Comments

Re:List of sites. by hawke — last modified 2007-12-18 23:14

Some more sites I've begun recenlty (still works in progress if anything at all yet).

www.spokanechinese.com

www.spokanejug.com

Re:Onforce by hawke — last modified 2007-10-29 21:13

In addition to all the above hassles, here's some more.

They took more than a week to get around to "authorizing payment". And that only after repeated messages and phone calls.

Then their payment policy restricts to a maximum "pay out" from their "Account" to your own bank of only $999.00 per day! And that payment is expected to take at least 3-5 business days to process! And don't try even $999.99 it won't allow even the extra .99 cents. How ridiculous to put such limits. What is the reason with restricting the daily payout amount at all? Are they putting the "end user" payments into a high interest bearing account and trying to make money off it like a bank so they want to hang onto it as long as possible?

So, this means, from my experience of 2 clients through onforce.com so far, that it has taken between two to three WEEKS MINIMUM to get paid from when I finished the work with the clients.

If onforce would at least be honest and list payment terms as net 15 or net 30, that would be something, but they are completely misleading about the payout time periods. Maybe others have had smoother experiences? Since I do not know a single professional who has (or would likely) try out such as service, I have only my (annoying and time consuming) experience to base my review on.

Since I'm retired the actual time to be paid is the least of my issues. What I am most annoyed about however, is all my wasted time jumping through all their hoops and dealing with their (obviously incompetent and) rude support staff. They have a long ways to go in improving their model and especially implementation before I could recommend a single entity use their services, whether they are a service provider, buyer, or end user. I would strongly recommend everyone stay away from onforce.com except to help them with their alpha/beta testing. Do NOT use their service for anything professional. The end users were VERY annoyed by the process as well, and stated they would rather never use the service again too. They found it too cumbersome and time consuming compared to more direct service models.

I'll continue to test it out from time to time (since they seem to be in a frequent development release cycle, thus very Alpha or at best early pre-beta quality) to see if they make any better progress, but I will definitely avoid recommending any of my clients begin using their service, as well as dissuade all the other providers out there that I know over the years from using it other than as a testing basis.

Re:Linux Distro Evaluations by hawke — last modified 2007-10-07 08:23

I've been posting the follow up articles on this evaluation on my "Tech Talk With Hawke" website at:
http://www.techtalkhawke.com

by hawke — last modified 2007-08-25 01:55

Oh, I forgot to mention the latency though. you would NOT want to play any FPS or other games that demand low latency, you would definitely get fragged.
It's between 200 to 600 ms, with an average around 300-400 ms. it's bearable though for most other application.

by hawke — last modified 2007-08-25 01:54

Status update on this.
it is now August 24th and I've used it for several months very happily.
We have driven from Spokane, Washington, through Northern idaho, then through Missoula Montana, downt through southeast idaho and into Northern utah to Salt Lake City, and back, and had workable signal more than 99% of the time!
Speed varied a lot in those areas, but I was able to get a lot of important work done while my wife drove on that 10 hour long trip.
In Spokane I'm averaging around 150+/- Kbps upstream, and 400 Kbps downstream (as advertised), according to using the dslreports speed test tools.
Not bad, not bad at all...

Works great under Linux (I've only exclusively used this under Linux actually, though I have a test partition to try it under Vista Home Premium (blech!) at some point, though I never truly use Windows anymore).

Anyhow, thought folks would find this useful.
Cheers!

by hawke — last modified 2007-06-12 19:02

So, not only did I flub everything terribly, but my accompanist, Carol Miyamoto also resigned. She was tired of my cancellations and not being prepared. That's a real blow. She's a great, well respected accompanist, but obviously waaaay out of my league. It was an honor that she took me on for as long as she did. I can't blame her at all, I'm just REALLY bummed about it though. It hurts worse than the disaster of my performance actually.

I'll have to think long and hard if I'm really up to this in the future. The Jury asked me to try the same repertoire all over again for Fall 2007 quarter. I'm currently signed up, but I don't know... And I'll have to start all over trying to find, and fit with, a new accompanist.

Definitely not feeling "up" today. :-(

by hawke — last modified 2007-04-21 20:36

Update. I've been asked to at least please keep broadcasting "Tech Talk With Hawke".
So, I will still be ending "The Synthetic Zen Show" after more than 3 years, but I will keep going with Tech Talk.
Meanwhile I will be helping KYRS with their transition, and have been asked to stay on at an advisory level for technology issues to help guide them. This is far less demanding of my time, while still being able to help KYRS out. This is a fair balance between freeing up time for family, and still being involved with KYRS.

by hawke — last modified 2006-12-21 10:16

My wife isn't happy about me riding at all. She has tried ever since the day I bought it, to get me to sell it.
But I have no intention to do so. Hopefully it won't be the maiming or death of me, i ride VERY mellow, and have a lot of extra safety features so other drivers ("cagers") see me, such as strobing hi/low headlight, strobing tail lights, lots of reflective material on helmet and bike, etc.
No guarantees, but do what I can.
It is such a wonderful feeling riding on the open road, travelling the country. You see, smell, hear, and experience it so much more richly than when in a car.

by Anonymous User — last modified 2006-12-17 04:09

Nice bike! I panned to have one but my wife doesn't want me do so, she said, it is risky. Be careful on it.

You've visited and posted a comment on my blog. Thank you, I appreciate it very much.

by hawke — last modified 2006-11-03 07:26

So how come you can't post on your blog that you're not Mormon anymore?
When did that happen? Was it a single key event, or a series of events? You referenced "fate".
What exactly did you find that made it clear it was based on fiction? I've thought it just seemed so all along, especially when I read the Book of Mormon and such. But I've had the same feeling with many other "Holy Books" I've read too, either in part or in whole. Though the best stories are ones based on half-truths. ;-)
Please do tell. If you're not comfortable with it here, then feel free to email me your responses if you prefer. ;-)
Cheers!
-Hawke

by hawke — last modified 2006-11-03 07:25

I hear you on so many of those points! ;-)
And thank so much for you following up.
I did not know you had quit Mormonism/LDS faith. You might not know, but my wife is LDS, and I'm still very much NOT. I'm allowing her to raise the kids that way, only because of the moral foundation in the permutation her parents raised her with is acceptable in my belief, that the boys will find their own path in later years, but that when they are younger they need a clear moral guidepost to help them, and unfortunately I'm a little more abstract in that, and it confuses them when I talk about such abstract concepts.
I recently had the oldest two starting to watch the wonderful science series from 1980 by Carl Sagan: Cosmos. I don't know if you ever saw it, but I think it's the best science series ever made!
Cosmology covers "The universe and everything in it.".
It really had them asking a LOT of questions, and caused a lot of doubt in what they were taught at church.
So, unfortunately I caught some flack over it, and haven't made them finish the series yet, but I will...

The Matrix films were intentionally based on a lot of well published philosphy and especially meta physics.
Some direct examples include Plato's Cave Analogy, Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simlacrum (book is what Neo hides his hacker "cd's" and cash in), Descartes "brain in the vat", and many others.
There's a great book on "The Philosophy of the Matrix" that fills in a lot of what I thought I saw, in great detail.
There are so many excellent quotes in there I use all the time, my favorite in this chaotic rushed world is from the second film with the Merovingian:
"Of course, of course. Who has time, who has time? But if we do not TAKE time, how can we ever HAVE time."
I was working 90-120 hours work weeks per week at that point, with some 3 weeks long straight shifts "Working miracles" in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, but destroying my humanity and health in the process.

I actually (slightly) prefer the 2nd matrix to the 1st.
Everyone I know prefers (as you do) the 1st over the rest, and I can understand that.
The 1st was more "new" and unexpected, etc, and packed a LOT into it.
But I found the dialogue, and messages (which you have to really study metaphysics and philosophy and technology intimately to really pick up on the vast number of nuances) in the second film to far surpass the first. There were some short comings in the second in other ways, but so much of it I was just locked onto the dialogue, every phrase had so many layers of meaning, so many images, when not in the middle of action, had so many meanings behind them. The first movie did a great job setting a great groundwork, the second built the rest on that foundation, in intricate detail that is appreciated in it's richness each time I watch it again (and again, and again). ;-)
As someone who has had the actual title "Corporate Architect", I LOVE the whole scene with the "Architect". ;-) Though of course there is far more there than just the techie reference. :-P

I went so far as to buy the Ultimate Matrix 10 DVD pack from a pawn shop - since I have been boycotting all MPA / MPAA and RIAA member companies products for 3 years now, I only buy non-independent products second hand so the MPA/RIAA are not getting financed by my funds, small though that is, but I do buy new any independent artists products.
The Ultimate Matrix includes the Animatrix, and much more. If you haven't seen the Animatrix, do, it helps fill in more gaps, though from a philosophy/meta-physics perspective, it's nowhere near as strong as the first two movies.
The third movie had some good meta physics and philosophy, but it was quite sparse compared to the other two, unfortunately, and the ending still leaves me dissatisfied as though something were missing, wrong, or finished off in a hurry. :-(

You know some of the paranormal and spiritual experiences I've had, and I should try to get around to posting the others I've alluded to at some point. It's not so much that I reject that there's more there, there. Not that at all. But I'm just not able to quite get a hold of what that "there" is that is there.
:-P
So there!
:-P

Carl Sagan has a great example in one of the early parts of the Cosmos series.
Flat Land. Two dimensional people living their lives in a two dimensional world.
When a person from the 3rd dimension comes to their world, all they can see is the tiniest infinitesimal "slice" of the apple, and it's beyond their comprehension.
I hear over and over that it's pretty much impossible for us in this 3-4 dimension world to grasp anything beyond that, but it doesn't stop me from (going nuts) trying to. ;-)

It's not that I discount any of the beliefs, it's just that none has yet "rung true" for me alas, and it hasn't been from lack of desire, craving (uh oh, very anti-buddhist having that craving thing going on :-P ), or trying different methods of thought, "Being", etc.

It does seem so very true about the "old soul".
My dearest friend ever, and first girlfriend, Judith, commented on that frequently, and others over the years have said the same. And I've generally come to agree, from how I "feel" in the world. There's almost a weariness sometimes, and other times an elation from it, but almost always, a distance from others that I long to bridge, but it seems too vast to be able to. But every now and then I meet a (very) few people who seem to be much closer in that distance, and that kindred feeling is very strong, and encouraging that I'm not totally "out there", "nuts", or alone in these views of the world. Alas that it is so very few. And it is very hard when those few people of such kindred I have known move far, far away, and disappear for years at a time. That would be you, and 1, maybe 2 others I have known in my life. Ironically you and another are currently both in Texas.
I Wonder if there's some vortex there drawing you there?
:-P

I have thought many times about past lives, in various approaches, the Buddhist approach (short cut to Hinduism), Hinduist approach, as well as various more contemporary approaches.
Again, we as humans have a desperate need (not all of us, but many) to have everything have some meaning to it. And many make that meaning be handled by a surrogate, sometimes called God, Allah, Buddha, or others, while some focus on the "self" and it's tie to everything, etc.

It seems far to depressing to think that it truly doesn't matter that we exist or not.
Though I disagree with those who say you can't be moral and be nihilistic. Han Fei Tzu and others showed a very non-religious, non-metaphysical strong moral code. Many have said I "seem more christian than many christians" in being forgiving, moral etc. Though there are plenty of exceptions to that as well of course. Alas, I'm a multifaceted item with many opposing facets. :-P

Nihilism is just one possible possibility, dnd the human mind rails against that.
I'm not saying there isn't much, so much, beyond our comprehension out there, there definitely is much more, my (and yours, and others) experiences prove that, but whether ANY of these philosophies, religions, sciences, or beliefs are even CLOSE to the mark in any aspect, I don't know.

And, the nihilistic sentiment doesn't seem impossible to me, and though I don't want to EMBRACE nihilism, I have at least tried to ACCEPT it as a possibility, as well as many others pieces of other precepts, though I don't think ANY of them "have it right" as a whole. Accepting it as being just as possible as any other current "explanation" out there actually made it a little easier to look at everything else in a more objective light. But, for many of those belief systems, being objective is good, and a goal, whereas for others being objective is not being one with the experience of living and only being an observer.
I strongly agree with such philosophies such as trying to not fall into the "us against them" act/thought/pattern because them is just us anyway, the "universal mind" belief is true in that we are all interconnected in some way, etc. Just in what way is still TBD in my mind/heart/etc.

I could go on for hours, and typing is far too slow for all the thoughts I'm trying to get out alas.

But I'd love to hear more feedback, thoughts, comments, and feelings. ;-)
Cheers!
-Hawke

by khanada — last modified 2006-11-03 07:24

Hey there. Well, I don't think I've told you, and I can't post it on my blog and well you might have already realized it anyway - but I'm no longer Mormon. I'd been having serious doubts about a few core teachings for years, and finally, through a combination of fate and inspired research, I discovered the mormon faith to be based on fiction.

Having been raised in the church, and having had a strong enough conviction at one time to go on a mission for 18 months, one might think I'd have been davastated by losing my beliefs. But the opposite happened. I feel amazingly happy, light, liberated and hopeful! I've had many spiritual experiences in my life, which give me my convictions about there being more to this world that JUST what we see here.

I like what you said about The Matrix films. For me they hit home, too. Especially the first one. I believe there is a core of truth to them, which is one reason why they were so successful. I don't know the nature of God, but I believe in God. I don't know the nature of what's beyond this world, but I believe there is more than just this.

Have you ever thought, REALLY thought about how long you've existed. I don't mean how long you've been alive, but how long you, the core of who you are, has existed. When I think of "suddenly flairing into existance at conception, or birth, it just doesn't feel right. I've been "around" for MUCH longer than this life. Somehow I know this.

I guess that's one reason why my interests are what they are. Paranormal, spiritual, eternal, creative. Annette and I joke that the people in this world who just don't have a personality, don't lead but follow, haven't got a creative bone it their bodies, they're living their "first lives." I haven't entirely decided whether I believe in reincarnation (in the popular sense) but I've been called an "old soul" so many times in my life, from so many different people - and I FEEL it's true.

Anyway, I feel you're an "old soul" too, and that your wide range of interests, talents and abilities are a reflection of that.

Thanks for your comments and your candor. I am sooo happy we're back in touch again!

Love
Khanada

by hawke — last modified 2006-11-03 07:15

It's now July 5th, 2006. I've been on L-Tryptophan now for over 1.5 years with still all the benefits, and nothing terrible happening.
The only side effects I've noticed, occur when the dosage gets a little too high.
Symptom 1: I start to be tired all day instead of just around 10:00 pm.
Symptom 2: The skin on my forehead starts to get a little dull, and almost acne like (but without the actual acne). This usually only happens if I'm up around 2,000 mg for a prolonged period.
For my 6'8" 275 lb frame (no idea if body size makes any difference or not), my ideal dosage seems to be right around 1,000-1,500 mg. I keep varying it a little between the two ,so I suspect I may need to be around 1,250 mg ideally, but the capsules I currently get are only in 500 mg increments. I'll have to get my doctor to adjust the prescription to allow the alternate sizes.
Meanwhile, it has kept my bi-polar completely stable as long as I'm on it.
It has regulated my sleep (though I still have bad habits, it's no longer my body keeping me up late, mostly just school deadlines now).
My general attitude is definitely improved as well, and my chronic pain is all but gone. These last two may not be directly attributable to the L-Trypto, and instead more the other care (Physical Therapy, Chiropractor, Nutrition, etc.).
I also referred a family member for her family member's bi-polar, and apparently it has radically changed he life and helped her as well after years of no luck.
These of course are only case histories, and not scientific in any way. I'll have to get some time when school is out to do some research to see if there are any clinical studies related to each of the supposed benefits of L-Tryptophan. I'm also interested in how LTP-5 is comparing as well. I have misgivings about LTP-5 because of my concern about it bypassing a step before absorption. But I need to do a lot more research.
I hope others find this useful as I have.
Comments are disabled on this article because of jerky spammers to the comments section of all articles. But you can email me if you wish at:
hawke at hawkes - haven dot com.
Cheers!