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Amy
Erin
Kirstin
Leanne
Moneypenny
Narf
Ruppert
Ryan
Shannon
Stearns
recent photos:
Day 15: July 6
Ahrndt Xmas, December 23, 2006
01-27-06
UP Trip 2005
July 2005
all photos
Forums DOT lukpac.org
The Leper Network
political links:
This Modern World
Atrios
Daily Kos
Media Matters
Crooks and Liars
Atom feed
Archives links
1.26.2008
TDS finally made the official announcement about WiMAX, but alas, there's currently no coverage on the south side. Still keeping my fingers crossed, though:
In other news, I've been down in Arizona since Wednesday visiting Zach and Katie. Unlike the last time I was here, it has been fairly nice out; I think the temperatures have been in the mid-50s to the mid-60s. That is to say, actually conducive to doing things. So far Zach and I have gone on a hike, checked out some botanical gardens and gone on a ~20 mile bike ride. Some photos here. Oh, and playing Rock Band.
[11:12 AM] post a comment
1.19.2008
To add insult to injury, so far TDS has sent two letters indicating they are going to disconnect service, and left a message on the machine with instructions to call their financial services department. Funny how when they want money (that isn't even owed to them) it's a big deal, but when your service is out or significantly screwed up, they don't want to be bothered.
It looks like AT&T has a remote building about a block and a half away (which would in theory mean really fast DSL), but I don't like other aspects of their service, and as much as I hate dealing with TDS, I think I want to deal with AT&T even less.
[3:20 PM] post a comment
1.16.2008
Ugh, still fighting with TDS. I realize the holidays are a bad time to get anything done, but pretty much nothing has happened since before Christmas. They were going to look into wireless, and at one point I was being told "the tower is up, they are just working through some issues, all of Madison is going wireless", but the latest word is "you're too far away and there are no plans for wireless in your area". Son of a b****.
So now they are planning on putting in another line (again), although today I was told that due to new rate plans, that is going to require a 2 year contract. That is, of course, if the new line is actually better, which may not actually be the case. And even if nothing changes, a new contract would still be required for the new rate plans, which cost a bit less than the current one.
On top of all that, they didn't issue the credits they were supposed to, so the latest bill was a mess, with charges from the second line (which were never supposed to be there in the first place), charges from the first line (which were supposed to be taken off when they disconnected it), and late charges. That should have been all taken care of as of about 10 minutes ago, but I won't believe it until the next bill comes.
My tummy is upset.
[1:54 PM] post a comment
1.12.2008
An aural history of Luke's childhood, part 2:
In another year or so I'd be listening to the oldies station.
[10:04 PM] post a comment
1.06.2008
Here's a piece of history, kids. Back in the day I used to tape songs off the radio with my Sears Lxi boom box. Amazingly enough, I still have a bunch of them. I just finished listening to one the whole way through, and this is what's on it:
[6:50 PM] post a comment
1.02.2008
So here we are in 2008. I'm failing to come up with any insight or wisdom for this momentous occasion, but I did keep busy over the extended weekend:
Project: rebuild carburetor on snowblower
Status: complete, with a "but"
Details: Lately I've been having a problem where the snow blower starts fine, but dies after a minute or two. I suspected a fuel system problem, so I took the carburetor apart, cleaned it, and replaced a few parts. It might run a *little* longer now, but it is still dying after only a few minutes. Back to tinkering...
Project: install new bathroom exhaust fan
Status: complete
Details: The old exhaust fan looked like crap, was kind of loud, and didn't do the best job of getting rid of moisture from a shower. We bought a new (quieter, more powerful) one about a week ago, and the other day I finally got around to installing it. Despite a lot of swearing (insulation, cramped attic, trouble getting old fan out, no way to mount new fan) and at least one extended break, I got it installed, and it works better than expected. The mirror doesn't get steamed up anymore!
Project: get Cisco 831 router up and running
Status: complete!
Details: A few years ago I took a networking class at MATC and got a deal on a Cisco router. Basically just a broadband router on steroids, but I thought it would be good to tinker around with. A year or two ago I tried to get it up and running using the included web utility, but I couldn't actually get said utility to work, and then I started screwing around in IOS and couldn't even get to the web utility at all. Well, I have a need for it now, so I decided I was finally going to get it working. I restored web access via IOS, upgraded the web utility to something that actually works, and got everything up and running. Finally!
Project: replace garage door springs
Status: complete
Details: While working on the snow blower last week, the garage door suddenly came crashing down. One of the springs broke. On Saturday I got some new springs from Quality Hardware, made some adjustments to the door hardware and put the new springs in. Not only does the door no longer come crashing down, it works much better than before!
Unfortunately, I'm once again fighting with TDS. After getting things better than they had ever been, everything went to hell. One night the DSL simply stopped working, and I quickly discovered there was no dial tone either. Apparently when somebody went to disconnect the second line, they disconnected the primary line too. After two days it was back up, but instead of connecting at nearly 2.5 Mbps, it was now only 900 Kbps. It looks like when somebody went to reconnect things, they used the wires the second line was on, which aren't as good. I'm currently fighting "umm, we don't know what to do" with "you broke it, you figure it out and fix it". We'll see how that goes.
[9:57 AM] post a comment
TDS finally made the official announcement about WiMAX, but alas, there's currently no coverage on the south side. Still keeping my fingers crossed, though:
TDS has six towers in all, located on the east and west sides of the city. If you live within two miles of one of those towers, you may be able to get TDS WiMAX. Roughly 55,000 residential customers and 10,000 business customers will be able to get WiMAX service initially.Unfortunately, it seems as if these plans are anything but concrete, based on my query to their PR contact.
During 2008 we will be working to expand WiMAX to a much wider geographic area and fill in the gaps on the south side of Madison. We are also working with additional Dane County communities to bring WiMAX to those locations.
In other news, I've been down in Arizona since Wednesday visiting Zach and Katie. Unlike the last time I was here, it has been fairly nice out; I think the temperatures have been in the mid-50s to the mid-60s. That is to say, actually conducive to doing things. So far Zach and I have gone on a hike, checked out some botanical gardens and gone on a ~20 mile bike ride. Some photos here. Oh, and playing Rock Band.
[11:12 AM] post a comment
1.19.2008
To add insult to injury, so far TDS has sent two letters indicating they are going to disconnect service, and left a message on the machine with instructions to call their financial services department. Funny how when they want money (that isn't even owed to them) it's a big deal, but when your service is out or significantly screwed up, they don't want to be bothered.
It looks like AT&T has a remote building about a block and a half away (which would in theory mean really fast DSL), but I don't like other aspects of their service, and as much as I hate dealing with TDS, I think I want to deal with AT&T even less.
[3:20 PM] post a comment
1.16.2008
Ugh, still fighting with TDS. I realize the holidays are a bad time to get anything done, but pretty much nothing has happened since before Christmas. They were going to look into wireless, and at one point I was being told "the tower is up, they are just working through some issues, all of Madison is going wireless", but the latest word is "you're too far away and there are no plans for wireless in your area". Son of a b****.
So now they are planning on putting in another line (again), although today I was told that due to new rate plans, that is going to require a 2 year contract. That is, of course, if the new line is actually better, which may not actually be the case. And even if nothing changes, a new contract would still be required for the new rate plans, which cost a bit less than the current one.
On top of all that, they didn't issue the credits they were supposed to, so the latest bill was a mess, with charges from the second line (which were never supposed to be there in the first place), charges from the first line (which were supposed to be taken off when they disconnected it), and late charges. That should have been all taken care of as of about 10 minutes ago, but I won't believe it until the next bill comes.
My tummy is upset.
[1:54 PM] post a comment
1.12.2008
An aural history of Luke's childhood, part 2:
Side 1A bit later this time (1989) and a short tape. I think everything was pretty recognizable except the Bobby Brown and Cher songs. I remember WKTI using "Another Day in Paradise" for some homeless promo, and they'd play so much of the song before the voice over you'd get tricked into thinking they were actually playing the song. And I liked "We Didn't Start The Fire" a bit too much back then.
Forever Young - Rod Stewart
(94 WKTI)
Angle Eyes - Jeff Healey Band
Hungry Eyes - Eric Carmen
Just Like Jesse James - Cher
Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins (cuts off)
Side 2
Rock and a Hard Place - Rolling Stones
Rock Wit'cha - Bobby Brown
When The Night Comes - Joe Cocker
We Didn't Start The Fire - Billy Joel (cuts off)
In another year or so I'd be listening to the oldies station.
[10:04 PM] post a comment
1.06.2008
Here's a piece of history, kids. Back in the day I used to tape songs off the radio with my Sears Lxi boom box. Amazingly enough, I still have a bunch of them. I just finished listening to one the whole way through, and this is what's on it:
Side 1The first bunch of songs is from WKTI in Milwaukee and seems to be from November 1987 or so. Starting with The Finer Things, though, all of the songs seem to be a bit older - perhaps 1986 or early 1987. Funny, as I remember most of those more. I guess I liked We're Ready a lot!
Motortown - The Kane Gang
(94 WKTI)
I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany
(94 WKTI/John Harrison)
I've Been In Love Before - Cutting Crew
(94 WKTI)
Lost in Emotion - Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
(94 WKTI)
Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams (cuts off)
Mony Mony - Billy Idol
(WKTI/John Harrison)
Rock Steady - The Whispers (cuts off)
The Finer Things - Steve Winwood
(close up on Countdown USA)
Every Breath You Take - The Police
The Final Countdown - Europe
Side 2
Land Of Confusion - Genesis (small clip)
Big Time - Peter Gabriel
(100 WRKR)
We're Ready - Boston
(Hit Radio 100/Sledgehammer clip)
Will You Still Love Me? - Chicago
You Make Loving Fun - Fleetwood Mac (first second only)
I Want A New Drug - Huey Lewis and the News
Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen (first few seconds)
We're Ready - Boston
(100 WRKR)
Jacob's Ladder - Huey Lewis and the News
Is This Love - Survivor
(100 WRKR/Run to You clip)
I Need Your Loving - Human League
(Hit Radio 100 WRKR w/ John Gibson)
We Built This City - Starship (cuts off/end of tape)
[6:50 PM] post a comment
1.02.2008
So here we are in 2008. I'm failing to come up with any insight or wisdom for this momentous occasion, but I did keep busy over the extended weekend:
Project: rebuild carburetor on snowblower
Status: complete, with a "but"
Details: Lately I've been having a problem where the snow blower starts fine, but dies after a minute or two. I suspected a fuel system problem, so I took the carburetor apart, cleaned it, and replaced a few parts. It might run a *little* longer now, but it is still dying after only a few minutes. Back to tinkering...
Project: install new bathroom exhaust fan
Status: complete
Details: The old exhaust fan looked like crap, was kind of loud, and didn't do the best job of getting rid of moisture from a shower. We bought a new (quieter, more powerful) one about a week ago, and the other day I finally got around to installing it. Despite a lot of swearing (insulation, cramped attic, trouble getting old fan out, no way to mount new fan) and at least one extended break, I got it installed, and it works better than expected. The mirror doesn't get steamed up anymore!
Project: get Cisco 831 router up and running
Status: complete!
Details: A few years ago I took a networking class at MATC and got a deal on a Cisco router. Basically just a broadband router on steroids, but I thought it would be good to tinker around with. A year or two ago I tried to get it up and running using the included web utility, but I couldn't actually get said utility to work, and then I started screwing around in IOS and couldn't even get to the web utility at all. Well, I have a need for it now, so I decided I was finally going to get it working. I restored web access via IOS, upgraded the web utility to something that actually works, and got everything up and running. Finally!
Project: replace garage door springs
Status: complete
Details: While working on the snow blower last week, the garage door suddenly came crashing down. One of the springs broke. On Saturday I got some new springs from Quality Hardware, made some adjustments to the door hardware and put the new springs in. Not only does the door no longer come crashing down, it works much better than before!
Unfortunately, I'm once again fighting with TDS. After getting things better than they had ever been, everything went to hell. One night the DSL simply stopped working, and I quickly discovered there was no dial tone either. Apparently when somebody went to disconnect the second line, they disconnected the primary line too. After two days it was back up, but instead of connecting at nearly 2.5 Mbps, it was now only 900 Kbps. It looks like when somebody went to reconnect things, they used the wires the second line was on, which aren't as good. I'm currently fighting "umm, we don't know what to do" with "you broke it, you figure it out and fix it". We'll see how that goes.
[9:57 AM] post a comment
Vital stats:
DOB 2/16/79. I'm a web developer at the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. I like lots of old music, including The Who. I spend a lot of time working with computers. And my favorite TV show (when I actually decide to watch TV, that is), obviously, is The Simpsons. Education:
In May 2002 I officially graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a BS in computer science. In 1997 (man that seems like a long time ago) I graduated from Washington Park HS. Yes, I know, that site isn't very impressive, and no, I haven't touched it for several years.
WFS:
One of the best experiences I have ever had was on a trip called Western Field Studies. This is a 33 day adventure throughout the western United States. Students travel on a school bus to national parks, monuments, forests, and places of historical interest and camp out (in tents or under the stars). I was a part of trip 25, which took place in the summer of 1996. A first for WFS was we took along a laptop computer and kept up a web site. That link will take you to the 1996 site, where there is a link to the current site.