming presidential elections
I really need to get into politics—as much as I hate it—to prepare for the upcoming presidential elections. I have the feeling that it’s going to be nasty… as always. ⌘ Read more
Bookmarklets I use
These are some of the general bookmarklets I use. I have them synchronized with Chrome and Google Docs, but I am listing them here in case I want to share them with someone else, like you (yes, you there, reading this now). Here there go:
- Tweet it! : document.getSelection ? document.getSelection() : document.selection.createRange().text); if (!q) q=prompt(“Enter your Tweet”,“”);if (q!=null) location=”http://twitter.com/home?st … ⌘ Read more
Use Google Checkout
I was going to write a longer note on Paypal and eBay, but after some time to cool down I do not think it is worth it. Instead I am going to recommend, wholeheartedly, the use of Google Checkout for all your payments and shopping needs. Really, once again Google did not let me down and transformed an otherwise nightmare into a pleasant auctioning/shopping dream.
If you must use eBay, find a way to use Google Checkout with it. Y … ⌘ Read more
Another Facebook rant
This one will be short, Twitter style… almost. A while ago I wrote about how Facebook has cached my OpenID credentials (wrong ones) and it was refusing to clear them after a few days. Well, twenty five (that is 25) days after, Facebook is still insisting on going to the wrong place, when I enter /bits/ as my OpenID on my “Settings → Account Settings → Linked Accounts → OpenID…”.
Now isn’t tha … ⌘ Read more
Facebook and OpenID caching
When I first read that Facebook was going to allow OpenID logins, I was happy. OpenID means less usernames and passwords to remember. So I merrily went to setup mine, just to find out that their support was exclusively for OpenID version 2.0, and my implementation was 1.1. No graceful fall back, Facebook demands OpenID 2.0. So I decided it was time for me to upgrade my implementation for one capable to handle 1.1 and 2.0.
Of course, the first one I tried I did not like it … ⌘ Read more
Special, just like you
At first I thought I was special, when I received my first offering of marriage, or the bank transfer to help the widow of some foreign fallen dignitary. Then they kept going, and I knew I was “special”, just like everyone else.
Read one of today’s emails and smile:
I am 26 years old, just started work with Central bank of Nigeria, as a scientist and why i was diong system maintance . I came across your file which was marked X and your released disk painted RED, I took t … ⌘ Read more
Aion, the WoW killer
Aion isn’t out yet for North America or Europe, but has already caused long time WoW players to quit. That is what my household has done, ending the life of two, four years old, accounts.
Beta 4 is coming up, July 17th and we can hardly wait. Preorder will give you access to the beta, so go ahead! Simply Google Aion and follow the appropiated link.
While we wait, it feels good to be out of WoW. Really liberating! ⌘ Read more
gOS is coming our way
Yes, it is coming!
We hear a lot from our users and their message is clear – computers need to get better. People want to get to their email instantly, without wasting time waiting for their computers to boot and browsers to start up. They want their computers to always run as fast as when they first bought them. They want their data to be accessible to them wherever they are and not have to wo … ⌘ Read more
KDE 4.2 in Nixpkgs/NixOS
We now have a fairly complete set of KDE 4.2 packages in Nixpkgs
and NixOS. Previously we had KDE 3.5, but it was rather
incomplete: just kdelibs and kdebase.
Now we have all that desktop goodness, such as
kdemultimedia, kdenetwork and kdegames.
You can enable KDE 4 in NixOS by setting the
services.xserver.sessionType option to
kde4. Thanks go to Yury G. Kudryashov, And … ⌘ Read more
Safari 4 Beta
Safari 4 Beta is out and it is rocking. Apple has adopted (copied) quite a bit from Chrome interface and I have to say the browser looks and behaves awesomely under Windows 7.
But, why bore you with senseless praise? Go download it, and see it for yourself. ⌘ Read more
NETBROS.COM for sale
Yes, I am selling this domain, which I have have since, well, I already lost count. If you are interested on buying this domain, please contact me. I would rather sell it directly than going through a broker. ⌘ Read more
Yet another
Yet another long downtime on World of Warcraft, just in the verge of the release of the second major expansion for the game. What a royal mess! You would think Blizzard has it figured out by now, down to a science, but…
I can’t imagine how tomorrow, with the expansion release, will be. Not going to “tune in.” Instead will let others have the “fun.” ⌘ Read more
Microsoft DRM server going offline
Rob Bennett, head of MSN Entertainment and Video Services, wrote to customers in an email:
As of August 31, 2008, we will no longer be able to support the retrieval of license keys for the songs you purchased from MSN Music or the authorization of additional computers. You will need to obtain a license key for each of your songs downloaded from MSN Music on any new computer, and you must do so before August 31, 2008. If you attempt to transfer your songs to additi … ⌘ Read more
Lesbos islanders dispute gay name
Who has the right to be called Lesbian?
Campaigners on the Greek island of Lesbos are to go to court in an attempt to stop a gay rights organisation from using the term “lesbian”.
The islanders say that if they are successful they may then start to fight the word lesbian internationally.
The issue boils down to who has the right to call themselves Lesbians.
Is it gay women, or the 100,000 people liv … ⌘ Read more
Overturning the unconstitutional
Overturning nightmares
As president, he said he would ask his attorney general “to review every executive order” of the Bush administration. “We are going to overturn those that were unconstitutional. We are going to overturn those that are unnecessary.”
I don’t think it is a slogan, I don’t think they are empty words. Yes, we can! ⌘ Read more
Ron Paul on War and Foreign Policy
Ron Paul: War and Foreign Policy
We can continue to fund and fight no-win police actions around the globe, or we can refocus on securing America and bring the troops home. No war should ever be fought without a declaration of war voted upon by the Congress, as required by the Constitution.
Under no circumstances should the U.S. again go to war as the result of a resolution that comes from … ⌘ Read more
I had to have them
I found this weblog, via
Kottke, and in it, this post
I like: So long\
Flight of the Conchords. And I loved it. I had to have the list of
videos on that log here1, to show wife, to play them at a later time.
Simply awesome. And here they come (links go to Youtube):
- The most\ beautiful girl in the room - “you could be a par … ⌘ Read more
I hate school
When your, almost seven years old, son tells you he hates going to school you worry. It is not the first time that KM tells me he doesn’t like going to school. He goes to a private, Christian school, and his main complain has always being that he doesn’t like to memorize the weekly versicle. I have noticed that this “disliking” normally comes after a weekend, holiday, or similar ‘time off school’ occasion.
I have talked to him, trying to find out if there are other reasons, but haven’t … ⌘ Read more
Yes, they sold it
A while ago, I wrote about the closing of the C3 School, previously known as Parkway Preparatory School. As many other parents and staff, I was sad to see the school my kid attended to disappearing. And there were rumors, so I asked a senior Pastor (do not remember his name now) about them. I was told the Church wasn’t going anywhere, that the rumors about selling the Church were unfounded. I told him I was going to be very disappo … ⌘ Read more
What a load of crock!
If it weren’t enough that you have to go through airport hell every time you must take an airplane, some people is trying to cash in, and they are using terrorism to their advantage. Enter Clear card.
From their CEO (read while playing patriotic music on the background, waving an American flag) :
“I started Verified Identity Pass with a simple idea: In the post 9-11 era we have to take new measures to protect ourselves yet not destroy our way of life by strangling the free f … ⌘ Read more
Canon PowerShot A640
Recently we decided to replace our old Sony little camera, since quite a few photos are going to be taken in the near future, and the poor Cyber-Shot we had really wasn’t up to the task. With an under $400 budget, I picked the Canon PowerShot A640, and the picture below is the first one I took, on total automatic mode.
More will come in the near future, as we will have our first real vacation in six years. ⌘ Read more
Stop spamming, GoDaddy!
I have several domains registered at Godaddy. For the ones I care about, I have auto renew enabled. For those I am letting go, I don’t. Godaddy gentlemanly reminds me when those about to expire domains are about to do so… four months in advance! The email “reminders” do not cease from there on. And then regular mail (snail mail, that is) starts coming to my mailbox as well.
Don’t you get it, Godaddy? I do not want to renew those domains. If I wanted, I would have set auto … ⌘ Read more
Two visions?
Mark posted yesterday that he will be working for Google, since out of the “ two visions” of the web, he says, Google is the right one. I am not web savvy nor I really care much about it, but I am sure there is more than two visions on the web, there is not right and wrong, but many, many, many shades in between. But the way I see it, the bottom line in my mind: he is going to work for someone who will pay him very well. Yes, bottom line is all a … ⌘ Read more
Why Vista is not going in
I was talking —well, chatting— the other day with a friend of mine and he was telling me some bad experiences he had had with a Windows Media Center upgrade. That got me talking about Windows Vista, perhaps it is because Windows Vista Ultimate comes with it, I am not sure. Anyways…
I told my friend I am not installing Vista (although I have Windows Vista Ultimate —the final version of Vista, no beta, no RC, but final— as … ⌘ Read more
We, the forgetful
I am often intrigued, saddened, worried, by the human “natural” forgetful nature. Since the beginning of time, we haven’t kept memories of lost, gone ones. Did any of you remember –or even knew of– your great-grandparents? How many generations do you have knowledge of? When you are gone, how many years will you be remembered? Why do we forget? Why? What can we do to change that? Going through a life of accomplishments –or lack of, it doesn’t matter– and ending up in the void. Isn’ … ⌘ Read more
Why e-mails are so easily missunderstood
Very interesting read and, in my case, it has proven to be as close to truth as it can be. Go read the whole thing, it is worth it.
Though e-mail is a powerful and convenient medium, researchers have identified three major problems. First and foremost, e-mail lacks cues like facial expression and tone of voice. That makes it diffic … ⌘ Read more
BBC and WoW
From one article on today’s BBC Online news:
Occasionally gryphons and hippogriffs swept majestically overhead taking their riders to elsewhere in Azeroth or, as it is also known, the World of Warcraft (WoW).
At the edge of the computer screen chatter constantly scrolled past as other WoW players sought members forguilds, buyers for magical items, help with quests or engaged in idle banter.
Go and read: [A Walk in the World of Warcraft](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4294122.stm “ … ⌘ Read more
Still playing
Yes guys and gals, still playing WoW and loving it. Tryggr on Argent Dawn is already at level 48 and things are getting harder. Lots of quests can’t no longer be done alone and it is hard to find good players to group.
Soon Blizzard will allow characters moving, from server to server as well as accounts merging. I might decide then to move to another server. I am not sure it is going to be a PvP one, Anthony :-)
I know, you are bored with my babbling about WoW. You will not know exactly what … ⌘ Read more
Worse hurricane season?
With Dennis –the hurricane, that is– Florida has had 5 hurricanes in less than a year. And it seems it could get a bit worse.
LOXAHATCHEE, FL – A wildlife expert in south Florida says turtles may be giving us a sign that the hurricane season ahead is going to be a bad one.
Lyle Thomas said he’s noticed turtles at the edge of the Everglades have nested just about as high as they can in earthen levees.
Thomas operates Loxahatchee Everglade Tours and sa … ⌘ Read more
Mention two
My parents are visiting. They got here July 3rd and on July 4th dad was telling me they needed to leave the coming Friday. My old people are really something, but that is not what I wanted to post about.
My father talks, continuously, a lot. He will start with a simple answer to a question I asked and go on into various topics and anecdotes that seem not to have an end. One of tonight twists brought up his statement (seconded by my mother’s) about President George W. Bush: “He is a very good Presiden … ⌘ Read more
No more Freedom Fries?
It was really interesting to read on the BBC News:
A pro-Iraq war US congressman who campaigned for French fries to be renamed “freedom fries” is now calling for US troops to return home from Iraq. Republican Representative Walter Jones is to introduce legislation demanding a timetable for the withdrawal.
[…]
“I just feel that the reason of going in for weapons of mass … ⌘ Read more
Changes
Changes are coming soon. After a couple of years with the same patched interface I am about to a) have it right and migrate it to WP 1.5 or b) asimilate an existing WP template and start fresh. The advances behind WP 1.5.1 are way too attracting, I am not going to wait any longer.
So, should you tomorrow (or next month) come and find things completely different, do not fret. I am changing things around… [once again](https://collantes.us/2003/05/11/things-are-changing-once-again/ “Things changed back th … ⌘ Read more
Single sign on
Since I am going to start migrating all my web logins to a single sign on approach (using Chris Zarate SuperGenPass), I think the best way to start is by saving the bookmarklet I will have to use over and over. There is a Greasemonkey version available, which has much more features than this bookmarklet version. I will use the latest because it works with all browsers.
The bookmarklet is: Single Sign on.. Drag and drop it on you … ⌘ Read more
Shameful website
Have you ever tried going to the U.S. website for Kenwood? Kenwood, you know, that audio equipment, transceivers maker, etc? Go look! They ought to be ashamed! ⌘ Read more
Beware!
There is a flu strain going around. I am not sure of how vast its geographic coverage will be, I just know I caught a drop –or a bucket– of it here in Orlando, Central Florida.
Now this sucker is not like any other. At least for me it isn’t. This one blocks your nose and lungs and converts you into a phlegm dispenser machine. It gives you pain in all your joins (joins, not loins!), head and eyes. It will take your appetite away, it will give you flatulence. It will not let you sleep and it will bother you w … ⌘ Read more
Good bye MMIV. Welcome MMV!
And here I am, to wish good byes to 2004 and to greet 2005. The year 2004 was a heck of a year, too many things to write in just a couple of minutes. Just one true thing, everything we—the Collantes’ family—did go through was worth the journey.
So, 2005 starts and with it my often erratic and/or pedantic ramblings. To all a prosperous, peaceful, hopeful, fruitful 2005. Just love one to each other, everything else comes after. ⌘ Read more
A busy week
It has been a busy week. On Monday classes will start and, as you can imagine, a lot of things are left to the last moment on a Campus. It is also true that Murphy’s Law applies as well on that final week: if something is going to go wrong, it will certainly go wrong. If you are thinking Microsoft Exchange you are on the right track.
You see, when I installed Exchange 2003 I swear I installed the Enterprise version. Of course I did not; I guess Windows 2003 Enterprise Server got me confused. Running th … ⌘ Read more
Dropping BellSouth
Our VoIP gateway shipped yesterday and it should reach us around August 3rd (Tuesday). We are going to try Voice over IP technology and service, from Lingo. The reason why? Save money. Lingo VoIP service is $20 for unlimited long distance for US, Canada and Western Europe. Very –very– competitive fees to the rest of the world. And you get all the other goodies (caller ID, call waiting, return call, *69, voicemail, etc. [See more](https://www.lingo.com/guWeb/ … ⌘ Read more
Sunday morning rants
As I previously wrote, I believe IE is no match to Firefox. I will tell everyone I know about its problems, I will show those to them if I can. I will praise the goods of Firefox, so everyone I know will enjoy web browsing as much as I am. But…
One thing is not using IE and another thing is not serving pages to those using it. That’s plain wrong. It is like going to a japanese restaurant and have sushi … ⌘ Read more
Week recount
Nothing major happened during the last week that I can recall. Someone called me a copycat and accused me of copying another site, which was a totally baseless accusation and hence not worth of occupying more space here. We have been looking —well, Kim more than I— for a pre-school for KM without much success. That’s pretty much it.
I am going to try and do some exercises starting tonight, since the lack of it is taking its toll on my body. It is not only the gaining of fat on certain spots that … ⌘ Read more
It happened again
Last Friday family got together in our house and some photos were taken. Well, it happened again, just this time there was no other family around, but the three of us. We were making time to go over the airport to pick Khanh (brother-in-law) and girlfriend up, so I snapped a few photos, from which I have choosen five. It is mainly about KM, but Kim is in one of them, for the first time!
Something bad about the night … ⌘ Read more
Short and sweet
Just a quick post, short and sweet, while my wife and kid still sleep and I patiently wait for the ServerBeach people to fix the mess on my server (the other server). Can you believe that I lost connection last night, went to sleep and this morning I found that my IP goes to a Windows 2003 server? Boy, talk about some big time screw up!
I have 15 (fifteen, that is) invitations for Gmail that I am giving out for free. If anyone wants one, go ahead and [email … ⌘ Read more
Futilely insisting
Human nature is quite interesting and I type so based on my own experience. I am talking about myself.
It amazes me that I keep going to check for new entries or read comments, once — and sometimes two, three, four times — a day on Ambivalent.US, when I disagree 9 out of 10 with everything the owner has to say (actually, write). Same thing happens with Hivelogic, I go there every day just to find a bo … ⌘ Read more
Expect changes
I know it has been a long time. I guess other things are using my mind and what’s left is not enough to dedicate on this. I have been back in Orlando for two weeks already, time is flying.
Wanted to get DSL, ordered and before receiving the modem cancelled. Bell South wants you to use their SMTP server and nothing else and I can not accept that. Modem is going back and I am back to my old cable modem.
Placed two cameras for auction on eBay, they are not selling that well. Let’s keep hoping … ⌘ Read more
It has been a ride, UCF
I am leaving the College of Business and, hence, the University of Central Florida. When I started working for UCF almost eight years ago I did not know I was going to stay that long, but most important of all, I did not know it was going to be that much fun. It has certainly been a ride, a good one. I learned a lot in all aspects and for that I am grateful.
I had the opportunity to work with excellent people in a very healthy working environment. Accepting the fact that nothing is … ⌘ Read more
First working week; about to start
The 2004 first working week (at least for me) is about to start. I know it is going to be difficult after 4 and a half days off, but hey, “a man has to do what a man has to do…”. I hope we (TRC staff) will know early this week who was the choosen one for the position we interviewed people for.
Went to sleep early today (around 2:00 AM). I was playing with [AnyDVD](ht … ⌘ Read more
Happy New Year 2004!
As we get closer to changing years —in some parts of the world it is already 2004— I feel like going over the things that happened to us (the Collantes’ family) during 2003. I may not have enough to write about to make this a serious entry, but here I go.
This year we are leaving behind brought very few things, but some made a deep impact in our lives at this point. To start with, we turned out one year older (duh!) and, hence, gained on experience (yeah, right!). We reached our 5th … ⌘ Read more