New York Part 2 (May 12, 2008)
So me, the wife and Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys (Edrie) had a great night out. We first ate at a Japanese restaurant (very good sake) and followed it off with 70's punk, jazz experience and some good ol rock and stuff (you can tell I'm not a music person) put it was a good night. My being dressed up as I am got me a prop part in the Army of Broken Toys gig and I just stood there looking wistfully at a clock.

Afterwards we all came back tot he Waldorf and drank champagne, ate cheese cake and talked about random stuff. Good wind up for the night.

So now that we've taken our leave of the Waldorf and moved onto the Algonquin, a nicer hotel on first impressions with more warm and friendly service.

Got to walk around New York for a few hours visiting Little Italy, China Town and going to the bay to see the French statue on that island. We're going to go out to see Iron man this evening since it's Monday and all tourist stuff is closed on a Monday.
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New York Part 1 (May 12, 2008)
So here I am enjoying New York for the first time enjoying my Honeymoon with my lovely wife. It's been a bit delayed since we got married a 496 days ago and we're doing it now because it'll be our 500th deimversery. We do metric cronaverseries, every 100 days. Keeps me on my toes according to my wife.

Anyway so we're here sitting in the Waldorf drinking French champagne in classic 1940's clothes, me in a bowler and my wife in a lovely black dress with a victory roll hair do. Talking about how they've really let the place go down hill since they've let people ware t-shirts and jeans (as a joke).

(wife here) This place is fun to lurk around with a camera. And our suite, while small, is beautifully olde wolde. I think we need to do dinner in the restaurant that says they don't accept jeans and sneakers. Not that there's anything wrong with those (I packed three Ubuntu t-shirts and some jeans for DoctorMO), but we came here to be posh, so let it happen!
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Akonadi Poem (Mar 6, 2008)
I was in a rather heated debate and I had to write out my argument in the form of a poem, otherwise the steel "talk to the hand" I got would be seen as valid.

Akonadi

I gaze across to what I want,
it dances about in mad taunt.
The dream I see before I think,
Yet it somehow makes a valid link.

Beyond my dream are other folks,
who write code so bespoke.
They think of extension as if it were golden
and not of the people it must be sold on.

To create a new away from vice,
We can use the same code more than twice.
It's not a function that needs to go,
But the structure that must take the blow.

What is a core if not at root,
A part that can't be in a suite.
It must focus on all at once,
If it needs to be what it wants.

The work hard and the price great,
It is ok if it comes out late.
So long as the function is available,
to all that require it to be able.

Too late we think with eyes so short,
and forgo the the process we are taught.
For some new app we want to see,
The site of which we must agree.

How can one decide to chase,
without a home or sturdy base?
Those dreams we want to exist,
Depend on an ability to enlist.

Work together at some place,
So long as we're not focused some where else,
We can make something great,
But not unless we all best mates.

- Martin Owens
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Feburary Weather (Feb 19, 2008)
Well the weather is picking up here in Boston; And while it is a bit of a mixed bag, I much prefer this weather to the summer. Perhaps that will change with the onset of yet another hot summer.

This week sees ubuntu-ma maturing, our little gang of people are starting to organise more, and our second installfest event on saturday should mark a step change in our activities.

I'm working on a DBO class for perl which should be quite interesting when combined with a prefabrication module set. All of this is for Dohickey and I rue the much delay in getting it done.
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The amazing uselessness of free MMOs (Dec 9, 2007)
In the Free Software world, we have at our disposal a whole host of very useful tools; everything from operating systems to web servers to music applications.

Something that is troubling to me is the way in which Free Software gaming is conducted. In some instances you have games which claim to be open source but really aren't (Eternal Lands), some nice but broken Propritory games (A tale in the desert III) and some rather worrying licensed games where the code is open but the content or server isn't (Planeshift).

Now I don't think any of these game projects really understand the whole point of Free Software or Open Source. I don't think they understand the clarity of standard licenses, the value of sharing and the difficulty that their odd licenses and even odder notions play out when it comes to free software development.

If we for a moment forget the code, we have lots of coders and lots of programmers that grok free software. Let me concentrate on content.

When it comes to models, graphics, textures, sounds and other interesting content which can be reused in very different ways; I see absolutly no reason for all of this content not to be Creative Commons or GPL Content licensed. At the moment we have so many artists working to build the same tree model, the same rock model, the same grass texture and the same arrow swift sound. What is the point? are we honestly, hand on heart saying that we hate the human race that much we would rather see each other suffer than take a benefit from our hard works?

A lot of this is to do with the transition from the old ways to the new ways, there just isn't the education in place to help some of these projects mend their ways.

For instance planeshift has a particularly dangerous and selfish content license where everything a VOLUNTEER does is given whole sale for free to the planeshift 'non for profit' org. To me as an artist I would never do that, in fact I consider is rude, deceitful and incredibly ignorant to even suggest such a radical move for content.

What i would like to see is some of these linux game sites actually provide places where artists and content creators can create a library of content under free licenses so we can spur on greater game development for operating systems such as Linux.
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New work and visitation (Nov 12, 2007)
So last week I had my 23rd Birthday *yay* all good fun; the next day I was to start my new job, I'm a programmer as always.

Well apparently they'd asked me to send in information before but the message just didn't come through to me (see this is what you get when you leave a message on the phone instead of sending me an email) So we spent the 4 days setting things up, and by the time everything was set up we hardly had time to get down to business and set up development area, although I can see it's going to be interesting since the lead developer on the product isn't used to training new hires up and was the only person working on the product for quite some time.

So other good news is that on Friday my mum arrived and will be staying with us for 2 weeks; it's a really lovely visit as I've been missing the UK, my family and friends there so it's nice to be visited. Teru has taken the weeks off from work but I have just started so I couldn't.

I finally got my new laptop from System76, although what a trial; the sent me the wrong laptop, had to send me a new one; not only that but they sent my battery as an extra package which no one could sign for because I started my new work so it just bounced 3 times. I don't even drive so it's going to be interesting trying to get it back from UPS.
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Dev Summit Rush (Oct 27, 2007)
So here I am trying to rush to get the next version od Dohickey out the door before the dev summit on Monday (or is it Sunday) it's quite amazing what a kick up the bum can do to your motivation on a project. Especially when it looks like you'll be embarrassed by your own lack of work and amount of procrastination.

I'm adding sorting, filtering and list by features to the new command line tool which should be fun.
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Working Introspect (Oct 24, 2007)
So I quit my last job because of the problems with the holiday time they were offering and a bunch of other things (such as the way they thought sleezing celebrities was a good idea)

So I hope to start a new job on Nov 6th, my birthday is on 5th nov (again!) my mum is coming to visit a week later, the developer suimit is in boston a week before and the ubuntu-mass meeting is tomorrow.

I did make myself happy by ordering a really nice laptop though.
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Ubuntu Case Badges (Sep 26, 2007)
OK so this week has been super busy, both with getting use to going to work and sorting out the arrival of the ubuntu case badges. If you don't know what I'm talking about then you need to check it out here:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MassachusettsTeam/Projects/AluminiumCaseBadges

If your not sure what ubuntu is then you may have been missing out of the latest and greatest operating system to come out of the software developing houses of Ursa Major Delta.

Now I've been at work this evening sorting them all out, packing them all up and getting them all ready to send out. as we got a whopping 92 pre-orders where people gave us up to $300 in advanced mind you to get them thousands of these great looking case badges.

Not coincidentally we've made a big impression on the firm we were working with to make them, LustreCal in California. And you know it means a lot to be able to work with the business world as a community leader.
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Lonely online (Sep 19, 2007)
It appears that all my online friends on H2G2 are no more Ah foowy.

I'll still be posting journal entries when interesting things happen and today being talk like a pirate day I've been teasing some of my work colleagues for not joining in the fun.

Apart from that I got my first pay cheque in and cashed (finally) after some banking errors with the date on the cheque and now it's time to pay back allt hat money I owe to every body so I won't get to buy anything cool for some months.
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(5 replies, Latest reply: Nov 9, 2007)

Conscientious objector to a weird life (Sep 11, 2007)
What an odd travel back from work this evening, after for some unknown reason cancelling my attendance at my first perl mongers technical meeting I head home by cycling the 8 miles home.

As I'm nearing the last mile of my journey I start up a bridge/hill when out of nowhere comes a flying boot, it misses me by miles but the guy who threw it at me just grunted and mumbled in a crazy fashion.

But wait there's more...

Then as I'm reaching the apex of the hill my steering starts to melt, I have no idea what's going on but I'm now very worried for my safety so I get off the bike, onto the pavement to examine it. It appears as though both bars which join up with the steering block have rusted away and have cracked almost in two. If I'd have gone down that hill my bike would be in two pieces and it's likely I'd be in several bits too.

Score one for the crazy guy spooking me out there.

The other bit of news is that I got an interesting letter from the US SSS which informs me I'm now eligible for the draft. Now while I have no qualms with emergency procedures there is just a couple of problems with this, 1) I can't knowingly harm others as a moral principle, and 2) I can't knowingly support others who I know will harm others. It seems to conflict a bit since I don't think they thought people would be following Ghandi's teachings when they drafted the draft.

After some research I gather I can object on conscientious grounds which is good because it would be a bit of a problem if I shot someone since I'd have to then risk my life to save them and that wouldn't really be good thing to have to do. Hopefully if such a thing comes into being in the next few years while I'm in the USA I'll be able to travel back to the UK and avoid any issues.
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Now Working! (Aug 27, 2007)
Great news, I'm finally working and doing stuff; at last I'll be able to pull in some money and buy that laptop I've been after.
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The great Job hunt circus (Aug 23, 2007)
So I finally got a job, it's not a fantastic position and the people are so-so, but it's a job and it'll pay the bills etc.

Now I really wanted to get that Lextranet job, it was great money, I negotiated good on the vacation time terms and the team was pretty good too; but it got killed by legal problems and having to do a uk background check which took forever to be rejected because of insufficient paper work.

But at least I'm not sitting on my hands any more and my lovely wife TeruTeruBozu can stop nagging me and making me feel quite guilty for not being able to get a job quicker.

True the market here in Boston for Perl programmers is quite good, lord only knows why I had so much trouble.
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Got it (Aug 2, 2007)
Hey all, I'm now an official permanent resident of the USA *sigh*

Unfortunatly I'm still out of work, this perl, python programmer is sitting on his hands waiting for the local business to grow a clue that not all programmers have degrees.
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Busy and Attentive (Jun 26, 2007)
Well since I got my green card 4 weeks ago I've been busy applying for jobs and seeing what kind of things are available in Boston. The job market here is either not familar to me or just moves like treacle.

So I've been continuing with Dohickey, doing some art work and even found time to do a jigsaw puzzle gui for xjig the other day. Although it'll be nice to bring home some bacon and stop my wife worrying about the finances; then I shall have quite a few months of paying her back which shouldn't be as bad as all that, remember what is good for her is good for me.
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Good to go (May 26, 2007)
Looks like I'll be able to work. we've gotten emails through saying that the Green Card is on it's way so I'll have authorisation to get a job.

Which is about time too because I was seriously running out of money and borrowing from your wife is never good for stability. but she's been really great through the whole thing

So now just the problem of getting a job, anyone need a really good programmer in Boston? apparently lots do you just have to find the right contacts. wish me luck.
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(6 replies, Latest reply: Nov 9, 2007)

To many jobs not enough work permits (Mar 28, 2007)
Recently I've been finding out about all the really great jobs available in my local area, not only have some people asked me for me CV through the BLU (Linux user group in boston) but I've managed to talk face to face with some interesting guys doing interesting things.

Everything looks really good as far as employment prospects go; unfortunatly I still don't have a work permit and the government in the usa works like governments every where: at a glacial speed, a speed so slow that even helium atoms eventually give up and break apart before waiting for government permission to exist. I do have a biometrics apointment on Friday which should be interesting (yes they want EVERYTHING again) I'll be surprised if I'm not asked for stool samples and bone marrow for good measure.

But then this whole process is brought into sharp relief, now only do I have a decimated savings with only 18% of my original savings left. but I also get a nice email from somebody at Google basically saying 'Hey, you look like a froody young chap that's going places, why not join google' which seems like good news if people are actively seeking my employ. I must have such a good name about the town to solicit such attention.

We've had an email exchange and he doesn't seem phased by the pending paper work and work permit problem which is always a good sign. They'll want a phone call to have a nice chat about prospects which should be good.

In the end despite the number of companies that have good job offerings, I want to make sure that I pick a job that is good for me to grow and good for my new life that I must balance with work. I must try not to be tempted by the glaring lights of big names such as Google and try and look at offerings objectively.

Oh well, see how it goes.
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(2 replies, Latest reply: May 3, 2007)

Diggs and Dones (Mar 28, 2007)
Hello again all readers,

The other day I set up a little script to do some research on computer hardware in Linux, basically I wanted to use the bios as a source of information but the bios is well known for giving out variable information depending on machine and motherboard manufacturer.

So I crafted a simple bash script which would call both a few python modules, the dmidecode program and grab some info from HAL. varified by a dump of cpuinfo and ioports; package it all up into a tar and allow it to be sent back to me so I could test my code on many machines without having physical access to many machines.

I created a thread in ubuntuforums, I got about maybe 20 to 30 replies... then on Sunday BOOM 400 emails arrive in my inbox all giving me their hardware profiles. What had happened is someone had linked my request on ubuntuforums to digg.com and it got a lot of diggs; even ended up on the first page. there were some confused emails too not reading what I had original written in my post.

Over all I now have a great statistical significant sample of hardware which I can test any hal or dmi code for errors and problems.

Say Lavie (we do)
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Sickly Programming (Mar 15, 2007)
Hi all,

I'm been involved in a number of projects, a big one called dohickey (dohickey-project.com) and a small one to be able to insert barcodes with inkscape.

Well the inkscape one is finished; but just my luck to get sick. I've been so full of gunk that I can't seem to sleep as the beating of my own heart keeps me awake.

Which is one reason why it seems like such a struggle to do these projects. although I am glad things are moving along just not as quickly as I would like.
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Married Life (Jan 16, 2007)
Well this is two weeks into married life, it seems very similar to unmarried life but now you get to call each other wife/husband as a sort of cruel joke on the modern cinik (this is spelt wrong, I know).

But life in general is good, we're sorting out the paper work which allows me to work and not get thrown out of the country, once all thats done life should kick into hill gear I'm sure.

Hope you all have a great new years.
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(2 replies, Latest reply: Jan 22, 2007)

Pictures! (Jan 2, 2007)
First pictures of the wedding here:

http://sexternalharddrive.com/blog/wedding/
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Wedded at last! (Jan 1, 2007)
Hey all,

So last night/early this morning we finally got married. I'll post a link to the photos when they're online but it was a great party.

Me in my kilt and waistcoat and the bride in her red dress and corset; hosted at home for about 30 people it was a fantastic even which has left us with 10 bottles of champagne to somehow do something with.

It was so lovely in the ceremony we each gave books of special meaning to each other; I gave The Hitch Hickers Guide to the Galexy (DNA), Small Gods (Pratchett) and The Pilgrimage to Sirens cove (DW Edwards) which all have a special place in my heart. she gave me Agatha christy 'The murder of Rodger Ackroyd' and Niel Gaiman's 'American Gods'

This might seem odd but we're big Geeks/Nerds so it made perfect sense.

We had our good friend Edrie do the officiating too, she was awesome, well organised and very lovely as always.

Here's to a great year and a wonderful marriage to the best woman I know!
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In Boston Now (Dec 7, 2006)
Hey all, I'm now in Boston and enjoying my life here. it's quite a bit different from what it was before and it'll take some time getting used to.

more details later.
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(5 replies, Latest reply: Jan 1, 2007)

All packed up (Nov 15, 2006)
Right so thats all the boxes that are being shipped to the usa are boxed and taped. I'll label them all up tonight.

The it's shipping time. now it's just a case of getting rid of all the junk I'm not talking, buying a large suit case for taking the computer, oh and my clothes.

I think I'm all but set for my new life. exciting isn't it.
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(4 replies, Latest reply: Nov 20, 2006)

Happy Birthday to me (Nov 6, 2006)
Ah this birthday was ok, not a spot on my 21st but good all the same.

I had dinner at Martins, got quite a haul of cards and gifts considering my age (and I wasn't expecting any) had a play round with installing windows 2000 on his Ubuntu machine which destroyed his home partition which I was not pleased about.

Got chocolates, so I'll be enjoying those over the comming days.

Went up to visit my Dad make sure he's ok and knows I'm going to the USA at the end of the month.

My sister came round, but visited without even telling me so I didn't even see her. she just left gifts then left. hmmm

My phones been cut off by NTL, nice of them really since I asked for the service to be cut off on the 30th of Novemember. which means I won't be able to make arangements to move at home.
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(3 replies, Latest reply: Nov 6, 2006)