Joe's Journal
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11/14/2013 22:20 #58302
Windows XP is still (not) kickingCategory: computers
Who would have thought I'd be trying to support Windows XP 12 years after it came out?
I was attempting to get QuickBooks working for Squeaky Wheel on a donated computer they had. on opening any new workbook, the error "Unrecoverable Error 20888 41171" would come up and it would crash to desktop. Looking in the .NET error log, it would hang when it tried to write an XML file to the temp folder, thinking it didn't have proper permissions. In XP running as an admin this is pretty much impossible since there aren't granulated privileges like in Vista and after, so there must have been an issue with the .NET install itself.
The installation was a fresh copy of Windows XP, so you think it would work out of the box. somehow though the .NET framework got completly borked. QuickBooks requires the .NET 4.0 framework, which was partially installed on the machine, although Windows was only reporting 3.5 being installed. The installer for 4.0 couldn't rollback the the libraries already installed or finish the current installation. All that I could do was either manually roll back to 3.5 and try again, or uninstall all the way back to the default 2.0 framework. This would have taken forever on a Celeron D, so I just installed an extra license of Windows 7 I had.
Reinstalling is such a Windoes solution to things. I am glad (e:Paul) got me on Fedora.
11/12/2013 09:16 #58290
Veterans DayCategory: holiday
So I was thinking about Veterans Day and how weird the idea behind it is. It's so tightly wound with the cultural worship that seems to go along with the US military. Besides the veterans of World War I and II, what is being celebrated? The day originally marked the armistice of World War I, but it seems to be so far from celebrating peace today.
Why is someone who spent 18 months slogging around a base, or drone bombing random Pakistanis considered a hero, to be protecting our freedoms, to be serving our country? Who in this country are they actually serving, and what are they actually protecting us from? When people use that kind of language they expect that it makes the military exempt from any sort of criticism, disconnected from what they actually do. I don't see what invading Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Libya, or Somalia did to protect or serve the US. I don't see why we should be proud that $682 billion will be spent this year on an army when our Congress claims we can't afford food stamps, basic research or healthcare. Obligatory cost of war link
I know the military is an employer of last resort for many, making it difficult to blame the soldiers on the ground. But they still choose to take part in a unit that instigates rather than defends. This isn't to say there is no good in the military, or those in it haven't done good where they're deployed - I just don't think signing up for a fighting force is a job worthy of the language and reverence that it currently gets. There are so many people in this country struggling to make it a better place through service and self-sacrifice - we could be celebrating them in the name of peace instead.
Maybe I am jealous of everyone who got off of work.
Why is someone who spent 18 months slogging around a base, or drone bombing random Pakistanis considered a hero, to be protecting our freedoms, to be serving our country? Who in this country are they actually serving, and what are they actually protecting us from? When people use that kind of language they expect that it makes the military exempt from any sort of criticism, disconnected from what they actually do. I don't see what invading Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Libya, or Somalia did to protect or serve the US. I don't see why we should be proud that $682 billion will be spent this year on an army when our Congress claims we can't afford food stamps, basic research or healthcare. Obligatory cost of war link
I know the military is an employer of last resort for many, making it difficult to blame the soldiers on the ground. But they still choose to take part in a unit that instigates rather than defends. This isn't to say there is no good in the military, or those in it haven't done good where they're deployed - I just don't think signing up for a fighting force is a job worthy of the language and reverence that it currently gets. There are so many people in this country struggling to make it a better place through service and self-sacrifice - we could be celebrating them in the name of peace instead.
Maybe I am jealous of everyone who got off of work.
11/12/2013 05:39 #58289
Walk and ChalkCategory: estrip
On Sunday, (e:paul) and I took a break from our computing and (e:terry) his anime to go out for a walk on a really nice day. We ended up stopping at Hu's for some chalk so we could advertise estrip on the busiest corners.
I think it'd be awesome if more people joined and this place was bumping.
We stopped at the coop for some groceries. I forgot to take pictures, but they were selling organic cucumbers for $3.29 each! That seems insane! I thought of you (e:tinypliny).
We also grabbed some soup from Globe before heading home. The pumpkin curry with coconut flakes was amazing, I love their soup. they also had these desserts that looked amazing - can't remember what they're called.
At home Terry put on the movie Christopher and his Kind, about a gay writer Christopher Isherwood living in Berlin in the 1930's. Paul looked into his life more and apparently he was super famous - he collaborated with Truman Capote.
I had never been up these apartment stairs on North Street before. It was like a little street with a drawbridge at the end.
Rainbow, so schwul!
They knocked down a house on Elmwood recently, north of Bidwell - was this on fire? I can't remember.
Presbyterian Church construction - concrete formwork that looks like a moat. Someone lost their baby in it
Delicious things and figures made from sugar at Globe - surprised I was able to resist
I think it'd be awesome if more people joined and this place was bumping.
We stopped at the coop for some groceries. I forgot to take pictures, but they were selling organic cucumbers for $3.29 each! That seems insane! I thought of you (e:tinypliny).
We also grabbed some soup from Globe before heading home. The pumpkin curry with coconut flakes was amazing, I love their soup. they also had these desserts that looked amazing - can't remember what they're called.
At home Terry put on the movie Christopher and his Kind, about a gay writer Christopher Isherwood living in Berlin in the 1930's. Paul looked into his life more and apparently he was super famous - he collaborated with Truman Capote.
I had never been up these apartment stairs on North Street before. It was like a little street with a drawbridge at the end.
Rainbow, so schwul!
They knocked down a house on Elmwood recently, north of Bidwell - was this on fire? I can't remember.
Presbyterian Church construction - concrete formwork that looks like a moat. Someone lost their baby in it
Delicious things and figures made from sugar at Globe - surprised I was able to resist
tinypliny - 11/12/13 11:29
Oh man. It would have been so cool had the rainbow been over the mayfair lane pic! missed chances!
Oh man. It would have been so cool had the rainbow been over the mayfair lane pic! missed chances!
tinypliny - 11/12/13 11:28
I see.. perambulators in ditches.
I see.. perambulators in ditches.
tinypliny - 11/12/13 11:28
The timestamps are awry for me. (e:Paul) - are you seeing what I am seeing??
The timestamps are awry for me. (e:Paul) - are you seeing what I am seeing??
tinypliny - 11/12/13 11:26
hahah @ coop cucumbers. Looks like I managed to enter your grocery subconsciousness. As a former grocery maniac on the site: :::link::: this is somewhat amusing. :)
Mmmmmmmm Pumpkins with coconut!!!!
Wow @ the Mayfair lane pic. I never went up there in all the 5 years I was in Buffalo. There used to be this ominous no-trespassing sign there and I always felt it was directed squarely at me.
hahah @ coop cucumbers. Looks like I managed to enter your grocery subconsciousness. As a former grocery maniac on the site: :::link::: this is somewhat amusing. :)
Mmmmmmmm Pumpkins with coconut!!!!
Wow @ the Mayfair lane pic. I never went up there in all the 5 years I was in Buffalo. There used to be this ominous no-trespassing sign there and I always felt it was directed squarely at me.
ExBuffalonian - 11/12/13 08:38
That fist picture is Mayfair Lane. It was designed by celebrated architect, E.B. Green, who actually lived there for a time. At the time it was built, the condominium plan with lower level parking was a new idea, so the place has a historic factor that's kind of cool, imo.
That fist picture is Mayfair Lane. It was designed by celebrated architect, E.B. Green, who actually lived there for a time. At the time it was built, the condominium plan with lower level parking was a new idea, so the place has a historic factor that's kind of cool, imo.
11/10/2013 13:35 #58279
Infected MushroomCategory: dancing
On Friday, (e:paul), (e:terry), (e:YesThatCasey) and Tanya and I crammed in Tanya's truck to see Infected Mushroom at the Town Ballroom. We were expecting an EDM show but it was more like an electronic jam band, who apparently are Israeli. It was still a crazy fun show even though we came late.
Paul said the music and crowd reminded him of Germany. Between electronic music coming back, people riding bikes and moving back to cities, are we becoming more European?
Afterwards we had a failure at going out, which is okay because I passed out as soon as we got home anyway.
In bed (in Tanya's truck)
Someone's mom came with them and supervised from above the whole show
Paul said the music and crowd reminded him of Germany. Between electronic music coming back, people riding bikes and moving back to cities, are we becoming more European?
Afterwards we had a failure at going out, which is okay because I passed out as soon as we got home anyway.
In bed (in Tanya's truck)
Someone's mom came with them and supervised from above the whole show
11/09/2013 07:06 #58270
bike accidentCategory: bikes
So yesterday I got into an accident on my bike. I was in hurry to get to work and riding on the sidewalk on Route 5, which I know is dangerous. I usually take a lane for the most of it but I hadn't been able to across the street yet. I started to approach a driveway where a car was waiting to turn borth . I made eye contact with the driver, he waved and I kept going.
when I started to pass him, I saw him slowly rolling forward, right into my wheel. I freaked out, rolled onto his hood and got off my bike.
The driver was panicking like crazy, he was so worried that he hurt me. Normally I would have been pissed (I always have dreamed of administering some u-lock justice) but I think was I was in just as much shock. My bike seemed okay and I wasn't hurt at all. Somehow I managed to dent his hood and bent his license plate off. He got out and just kept apologizing but the only thing I could about after that was getting to work, so I rode off.
Later, Bert's Bikes said my bike looked fine. Still, it was so stupid for me to not get his information, or yell at him for waving me on. An accident could have been so much worse if he pushed me into the road. I guess it shows why taking the lane is important. The only thing that I damaged was my ego. I like to think I'm a good cyclist but that was so ameuter and avoidable.
On the plus side, I rode every day this week, with my best time to work ever, averaging 19.4 mph!
when I started to pass him, I saw him slowly rolling forward, right into my wheel. I freaked out, rolled onto his hood and got off my bike.
The driver was panicking like crazy, he was so worried that he hurt me. Normally I would have been pissed (I always have dreamed of administering some u-lock justice) but I think was I was in just as much shock. My bike seemed okay and I wasn't hurt at all. Somehow I managed to dent his hood and bent his license plate off. He got out and just kept apologizing but the only thing I could about after that was getting to work, so I rode off.
Later, Bert's Bikes said my bike looked fine. Still, it was so stupid for me to not get his information, or yell at him for waving me on. An accident could have been so much worse if he pushed me into the road. I guess it shows why taking the lane is important. The only thing that I damaged was my ego. I like to think I'm a good cyclist but that was so ameuter and avoidable.
On the plus side, I rode every day this week, with my best time to work ever, averaging 19.4 mph!
lilho - 11/10/13 04:46
No wonder you have such a hot bod.... It's from all the biking. Be careful out there!
No wonder you have such a hot bod.... It's from all the biking. Be careful out there!
libertad - 11/09/13 10:28
Sorry to hear you got hit but glad you and your bike are ok. I know that riding on the sidewalk is dangerous but I tend to think it is much safer than taking a lane on Route 5. I feel the same way about Delaware where there is no bike lane. Just don't trust people to not hit me because they didn't see me or thought there was more room than there really is.
Sorry to hear you got hit but glad you and your bike are ok. I know that riding on the sidewalk is dangerous but I tend to think it is much safer than taking a lane on Route 5. I feel the same way about Delaware where there is no bike lane. Just don't trust people to not hit me because they didn't see me or thought there was more room than there really is.
tinypliny - 11/09/13 07:25
I am so glad you are okay. The rest does not matter!
I am so glad you are okay. The rest does not matter!
Gandhi has said "Means are after all everything. “As the means so the end." It is the morality of the means that must be judged. It is wrong to use immoral means to achieve a moral end. In such a case, the end, itself, becomes immoral. Certainly, if one applies that standard to the United States and its military action in recent history, the country is a moral failure. The very idea that it is acceptable to kill innocent, unarmed noncombatants during the efforts (such as drone strikes) to kill leaders of organisations that oppose the U.S. is immoral.
Terrorism exists in the eye of the beholder. To those perpetuating the "terrorist" actions, terror is an acceptable, justifiable means to a desirable, moral end. If one thinks about it, the very idea of the "Shock and Awe" Iraqi invasion was to instill terror in the hearts of the Iraqis. Thus, it is terrorism.
There has always been a gap, if not outright dichotomy, between the actions taken to protect the U.S. and lofty ideals of American freedom and democracy. It saddens me that nothing has changed and that the U.S. is still killing in the name of . . . It saddens me even more that a Democratic administration is doing the killing.
We are the terrorists. I mean who killed more innocent people and caused more terror at this point. I am pretty sure its not them.
It starts to be absurd when our country has drones patrolling other countries, looking for terrorists to attack, bombs their targets, takes out innocent civilian bystanders and considers them acceptable collateral damage. At what point do you have to start asking who's the terrorist? Too many people think they've finished doing their part in this so-called democracy just by going out to vote once every 4 years or so. We should all be asking ourselves these questions and engaging in these conversations. We need to stop assuming people are virtuous just because they served in the military, because that's a very naive outloook. In my book, nobody is above suspicion until proven otherwise.
I guess I like to fantasize that everyone has at least limited free will in a democracy without conscription. When it comes down to it, the choice is, will you possibly kill people for money or not. We aren't talking about a defensive war in any of the situations mentioned and honestly most of the military people I have personally met aren't that stupid that they cannot be accountable for the decisions.
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldiers knew
Some one had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Not everyone is as clever as you and (e:paul). Many who serve in the U.S. armed forces believe the lies that they are told about God and Country. Don't hate and despise them because of that. Ultimately, every country has a war machine that needs cannon fodder. I don't despise the grunts who do the fighting and the dying. Many of those who survive come back broken physically and spiritually and mentally. My anger is for their masters.
I feel the same way but the last time random guest said to me, " Sorry paul but anyone that lives in america and doesnt like it needs to cross the border. Go to Canada PAUL. yOU HAVE THE FREEDOM TO DO THAT YOU KNOW CAUSE OF THE THOUSANDS OF MEN THAT DIED TO KEEP US FREE. sTOP COMPLAINING OR MOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"