BigCat’s Blog of DOOM

How to properly taste beer
http://www.cureforwhatalesyou.com/2007/01/23/how-to-taste-beer/

In case you haven’t heard, windows Vista mostly sucks, and microsoft is using to further their goals of world donmination. Plans for the next version of windows seem to be less covert about their aspirations….which is funny because I never thought they were very sneaky about it anyway.
http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/79728/index.html

If you program at all it is worthwhile checking out Vim, and this interesting article written by a programmer who switched. He also has some useful files for printing out pictures of the keyboard shortcuts.
http://blog.ngedit.com/2005/06/03/the-vi-input-model/

We are in the midst of having the tile replaced on the walls in the bathroom (mostly just in the shower) to fix some leaking into the basement we are having. And along with that we are replacing the fixtures in the shower. I’m paying someone to re-tile, cuz I’m just to lazy, and not handy enough for that yet, but Lauren and some friends did most of the demolition and I am finishing it up right now. Also, we had the windows in the house replaced last week, and this spring we are scheduled to get a new roof. Here are a few thoughts about this process.

1. Having a friend who is a plumber was amazingly more helpful that I originally expected. Plumbing is not as simple as I figured it was. And Walter is a good plumber, he knew exactly what was up and it took him not much time at all to get our new shower stuff installed. Sometimes I think it is weird how I figure I could do something and then can’t, or I think I can’t do something around the house only to find out it is well within my capabilities.

2. Having friends who can tell you how much work is actually involved in something is a life saver. Sure I’m paying more now for having someone else tile, and then re-roof my house in the spring, but I’m saving a massive amount of time and headaches.

3. Don’t schedule remodeling, even if you are paying someone to do most of it, during your busy times at work. I don’t think I’ve completely finished a chore around the house in the last two weeks that isn’t related to putting up window blinds or ripping out drywall in the bathroom. My nights feel like I come home, eat, do one chore, and then sleep…and pretty much nothing else. And that is draining on your spirit and your marriage.

4. New windows are an excellent improvement to an old house. If you have the pully things on the side of your windows I would seriously consider it, because those are a terrible source of heat-loss. Now I can’t wait to install a digital thermostat, cuz I think those two things will combine for a warmer feeling house (bi-metal contact thermostats have terrible hysteresis which makes the house feel either hot or cold, but doesn’t regulate it carefully around the set temperature) and lower bills.

5. If you take the flow regulator thing out of a new shower head you run out of hot water really quickly. I didn’t even have time to conditioner my hair today before I had to get out for fear of fat-man hypothermia.

I really like our contractor who is doing the roof and windows. So far we have had a pretty good experience with him and his crew. So if you ever want to price some job out like that let me know and I’ll float you his name and number.

In my last blog I mentioned that when I saw how easy it was to interact with the iPhone I thought “This is what I was promised 5 years ago!”

I love the picture the author paints in this article on Wired

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/gizmos/0,72477-0.html?tw=rss.technology

But I read that and thought “Didn’t Rob and I have a conversation like this 4 years ago?”

Seriously, I thought this would have been here by now. I think Rob and I, and several other members of the braincell fully expected that future to be now.

I could get into my conspiracy theories on why it isn’t…mostly having to do with evil media content owners, but instead I’d like to let you know where I see the future.

5 to 10 years, implantable computing, especially in the area of prosthetics. I know that in some cases they are already embedding prosthetics with electronics into peoples muscles and nerve endings so they can control them with their brain, but with FDA approval and everything, I see this being a real possible every day Luke Skywalker type reality in 5 to 10 years.

And, there is an outside chance they will finally figure out how to get the computer interface (keyboard and mouse) actually inside of my brain sometime after that…and beyond that, I would love a display embedded right into my visual cortex.

Those ideas are further out than 5 to 10 years…but I like them.

I expect in 5 to 10 years to see an increase in Automobile automation in terms of the cars computer being able to do certain things without interaction from the driver. I know they are already parallel parking themselves, but I think things will get crazier than that in 5 to 10. But don’t expect the car to be handling itself at 60mph on the freeway any time really quick. At the very least there is a lot of government red-tape before something like that could happen.

I expect wireless USB to get really really big. It will be used for speakers in surround sound systems, as well as other consumer electronics for simple communications of dedicated signals over a limited range (i.e. inside a room in your house).

Within 10 years we will actually catch up to the japanese in terms of cell-phone networks.
They saw the iPhone and yawned because they’ve had stuff like this for a couple of years already.

Along with web-services/applications we will continue to see an increase in Virtual Machine-based software. I believe something even to the point of combining typical Java-like virtual machines with virtualization technology to produce an increase in speed and security. This will yeild a single download for your application that works on Mac, Windows, Linux and any future OS projects that happen to gain ground.

I also see all that stuff that happens in the article happening, and your TV, DVD, and Stereo will play nice with that stuff as well (that is of course, if they are all stuff you bought from the apple store, which won’t be compatible with the Sony and microsoft stuff).

And, I’m out of time to write more ideas down…so I leave you with that.

From my Bible reading today:

¹⁴The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
¹⁵My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.
¹⁶Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
¹⁷The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.
¹⁸Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.

Two things really struck me in this section of this psalm.

1st, in vs. 15 it says that the speakers eyes are always on the LORD, even when he is already trapped in a bad place. I thought that was cool because it is so easy for me to get caught up and focused on the problems I have in my life, many of which are my own fault. But it is only by focusing on God, and following his direction, that really takes me out of those bad places, and gets me through.

Similarly, in vs. 18, the author says he is focusing on his afflictions and distress, and then in what seems at first a little disjointed he follows up with “take away my sins.” I find that often when I’m pissed off, upset, or stressed, whether it be from uncontrollable external things or internal issues, I’m best situated to deal with what is coming my way when I have an understanding and a feeling of forgiveness from God. Most of the time I think it is the broken sinfulness of the world in general that causes pain, whether that be my fault or others. Experiencing relief for my part in that often makes it easier to handle others part in it. And again, seeking God, to experience him, know him, and hear his voice is just probably the biggest part of making it through some of my days.

Current Mood:  content

Lauren and I have lately been getting stronger and stronger leadings that what we need to spend more time doing is praying for people. And, we feel a lot of spiritual attack whenever we talk about it, so I’m pretty sure that is the direction we need to head in.

To that end, in the new year, I think we are going to refocus some of our energies in the following ways.
( prayer stuff for the new year )

I think the biggest theme underlying all of the ideas I’ve hit here is obedience. I feel like I’ve lacked in the past in being boldly obedient to what I think God is saying. Almost all of the great stories I hear about God doing great stuff start with someone doing something fairly nutty because they thought God told them to. So that is my main goal from here on out - do better at listening and acting on what I hear. Or to borrow a phrase from John Wimber, be ready “to give it all up again to buy the pearl.”