Don't break a window with a brick and your bare fist. I'm an idiot.
Next time I'll wrap a shirt around my hand! I think taking a photo of my hand afterwards is due to Paul's blogging influence. He's my blogspiration.
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08/25/2008 15:03 #45453
How To Break A WindowOn a slight tangent from yesterday :)
Don't break a window with a brick and your bare fist. I'm an idiot.
Next time I'll wrap a shirt around my hand! I think taking a photo of my hand afterwards is due to Paul's blogging influence. He's my blogspiration.
Don't break a window with a brick and your bare fist. I'm an idiot.
Next time I'll wrap a shirt around my hand! I think taking a photo of my hand afterwards is due to Paul's blogging influence. He's my blogspiration.
08/24/2008 16:15 #45439
Sad DayCategory: life
So, my boss has been on sick leave for 6 weeks or so with cancer. It was actually treatable and I think his prognosis was at least somewhat hopeful. Last night was the first night he was home alone, and today no one could get in touch with him on the phone.
I volunteered to go to his house to check on him, but there was no answer and he is not well enough to drive so eventually I broke in through the window. He'd committed suicide last night and I found him on the floor.
I guess it was better that I found him instead of a family member, but still... not the way you want to last see someone. Too late for me to do anything about, I wish there was more I could do.
He was the best boss I've ever had, and a friend.
Goodbye, Luke.
I volunteered to go to his house to check on him, but there was no answer and he is not well enough to drive so eventually I broke in through the window. He'd committed suicide last night and I found him on the floor.
I guess it was better that I found him instead of a family member, but still... not the way you want to last see someone. Too late for me to do anything about, I wish there was more I could do.
He was the best boss I've ever had, and a friend.
Goodbye, Luke.
johnallen - 08/29/08 17:39
Sorry man, My heart goes out to you.YOu did what you had to, and kudos for that. Fear is a very powerfull forces that drives mankind to the extreme - sorry you had to stumble upon this.
Sorry man, My heart goes out to you.YOu did what you had to, and kudos for that. Fear is a very powerfull forces that drives mankind to the extreme - sorry you had to stumble upon this.
museumchick - 08/27/08 14:07
I'm so sorry Jim. It must have been so difficult to find him there.
I'm so sorry Jim. It must have been so difficult to find him there.
jim - 08/26/08 11:23
That's why I held the brick and bashed the window instead of throwing it, so I wouldn't accidentally hit him inside since I didn't know if he was in there or where he would be. Turns out if I had thrown it I probably would have hit him since I ended up breaking into his bedroom :(
That's why I held the brick and bashed the window instead of throwing it, so I wouldn't accidentally hit him inside since I didn't know if he was in there or where he would be. Turns out if I had thrown it I probably would have hit him since I ended up breaking into his bedroom :(
paul - 08/26/08 11:08
You don't have to answer this but I am curious so I am going to ask. How did he die? Hope not a brick injury to the head.
You don't have to answer this but I am curious so I am going to ask. How did he die? Hope not a brick injury to the head.
fellyconnelly - 08/26/08 06:01
Remember him for the great guy he was, and not for his last days.
I'm sorry for your loss and all you have been through.
Remember him for the great guy he was, and not for his last days.
I'm sorry for your loss and all you have been through.
metalpeter - 08/25/08 18:56
I really can't imagine thinking that Sure I'll go check on the guy and then finding him dead. I really can't. I Know I couldn't handle it, and I hope you are dealing with it the best you can. If it was me I think I would need professional help after that. If it was someone I really liked to I know I couldn't handle it. I wish you luck and all I can really say is it fucked up, it really is.
I really can't imagine thinking that Sure I'll go check on the guy and then finding him dead. I really can't. I Know I couldn't handle it, and I hope you are dealing with it the best you can. If it was me I think I would need professional help after that. If it was someone I really liked to I know I couldn't handle it. I wish you luck and all I can really say is it fucked up, it really is.
jim - 08/25/08 15:06
Enknot, you're giving me too much credit - I was just the guy who was there.
Enknot, you're giving me too much credit - I was just the guy who was there.
enknot - 08/25/08 14:52
That was brave and valiant Jim. I hope I would have acted with as much valor as you had I been in your shoes. I'm sorry for that poor mans and his loved one's loss as well, but I'm moved by your character.
That was brave and valiant Jim. I hope I would have acted with as much valor as you had I been in your shoes. I'm sorry for that poor mans and his loved one's loss as well, but I'm moved by your character.
dcoffee - 08/25/08 14:04
oh my god. I hope you're ok.
oh my god. I hope you're ok.
carolinian - 08/25/08 09:44
I'm sorry for your loss. The world needs good people and it's a shame when we lose them.
I'm sorry for your loss. The world needs good people and it's a shame when we lose them.
jon - 08/25/08 09:25
Sorry to hear this Jim. Such a terrible thing all around.
Sorry to hear this Jim. Such a terrible thing all around.
mrmike - 08/24/08 21:29
A good thought for him, and a few for you too. I can't imagine.
A good thought for him, and a few for you too. I can't imagine.
jim - 08/24/08 20:37
Thanks!
Thanks!
heidi - 08/24/08 20:02
My thoughts are with you.
My thoughts are with you.
libertad - 08/24/08 17:34
Very sorry Jim. I can't even imagine what this must be like for you. I'll keep him in my prayer tonight.
Very sorry Jim. I can't even imagine what this must be like for you. I'll keep him in my prayer tonight.
tinypliny - 08/24/08 16:41
Cancer is very stressful and hope is emotionally expensive. :(
Cancer is very stressful and hope is emotionally expensive. :(
jim - 08/24/08 16:39
Thanks, everyone.
Thanks, everyone.
tinypliny - 08/24/08 16:37
How sad!! :( I hope his family finds the courage to get through it all.
How sad!! :( I hope his family finds the courage to get through it all.
drew - 08/24/08 16:37
I've lost friends to suicide. It sucks. You have my sympathy.
I've lost friends to suicide. It sucks. You have my sympathy.
jbeatty - 08/24/08 16:21
That is really terrible, I'm so sorry.
That is really terrible, I'm so sorry.
08/23/2008 16:14 #45424
Microcontrollers Part IICategory: electronics
So, this is just the getting started lesson from this page: 
although I did deviate in the programming a bit to use functions instead of nested if-blocks. It's supposed to be a bike safety light (although not in a pretty / finished package).
Nothing special, but it is flashy and blinky so I made a video of it working.
although I did deviate in the programming a bit to use functions instead of nested if-blocks. It's supposed to be a bike safety light (although not in a pretty / finished package).Nothing special, but it is flashy and blinky so I made a video of it working.
jim - 08/23/08 19:15
Yeah I need to stock up on some parts. Will check out the one on Vulcan. Spent fifty bucks on grab bag assortment of sensors and motors and steppers and led's from ebay, so those should be hopefully fun when they get here.
Yeah I need to stock up on some parts. Will check out the one on Vulcan. Spent fifty bucks on grab bag assortment of sensors and motors and steppers and led's from ebay, so those should be hopefully fun when they get here.
paul - 08/23/08 19:12
I used to buy all sorts of electronics supplies at the radio shack on niagara falls and Sheridan. Now that that one is gone, I have no idea where get electronis supplies in buffalo. Oh wait, I take that back - there is a cool electronics and radio supply store on Vulcan in riverside behind the old grainmills on military. There are also some awesome surplus electronics shops in Toronto.
I used to buy all sorts of electronics supplies at the radio shack on niagara falls and Sheridan. Now that that one is gone, I have no idea where get electronis supplies in buffalo. Oh wait, I take that back - there is a cool electronics and radio supply store on Vulcan in riverside behind the old grainmills on military. There are also some awesome surplus electronics shops in Toronto.
tinypliny - 08/23/08 18:42
oops. I swear I was on (e:joshua)'s page!
Nice blinky device! But hey, smile!! You are on candid camera. ;-)
oops. I swear I was on (e:joshua)'s page!
Nice blinky device! But hey, smile!! You are on candid camera. ;-)
08/23/2008 11:27 #45421
MicrocontrollersCategory: electronics
I finished soldering together my microcontroller board and the prototyping shield which fits on top. The microcontroller board you can't see in this photo, it's the first layer.
Soldering is a lot of fun, it turns out.
Now, the little switch on top of that board I can read from inside of programs on my computer, like so:
Not bad for a first little project.
I'm going to construct some camera triggers, so that I can take pictures from sensors like motion, heat, laser, etc.
Soldering is a lot of fun, it turns out.
Now, the little switch on top of that board I can read from inside of programs on my computer, like so:
Not bad for a first little project.
I'm going to construct some camera triggers, so that I can take pictures from sensors like motion, heat, laser, etc.
jim - 08/23/08 16:16
Paul, yeah :) I'm having a lot of fun!
I had one of those radio shack 101 electronics experiments kits as a kid, but this is much better, even though I have to brush off my C programming.
Paul, yeah :) I'm having a lot of fun!
I had one of those radio shack 101 electronics experiments kits as a kid, but this is much better, even though I have to brush off my C programming.
paul - 08/23/08 14:37
microcontrollets are so fun.
microcontrollets are so fun.
tinypliny - 08/23/08 12:25
Hmmmm.. so you are building the next light-heat-motion sensing Frankenstein.
Hmmmm.. so you are building the next light-heat-motion sensing Frankenstein.
Thanks. I thought it was an homage to (e:matthew,27499) lol.
I think blogging injuries instead of taking care of them makes me gen-y.
Perhaps throwing the brick would have helped as well....?
Evidence everywhere! =P
There goes your future as a cat burglar