Pink Monkey Productions

2009-03-04T18:58:00.000-08:00

PHP vs. ASP.NET

2009-01-08T17:55:00.000-08:00

Given a choice, I will develop a web application using PHP. In fact, as of late I have even decided to migrate existing applications from ASP.NET to PHP. Why is this? After all, I've been writing ASP since back in the days of Classic using VB Script. I've seen some amazing things happen with ASP.NET, all the way through the 3.5 framework. Why the change of heart?

I simply prefer the open nature of PHP, the community and documentation. This is not to say that there isn't a healthy community of ASP developers. Yet underneath it all, you just can't lift the hood and wrench on the engine like you can with PHP. It's a Microsoft technology, and while I won't argue the speed and power of ASP.NET, I will say that it is fundamentally IE-centric. Wonderful server controls, but just try customizing them. It's painful at best.

I'm neither an ASP.NET expert, nor am I a PHP guru. I've used both, and I have come to prefer PHP.

Sample!

2008-11-11T16:21:00.001-08:00

Dads 48 GMC

2008-10-09T10:16:00.000-07:00

calendar test

2008-05-05T01:30:00.000-07:00

Arctic climb

2007-12-09T08:20:00.000-08:00

Dinner at Nobu in Malibu the night before, and then awake at 5:00 AM for the drive to San Gorgonio. Trailhead at 7:30. VERY steep initial climb through switchbacks, and then pretty relaxed. Snow makes things interesting. Lots of coyote tracks, though no bear.More pics here

Snowfall

2007-11-20T08:13:00.000-08:00

View from VT part 2

2007-11-19T09:12:00.001-08:00

View from VT

2007-11-19T09:12:00.000-08:00

Order of Attack: GTD style

2007-11-14T20:14:00.001-08:00

Compile 1-wire software on mac mini
sensors working and on the roof
opentracker hooked up to 1-wire
stats on the air
stats on the net
sensors and opentracker moved to boat
stats on the air
stats on the net

xastir compiled on mac mini

Radio to do list

2007-10-29T18:49:00.001-07:00

I have three installed radios, and yet have a hard time as the UI varies considerably between all of them. If I can answer the following questions, I should then posses a solid understanding:

How do I input a frequency into VFO?
How do I save this frequency in a memory channel?
How do I enter memory mode to scan memory channels?

Three installed radios:
ICOM IC-7000
ICOM V8000
YASEAU VX-3R

Too many possibilities?

2007-10-28T23:16:00.000-07:00

Lots of cool projects underway:

HF/VHF/UHF radio installed aboard Faith and they work wonderfully. I'd like to get the APRS telemetry going, but before I buy any more hardware I should finish what I already started. I have the weather station software, hardware and sendos book... so lets get that working, eh?

Step one: ensure Java development studio is installed and working on Mac Mini
Step two: Hello World
Step three: lay out sensor hardware and diagram
Step four: download latest weather software and compile
Step five: plug in the sensors!

Migration to Leopard?

2007-10-26T19:17:00.001-07:00

So do I buy a more powerful mini, which comes with Leopard and Ilife 08 or do I just drop the coin on the software alone?

anyway: list of apps I need to perform the clean install:

adobe cs2 (nah... don't really use this much)
adobe acrobat pro
dreamweaver
fireworks
flash
parallels
windows xp sp2
visual studio 2005 (or beta 2008?)
fireworks
toast (does 8 work?)

files:
docs
music
photos
windows myDocs

Weekend Projects

2007-10-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

Here is an updated list of what I was able to accomplish:

Apple TV successfully hacked via patchstick. It now supports Divx,Xvid, and network shares... which makes this thing infinitely more useful. I have a lot of admiration for the folks at: http://wiki.awkwardtv.org/wiki/Main_Page ...without their documentation I never could have done this. Thanks guys!

As for the boat, no waterproofing as yet... but the cable has been run and electronics moved to the starboard bulkhead in a waterproof containter. This afternoon I will get down there to solder the connections and plug in the modified ICOM 7000. Next step: APRS so I can monitor position and stats on Google Earth!

Oh, and the garage has been cleaned up. Boring.

Personal Projects

2007-10-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

Faith: Antenna cable deck fitting resized, waterproofed. Console storage waterproofed with weather stripping. Solar panel deck fitting waterproofed.

Garage: sail bags stowed properly. Electronics boxed, stowed. dusted. Tools and workbench setup.

Electronics projects: aTV hacked with patchstick. xastir installed. weather station software compiled. weather station hooked up.

Airport: off to vegas

2007-09-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

Test

2007-09-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

Lunch

2007-08-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

Test 2

2007-08-10T11:23:00.002-07:00

Picture?

email post subject

2007-08-10T11:23:00.001-07:00

Test 1

--
     Thank you,

               Justin Williams
               The Dot Printer, Inc.

project FEB

2007-02-03T14:09:00.000-08:00

Im not going to drink any alcohol for the month of February. Im doing so not out of concern for prior drinking habits, but as an experiement in self analysis and observation. Im somewhat familiar with the nature of addiction, and its valuable to see how alcohol fits in to my life. Sometimes its easier to see how something works when contrasted with its absence.
My mother is performing this same experiement, and its great to have someone to share observations with. Here are some observations thus far:

February 1st was a hard day, as I had received some depressing news about my fathers health. I had already had a difficult day at the office, and Michelle and a number of our friends had plans to have dinner that night. I really wanted a glass of scotch when I got home. Later on that night, I was the designated driver and although I had a good time with our friends, I was pretty eager to say good night and leave after a few hours. This could have been due to the fact that I had already had a long workday, and the day after was a workday as well. The conversation with friends got silly, but I wasn't bored with them in the least. I was just tired. It was amazing driving home from the restaurant without any buzz or impaired motor control. I realized just how often I got behind the wheel after a few drinks. Pretty interesting.

Its feb 3rd and Im feeling strong. Great workouts in the gym, and a very clear head. I miss an afternoon beer with my weekend lunch.

macRover

2007-01-21T19:08:00.000-08:00

Audio: needs new stereo unit with auxiliary in. Circuit City has a nice looking sony with aux on the front.

Power: need breakout box

Move amp to rear? Mac unit hidden in center console?

Software goals:
Wireless connect via cell, download rss content, and display?
Google earth with gps. Instant startup, no need to manually select GPS.
Touchscreen music and video (Amped)
Remote access via remoteDesktop (Wake on Lan?)
Upload of position via FTP

ftp?

2007-01-06T19:18:00.001-08:00

migrating to ftp server

Things I would like to do

2006-11-17T17:47:00.000-08:00

Learn Spanish
Learn Morse Code
Upgrade to General License
Ham Antenna on roof
Ham radio in truck
Read 1 tech chapter per day

OSX only

2006-11-09T14:22:00.000-08:00

Im in the process of migrating from desktop WinXP Pro to OSX Laptop only. I'll have a VM running Win2K on a server for outlook/wireless sync via verizon moto q, but thats it. Fingers crossed...

Moto Q via bluetooth DUN OSX

2006-10-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

I am posting this via Moto Q via bluetooth DUN OSX. But you already knew that, since you read the title of this post.

2006-09-27T23:20:00.000-07:00

book of the day? project management. chapter 3. haven't read it yet, but here goes. 7am to 8am then 1.5 hours in the gym. now im home, and going to bed with a project management book.

the money isn't worth it. when do i get to spend it? lunch? im so busy i eat lunch at my desk.

anyway: time for bed and a chapter as promised.

Book learnin'

2006-09-27T09:03:00.000-07:00

I've commited to um, well... a chapter a day every day. One chapter each and every day of any technical manual. Current readings vary from javascript to advanced OSX hacks to C# 2005. I feel productive and learned' when I read a chapter a day, and lazy and slackerish when I do not.

It would be wise if I actually posted which/what chapter I read on this here interweb blog. So here goes: today I re-read the 6th chapter (OOP) of the Learning C# book. Success.

2006-09-24T09:39:00.000-07:00

I am posting this from a Mac OSX widget. cool?

Project Truck PC

2006-09-09T19:33:00.000-07:00

Purpose: Fast loading interface which powers on with auto start and ggracefully powers off when auto power is turned off. Serves as navigation, music, video and engine diagnostic application.

Navigation: As the defender is an off road vehicle, USGS maps will be a plus. Google Earth could work as well, assuming I can cache maps to hard drive where internet isn't available.

Music/Video: I will need to find or code a simple interface which works well via touch screen.

Camera: A back up camera is a must. Bonus points for servo mount so I can rotate camera view 360 degrees.

Engine Diagnostic: Ability to read/clear engine codes.

----------

Version 1:
Monitor: 7" Xenarc Touch Screen
CPU: PIII 700Mhz 128 Megs laptop running XP Pro. (Runs it surprisngly well!)
Needed: 4 port USB hub, video camera

Measured Progress

2006-07-10T07:43:00.000-07:00

One of the more difficult aspects of boat maintenance is the overwhelming number of projects that need to be dealt with. Oftentimes I'll find myself in the middle of a project and in need of a tool kept in the forward tool locker. On my way to get the tool, I'll get distracted and find myself caught up in yet another task. It's very hard to stay focused on any one thing when everything around you needs maintenance in some way or another. Sometimes, projects don't even get started as Im just too overwhelmed by it all.

Im going to take advantage of this blog to document some projects with before and after shots. Hopefully it will allow me to chart my progress and to better visualize the success of my efforts.

The first documented project involves getting my solar charge controller mounted on the bulkhead. This is a very important piece of electronics: it regulates the charge coming from my Kyocera 120 watt solar panel and charges my battery array. It actually increases the effectiveness of the charge. Details here. Despite how important this device is, I've let it just sit in a jury rigged cardboard enclosure and left it somewhat exposed in the rear port bunk. The charge cables were often in the way and quite honestly Im surprised it hasn't gotten damaged. Here is the before shot: (note that mattress was recently removed from the bunk)

The cardboard enclosure was actually made from the box it shipped in, and was meant as a temporary enclosure. Well, the temporary enclosure lasted almost 3 years. To mount it on the bulkhead, I first used a plastic bag which I cut to fit the circuit board. I used electrical tape to firmly secure the plastic:

Now that the delicate electronics were properly waterproofed, I was able to use two screws to mount it out of the way in the bunk:

The cables were then mounted out of sight along the bulkhead trim. Project finished. I can now better utilize the rear port bunk, and not have to worry about the solar panel charger getting wet or damaged.

Media and Iraq

2006-07-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

Interesting video of what the media refuses to air:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3519855663545752103

2006-07-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

"People who have time to keep their web pages updated don't do enough stuff to warrant having a web page"-Jon Groves

2006-06-13T12:15:00.000-07:00

a gift

2006-06-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

C# vs. VB

2006-03-22T17:31:00.000-08:00

Well, C# seems to have won.

sigh...

I should have just learned this from the beginning.

Mix06 Hack

2006-03-22T09:40:00.000-08:00

Not the fanciest hack, but I noticed that if you enter a reservation ID of '1' in the Venetian Hotel in-room internet access login screen (VHIRIALS) you are identified as a test account. I've been able to avoid the daily $14.95 internet access fee this way. Since I've been here for 5 days now, it's not too bad a savings. Isn't internet access supposed to be free? No? Well, consider it a Vegas comp then.

Future Web

2006-03-21T12:15:00.000-08:00

I've spent the past few days at Mix06 and I have to say that I've been pretty impressed. With any new technology roll out (particularly those backed by Microsoft) its somewhat fashionable to find reasons to discount its signifigance. However, I have nothing but good things to say about Microsofts Atlas (a framework for AJAX) and emerging development tools like Expression (which is certain to be a Dreamweaver/Fireworks/Photoshop/GoLive killer)

The real value of this technology will be realized if I can find ways to blur the line between desktop app and web site. My focus continues to be Web to Print, and technologies like what I've seen should allow for some amazing growth in this area.

Another realization is the need to become a project manager almost exclusively, and to help the rest of my team build the applications as quickly and effectively as possible. It's my hope that this will alleviate a lot of the stress I've been feeling as of late. Its really hard to code when the phone rings every 5 seconds, or someone is knocking on my office door, or I need to fly to a sales meeting.

4 Directions of Betterment: v1

2006-03-07T09:44:00.000-08:00

Im growing increasingly intrigued with a simple concept of 4 directions. The concept involves both the awareness of and the intentional furthering of 4 areas of growth. I choose 4 because it seems to cover all the bases, and because I like the connotation of 4 winds or 4 cardinal directions. Plus its easy to remember.

The four directions are self, soul, community and physical. There may be some overlap, but thats cool, because they are all directions on the same plane (existence?)

Self: knowledge of the id and ones own personal and immediate concerns and security. Its ok to think of ones self interest; who doesn't think of ones own concerns? This area involves such areas of concentration as career advancement, increasing ones exposure to culture and literature, and identifying what defines you as who you are outside of the herd. Are those qualities good characteristics? What can improve?

Community: what are you doing to better the world for others? We each have an unknown number of years. When its all said and done, what legacy will you have left behind other than a landfill of discarded rubbish and an atmosphere of auto exhaust fumes? What are you doing right now to help those around you? Do your coworkers look forward to your presence at the office? Do you help those less fortunate than you? Do you give more than you take?

Soul: are you doing what you know you should be doing? are you listening to your heart? are you questioning yourself, these directions, and the emotional currents that flow within? what can be done to improve upon the ineffable intangible ebb and flow of your soul? are you moving in a positive or negative direction?

Physical: ones health and physical environment. are you going to the gym? are your workouts improving? is the house in order? are you in order?

2006-02-24T17:42:00.000-08:00

This is a title.

2006-02-21T16:53:00.000-08:00

This is the content. (Im testing the XLS conversion of an atom feed.)

2006-02-13T19:22:00.000-08:00

image test:

1: from my URL:

2: from blogger upload:

2006-02-13T12:37:00.000-08:00

Fire

This message was sent using PIX-FLIX Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!
To learn how you can snap pictures with your wireless phone visit
www.verizonwireless.com/getitnow/getpix.

To learn how you can record videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/getitnow/getflix.

To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime 6.5 or higher is required. Visit www.apple.com/quicktime/download to download the free player or upgrade your existing QuickTime Player. Note: During the download
process when asked to choose an installation type (Minimum, Recommended or Custom), select Minimum for faster download.

2006-02-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

More ajax

Asynchronous JavaScript and XML

The Ten Best Ajax Links: Tutorials, Examples, and History > My Gadget Bag

2006-02-13T11:02:00.000-08:00

Ajax Desktops

Online Ajax "desktops" try to change the rules of the game | Enterprise Web 2.0 | ZDNet.com

2006-02-10T19:01:00.000-08:00

Haircut u bastards

2006-02-10T18:41:00.000-08:00

Feedburner converts atom feeds to RSS. Which is why my old pinkmonkey blog is now lovingly inserted into my justinWilliams.NET developer/personal site. Im not really down with the whole Atom split off thing. RSS seems to be the standard, and with a few lines of code can be made available in an asp.net site. Big ups to the folks at feedburner for their amazing (and free) conversion service.

2006-02-09T15:29:00.000-08:00

Very handy analysis of which web browsers are actually doing the browsing. Is it important to design for standards when IE is in fact the standard? (even though IE isn't standards compliant?)

Market share for browsers, operating systems and search engines

POCKET PC POST

2006-01-05T17:04:00.000-08:00

am using pocket blogger to post wirelessly!

2006-01-02T16:07:00.000-08:00

Not a lot of posting, but quite a bit of progress moving from classic ASP to ASP.net 2.0. About a month ago I finally acquired some documentation and its really helped my understanding. All new development projects are now written in 2.0

So yes: code behind. data access. master pages (amazing) and user controls. I understand it and am stoked with how easy it is. Visual Studio (at least the web express version) is really slow however. Dreamweaver is much better in terms of layout, and I miss working with split view.

All things said and done, Im feeling really good with the progress I've made.

ePrint 2006 and managed projects are the biggest things on the radar screen.

2005-11-01T22:45:00.000-08:00

Well, it hasn't exactly been a chapter a day. Yet the attempt has at least brought about a quickened pace. I've sat around with a book on ASP.NET using VB.NET 2003 for at least a year, and now within the last week or so I've made it through chapter 9.

The sad thing is that ASP.NET 2.0 has just been released. Do I jump right into the 2.0 framework? Do I continue with ASP.NET 1.1 only to have to unlearn it?

Here is what I understand thus far:

I understand the seperation of code from layout.
The post back abilities are great.
The ability to specify control properties via the .property method is great, although knowing the syntax comes from dumb luck with intellisense or using someone elses code.
I love the session state, persistent forms, etc
I understand the object oriented programming philosophy more than ever. An object is a function packaged in a tightly controlled way. The interaction with an object can be controlled via an interface. Actual use of objects in real world code is still beyond me at this point.

I do not understand:

Using visual studio, though Web Express is pretty cool. Slow though.
I do not know how to write code behind.
I do not know the nature of project files.

So still lots to learn. I will continue learning the concepts of 1.1, but will not get too hung up in syntax.

As always, the best learning comes from real world needs and coming up with a solution. Real world challenge number 1: SQL reports for CCI.

2005-10-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

I dont blog much. This is largely because I dislike the word "blog". However, I am going to get past that and use this tool to keep track of my goal to complete one chapter of ASP.NET 1.1 with VB.NET 2003 a day.

I'm on chapter 6 right now. So if my plan holds true, I'll be on chapter 7 tomorrow. Chapter 8 the following day. You get the idea.

2005-07-05T16:16:00.000-07:00

A new post!
Not much posting going on; I can't imagine the world is too interested in the musings of an uneducated drifter, a lone nut who gushes forth unsolicited ramblings concerning daily misadventures and unsubstantiated cosmic theory. So chances are you care not one wit for what I might have to say. Oh, and I'm lazy too. So while Im delighted that you are here, I'm afraid that for many reasons your efforts in getting here will go unrewarded. In the meantime, here is a quick list as to what the hell I've been up to, followed by a chart of my running efforts.

I continue to thank God (registered trademark) for Michelle.
We had a great time in Kennebunkport, Maine at my cousins wedding.
I'm going sailing this weekend with some friends.
While my thirty day training experiment largely failed (see below) I am running 6+ miles every other day or so.

Map:

2005-02-15T22:46:00.000-08:00

3 massive meals today. Oatmeal with fresh raisins. Massive prime rib with horseradish for lunch. Brocolee, potatoes, pork roast for dinner. Im gonna go lift some wieghts now to build some muscle mass.
Still feeling increasingly calm. I can look people in the eye and not feel the need to look away.
Nick made an interesting comment today: "Cruising is not simply a matter of traveling in a boat, but a journey that involves change... a change of ones surroundings and oneself" (Im paraphrasing what he said quite a bit... in fact I think Im just gonna have to take credit for the saying now. But that was basically what he was getting at)

2005-02-14T22:45:00.000-08:00

Monday: Not sure how I pulled it off, but I ran 4.64 miles. I did a little research online and learned some new stretching techniques, particularly the importance of a brief warm up jog, then streching, then the main jog, and then a cool down stretch. Felt so uch better for it: calves and shins were loose and not at all painful like they have been up till now. Yep: gotta remember to stretch. Came back to the boat and had a healthy dinner and a banana to fight the lactic acid build up.

2005-02-13T22:45:00.000-08:00

Sunday: Fishing and just hanging out with Jason and Nick. Around midnight we decided to dive in serach of Jasons $80 boat brush. 50 degree water, pitch black... diving in 15 to 20 feet and using your hands to search the harbor bottom... all the while trying to avoid getting snared in the mooring lines or hitting your head on the hull while surfacing. It really was the stuff of commandoes, or drunken idiots, or both. Never did find the boat brush, but I did recover a $100 snorkel mask that Nick had dropped. Those things really should float.

2005-02-12T22:45:00.000-08:00

Saturday: Alarm went off at 7:00 and I fell out of bed, rowed ashore and ran 4.0 miles. Words cant describe how good I felt. Had the boardwalk all to myself, the temperature was nice and cool, and the run felt great. Stopped by Marks when I was finished and said hello. Came back to the boat for a nice long nap.

2005-02-11T22:44:00.000-08:00

Friday:

Long hard rain all day... very easy to talk myself out of a run. Promised myself I'd wake up at 7:00 am on Saturday morning to make up for it

2005-02-10T23:06:00.000-08:00

I took pity on my new stove top espresso makes and brewed a healthy cup of the stuff this morning. Put down a coat of varnish on the bridge, cleaned up and then went to work. Long day spent learning ASP.NET vs. my usual classic ASP. I still have so much to learn. It really is like starting over. Yet if I am to incorporate new features such as persistent form data, dynamic charts and WYSIWYG design tools its a hurdle Im going to have to surmount.
Just got home; its 11:10 pm and no weights lifted today. Maybe before I go to bed. Maybe tomorrow morning. Work has consumed my day. $2100 to get my Land Rover running again. Hell of a day.

2005-02-09T07:06:00.000-08:00

Rand 4 miles at the gym today! Kept the treadmill at 5.5, which is much faster than my usual pace. This was by far the most difficult run yet. Running on the treadmill really helped my sore knee. Afterwards, I donated blood as Im such an angel. They had trouble finding the vein since I was so dehydrated.

2005-02-08T10:55:00.000-08:00

Last nights 4.25 run:

2005-02-08T07:04:00.000-08:00

Bought a 30 lb. weight today and did 50 curls on each arm. Feeling good, although the stress at work is bringing me down. The only way I can get everything done is to go back to working 14 hour days.

2005-02-07T23:41:00.000-08:00

4.25 miles and Im feeling strong. Worked till 9:00 pm, had no dinner and yet still managed to get out to the boat, change in to running gear, row ashore and run 4.25 miles. Graphs coming tomorrow.
Im still a nervous wreck, or at least nervous any way. I mumble my damn words when nervous and sound like an outright mental defect. I truly hope my genius isn't lost on people due to my mumbling circus boy antics. Normally Im quite charming.
Take a deep breath. Let it out. Whew.... thats better. Now slow the hell down and be somewhat less of a retard, self.

Anyway: varnish work on the bridge is coming along. First coat is down. Jason and I are doing an oil change on the Atomic Diesel, as well as replacing a few worn hoses, belts, etc. Its hard to shake that service consumer mentallity: I kinda just favor hiring someone to fix an engine. I'll feel better once I know my way around the big metal thing; until then its just another source of intimidation.

2005-02-06T22:00:00.000-08:00

Superbowl weekend: today was spent drinking, eating and drinking. Again alcohol, and again no exercise. I even smoked a hald dozen ciggaretes at the party. I do that when drunk or nervous. Even today amongst friends I did both. I am not gonna be ready for tomorrows 4 mile run. Im gonna do it anyway though, and Im going to buy a set of weights. Maybe just a set of 30 lb. hand weights, just to get started. This alcohol thing makes me feel like hell, and Im convinced that it simple gets in the way of what I want to do. So why do I do it? Even though I dont want to? Thats what bothers me the most.

2005-02-06T09:34:00.000-08:00

Didnt run today. I sailed a Sabot with Jason around the harbor and sipped beer. Lots of good fun, very relaxing... but entirely disappointing that I didn't go running. Monday I increase the distance to 4 miles. Maybe a days rest or two before hand is a good idea. Gives that sore knee a chance to recover. Wonderful excuse to be lazy, at any rate..
Eating healthy meals (3 a day) and taking vitamins. The lack of caffeine makes me noticeably calmer and less panicked. I miss a strong cup of espresso in the morning, but in the long run I feel much better off without it. The beer and wine drinking on the other hand really bothers me. The beer goes right to my gut, and really makes it hard to want to adhere to this regime.

2005-02-04T09:32:00.000-08:00

Arms and abs are surprisingly sore from the 50 push ups & 50 situps. I still need to pick up a proper set of weights and maybe a book or two on how to lift them.
Picked up two bottles of wine and drank them with Jason and Kristen with a few helpings of Spider Crab stew (courtesy the very talented Kristen) Never thought Id eat a spider crab; I saw some live ones while snorkeling years ago off the Balboa Penninsula and they are the stuff of nightmares: spikes, long insect like legs and claws, black husky shell.

2005-02-03T20:35:00.000-08:00

Amazing run around the back bay. 3.7 miles in a very scenic course. My time was shorter than that of the last run, but it was a bit of a stuggle at first. My right knee was in pretty serious pain. Feels like the kneecap is swollen from too much impact. I ran on the side of the concrete path (on the dirt) whenever possible and that seemed to really help.

Im getting more things done, as I just seem to have a greater reserve of energy. Boat projects take less time and just seem to get done on their own. I'll be ready to varnish the bridge this weekend and should be able to install the electronics shortly thereafter. (Marine VHF, 2 Meter Ham and the Garmin chartplotter)

2005-02-02T22:31:00.000-08:00

2nd Day and Im feeling good, maybe a little less so, but good nonetheless. Head is pounding from caffeine withdrawel. Didn't realize how addictive that stuff is. I do feel a little calmer and more relaxed without it. Had a few drinks with Mark at the Club tonight, then dinner and a bottle of wine with Jason and Kristen. The alcohol has the definite potential to derail this 30 day experiment, and is something I'll have to be wary of. I started the day with 2 sets of 25 push ups and then 2 sets of 25 situps. Im surprisingly sore for such a simple bout of exercise. I've gotta pick up some weights and really pay more attention to my upper body strength. Maybe it was the cafferine withdrawel headache, but I didnt get much of anything done at the office. This in turn makes me sad, and sadness in turn makes me depressed, which of course just ruins my day. Its an endless downward spiral. Tomorrow I'll set a list of goals at the office and not leave till they have been met.

2005-02-01T22:07:00.000-08:00

First day into the 30 day experiment. I feel great. I ran 3.6 miles. Crawled for much of it, but I finished strong, despite a painfully sore knee. Some quick observations: even one day into this, I feel like Im in charge and am actively engaged in life. Confidence is up, which has been at an all time low as of late. After I ran I showered up and had dinner with Jason and Kristen. Dollar tacos, as its taco tuesday. Then shopping at trader joes. I feel good, like Im active. (Probably because I am)

2005-01-31T05:39:00.000-08:00

Im going to spend 30 days unlike any 30 days I've spent thus far.

Im going to get up each morning at 7:00 am.
Im going to run 3.5 miles, gradually increasing until Im running 5.0 miles every other day.
Im going to alternate running with a weight lifting program (details of which need to be researched)
Im going to eat 3 meals a day.
Im going to drastically reduce the amount of coffee and alcohol in my diet.
I will take vitamin pills each morning, even if I choke to goddamn death on them. (I can't swallow pills)
I will engage in at least one social expansion experiment each week, in an effort to surround myself with Good Friends.(tm)
I will record each day of this experiment in my journal.

This will be a one month experiment, happily beginning on the first day of February, the shortest month of the year. Short and symetrical.

4 weeks from now I expect to feel stronger, healthier, confident and optimistic. And tired.

2005-01-24T09:46:00.000-08:00

My brother Jon is awesome. Record snowfall in Boston: he prepares for combat. He actually dressed like this for the campus snowball fight. I only wish I was there to fight along his side.

2005-01-19T01:43:00.000-08:00

Good friends and great conversation. New friends Jason and Nicholas. They single handed from San Francisco. We drank some beers (many) and told stories of sailing and life at sea. A very enjoyable evening. This weekend we'll sail to Catalina.

2004-12-21T15:10:00.000-08:00

Wow. This article sums it up nicely. Im all in a panic now, although I am kind of enjoying a smug sense of self satisfaction; afterall: I live on a boat. I've dropped out, and.. and... oh just read the article.
How to Survive the Crash and Save the Earth

2004-11-17T22:53:00.000-08:00

This is what I need to concentrate on:

Deck Plugs
Priority: severe
Description: remove bolt from missing deck plug holes, clean, drill .5 inch deeper, apply west system, plug (orient with grain), plane and sand as needed

antenna on mast
priority: non critical
Description: mount marine and 2 meter antenna on mast. route cables through mast

hull painted
priority: severe
haul out (after bottom scraped), apply bottom coat, repair rub rail, boot stripe, paint above rub rail?

holding tank
priority: severe
install holding tank in forward vberth, connect head discharge to holding tank intake, holding tank discharge to through-hull, pump out connection on top of holding tank accessible through forward hatch

insurance
priority: critical
list requirements:

Cabin Interior:
priority: non critical
Identify upholstery source & cost (will need to measure cushions)

Cabin Interior:
priority: non critical
Sand and varnish worn deck
Smooth and paint uneven surfaces
Sand, apply polysulfide bedding compound, varnish bridge

Engine
Priority: severe
schedule appt with Gary for oil change and sacraficial zincs

2004-10-26T10:09:00.000-07:00

Im back into the running thing and feeling a lot better for it. Yesterday I ran a little over 3 miles and even managed a little rock climbing down in Corona Del Mar to keep it interesting. I think I better try a new course every once in awhile as it gets a little routine otherwise. Yesterdays run involved some very serious changes in elevation, though Saturdays run in Aliso Woods park really beat me up pretty good. Still feeling sore from that one, but it was a beautiful place to be. Found a cave! Sign said it was called "Dripping Cave"! Used by stage coach robbers back in the day. Dripping cave! I'll let you make your own Freudian interpretations...

2004-10-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

+
running
pride in my work/programming
friends
learning to sail

-
pills
smoking
not running
betraying my friends
stress at too much work

2004-09-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

Breakin the law!

Thankfully I've always had a fairly healthy disregard for authority:

Section 17.23.020 Permits Required.

No person shall live-aboard any vessel assigned to an offshore mooring without first having obtained a live-aboard permit from the Harbor Resources Director. No person shall live-aboard any vessel on an onshore mooring in Newport Harbor. No live-aboard permit shall be issued except to a person holding a valid mooring permit issued pursuant to Chapter 17.22 of the Newport Beach Municipal Code. (Ord. 2002-18 (part), 2002)

Details here

2004-09-01T21:59:00.000-07:00

I swam home tonight. No dinghy at the club; no yacht club boat to borrow, no shore boat to catch. I figured this might happen, but decided to chance it and go for a nice long run to clear my mind. So I ran, and when I got back to the club I found myself stranded. I called Matt to see if I could crash there. He wasn't home. I called Mark to see if I could crash at his place. He wasn't home. Having exhausted my local friends with spare beds, I parked on "F" street, stripped down to my shorts and swam the 50 yards to my boat in total darkness. Im such a bad ass. Kind of like a commando. Everything went really well until I swam in to the middle of a school of large fish. The water turned a little jumpy as they broke the surface to get out of the way. At 9:00 pm (whilst swimming half naked in darkness) a school of fish is just as terrifying as a shark. Don't let anyone tell you different.

2004-09-01T21:55:00.000-07:00

I've been playing around with a camera in low level light conditions. I leave the lense open for 6 or 7 seconds or so. Even in almost total darkness Im able to get these really cool photos... I finally got the idea of using a tripod which helps reduce the bluriness caused by holding the camera. Here is a picture I just took from Faith:

2004-08-17T23:34:00.000-07:00

Things Im gonna do to keep busy (because thats important, and Im sure as hell not busy enough):

Tripod, all cams, watercolors: moved to Faith. Get some paint on a canvas. Enough with the computers already.

Ok, more computers: Debian linux installed on rackmount server for faith

Class enrolled at OCC

Oh, and while we are on the subject of the Big Goddamn List:

Faith Projects
Mast boots done
Head faucet adapter
Haul out scheduled done
Title/Mooring plan done

Personal Projects
Project Healthy & Project No completed done
Auto brake lights, oil change, tune up done

Hobby Projects
Antennas on mast
Weather gear on mast

2004-08-17T22:41:00.000-07:00

I live on a boat. I had some friends over last weekend, one of which remarked "I feel like Im dreaming...". I started to laugh, as I thought he was kidding. But he was not. Im kind of used to gently rocking back and forth on the water in this floating wooden thing. Every once in a while Im reminded that its an unusal place to live. In many ways it is pretty surreal. But I've been at it for awhile now, so what was once surreal is just, um... real.

The sea lions are really loud tonight. I guess they are feeling somewhat amorous. Several of them have gathered on someones running board and are calling out (loudly) into the night. Its straight out of Star Wars. They even look like Jabba in many regards. I'll see if I cant record them somehow and post an audio file.

Most of my time these days is spent thinking of a certain young lady who will remain nameless. I'm pretty much having to reinvent.. no, rediscover who I am. Two personalities (after having grown so closely together) ... now having been severed.. well, Im just not feeling exactly whole right now. Or intact. Im, um... wounded. Fucking cut in two, really...

Im not gonna reduce it to some psycho babble, as I couldn't even if I wanted to. I miss her more than I've ever missed anything or anyone ever before. I keep repeating to myself that I did this for all the right reasons.

Sometimes I believe it.

I live on a boat, and am there now actually. Im gently rocking back and forth. Its 10:51 pm and as I look out the port hole, the lights from the houses ashore are refracted into patterns of mathematical genius on the water. I see these patterns, and I see how they change as the tide is rushing out, and I know that I could never comphrehend the angles and equations that define the interactions of those ripples bouncing off one another.

Last weekend, while sailing back from Catalina I watched the bow of Faith rise and fall into each passing wave. The bow would crash into the water as we rode down each wave; as we broke the surface it would send up a tumultuos foam of spray and current... math, and reason and perfection and thousands of bubbles mixing into the water. Within a second we had sailed past them and they were gone, already we were riding up the next wave. I could never count that high. I could never do the math... I could never understand it.

Somehow knowing that allows me to know that their is a God.

2004-07-28T12:47:00.000-07:00

Project GPS Watch is up and running. Here are some charts recorded of my running, as well as a Sat image of my course using the XML file output of the watch. Its a very cool little toy. I tend to stare at it while running, which is entirely unsafe.

2004-06-10T14:56:00.000-07:00

Another day and a new course. Ran from the club to Balboa Island, around Balboa Island, and back to the club. Not entirely sure how far it was (as Im still sans GPS watch) but I like to think it was 5 miles.
Ran with my new Dell DJ 20 gig mp3 player. Sadly enough the headphones are horrible. Either my ears are too small or the ear bud style headphones are too large, but I had to take them out because my ears were hurting something fierce. So now I get to research new headphones? Any recommendations?
Here is a sat pic of the run:

2004-06-04T13:58:00.000-07:00

Well, I've gonna knock out a few projects on Faith over the weekend. Here are two high res photos of Faith taken a few years ago. I need to rig the mainsheet as shown. Looks intimidating...
Second project is to hand sew some mast boots. They keep freshwater (rain, condensation) out of the bilge. I should have done this a long time ago...

2004-06-02T22:57:00.000-07:00

Like most blogs, this is really little more than a journal I write for myself and myself alone. I use it to organize my thoughts, share some info online and maybe learn something about myself in the process. I really doubt anyone reads this blog, but for the .000287 people who actually are reading this let me make it real clear that I procrastinate terribly. I really procrastinate. I feel so behind on so many projects. It took me 6 months to even start keeping this journal. So here is my BIG GODDAMN LIST of things I need to act on:

Faith Projects
Mast boots
Head faucet adapter
Haul out scheduled
Title/Mooring plan

Personal Projects
Project Healthy & Project No completed
Auto brake lights, oil change, tune up

Hobby Projects
Antennas on mast
Weather gear on mast

I'll check these things off as they are completed... which will be, um... ok I gotta go now. Tomorrow, maybe?

2004-05-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

Pushed myself a little further on my run yesterday. Didn't realize how much further until I plotted my course on some sat imagery:
I marked Faiths approximate position with happy yellow star..

2004-05-26T19:04:00.000-07:00

I've seen a number of folks track their running via gps wristwatches and then plot their course on a map. Needless to say I was very impressed and sought to do the same. I've been reading up on nifty little GPS watches as well as biometric monitors (heart rate, etc) and have decided that I like these toys and want them. However, in the meantime Im just gonna plot my course the old fashioned way. (and save $500 in the process. Or as I like to say: Profit!) I did this using some imagery gathered by USAPhotoMaps and Fireworks MX 2004
Here are my results so far:

2004-05-25T21:58:00.000-07:00

Very cool. If I procrastinate long enough someone does my work for me.Excellent image viewer/online photo archive tool. You may expect to see this on my site soon.

2004-05-17T19:26:00.000-07:00

Very cool. Im getting closer in finding some resources that will allow me to build a low power server which gathers telemetry from Faith and shares it online. Looks like these guys might be able to help.

2004-05-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

GPS/GIS application development for the Pocket PC - Part 1 of 5

Wow. Great sensor data (GPS to pocketPC)

2004-05-01T10:44:00.000-07:00

Sensor Projects:

I like the collection of data.

Purpose: gather data from various sensors. record data for trend analysis. make data available online.

Sources of data:

wind speed
wind direction
indoor temperature
outdoor temperature
water temperature
water depth
water current (speed? direction?)
wave action (frequency? height?)
barometric pressure
motion detection
battery volts
amp hours
solar panel output

required tools:

weather monitor station
battery monitor
computer to record data

share data:
upload data to external server OR low power on board server

sites of interest:
http://solarpc.com/
http://www.peetbros.com

2004-04-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

Things I need to do in no particular order:

Sign up for class at OCC

Sign up for electronics class at UCI

Faith projects:
Cowl vent boxes stripped, varnished or painted
Solar charger box
Radio antennas mounted somewhere proper
Upholstery source identified
electronics dash scraped, sanded, varnished, filled, varnished again
Y-valve on head
Engine oil changed, sacrifical zincs

2004-04-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

Boing Boing: A Directory of Wonderful Things
And this here is a link to a blog Im really very found of. Its a directory of wonderful and interesting things. Sometimes there are not so interesting things there, but that rarely happens. And that in itself is wonderful.

2004-04-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

FAITH - Justin Williams
This is the site that shows some pictures, links to this blog, and really little else. Still new at the blogging thing. How am I doing so far?

2004-04-02T21:35:00.000-08:00

Well, I was gonna write my own software to post some thoughts online. This 'gonna' process lasted about 6 months or so. Thats half a year. So now Im signed with Blogger. 6 seconds later. yeha lazy!