Random Thoughts

FUDCon Blacksburg is getting off to a great start! I got in yesterday, and by some stroke of luck, two other FUDCon participants were on my flight to Roanoke - Justin O'Brien and Dan Walsh. Dan was at the back of the airplane, and I didn't see him until we got to the hotel, and we were both complaining about prop planes - which I think is the only thing that flies into the Roanoke airport. Being stupid, I checked my bag planeside in New York, and didn't get the bag planeside in Roanoke. They didn't seem that they were going to bring them to us, and I was at the front of the plane, so I went up to the gate and asked the gate agent where to get my bag, and she said that I needed to get it planeside, but I couldn't go back, so it would come on the luggage carousel. I figured that this would take forever, since I'm used to real airports, not those that consist of approximately 10 gates :).  Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised when my back showed up pretty much right away on the baggage belt.

So generally I love living in New York City. Except when I don't. And this may seem nitpicking or trivial to some, but I think it's a big deal. NYC is one of those major American cities where people from all over the country come to take jobs, go to school, or for any variety of other reasons. That being said, you would think that major businesses would make exceptional efforts to cater to this demographic. A lot of the small local businesses do, so why not the major, national ones?

I'm trying to be a bit better about blogging and what's going on in Fedora and my life. Right now, though, my nerves are getting frayed. Let me explain why.

I've been battling with this for awhile now, using every possible peferences/control program and tweak that I could find on the Intertubez, but I still can't seem to make it work.So here's what I'm trying to do:

I have this fancy receiver that supports DLNA (and now, via a free firmware upgrade that I got, AirPlay). I know that it works via both of these protocols, as Windows Media Player and my HTC Thunderbolt can stream to it without an issue. Once I got and applied the firmware upgrade, iTunes can use it as well (I'm sad to admit I actually have all these things to try, but this isn't a confessional.... :) ).

The problem is that I can't seem to make PulseAudio work to stream my Fedora audio output to it. Being that Fedora is what I use most of the time, I see this as something of a limitation :). I've mucked around with the PulseAudio configuration for days, and can't seem to make it work for anything (and now, I don't even have working sound through my locally attached speakers for some reason...)

I've got a "pactl list" up if anyone wants to peruse it to see what I've done wrong. Clearly, this appears to be supported in PulseAudio, so I'm sure that I'm just Holding It Wrong(TM). I'd be happy for it to work either via DLNA or AirPlay.

Have blog software with security vulnerabilities just isn't cool, mmmkkkaayyy? So I upgraded MT to 4.37 (yes, I know 5.1 is out, and I fully intend to upgrade, but I wanted the path of least risk right now). Let me know if you see anything weird.

Figured I'd jot down a few thoughts on Google+ since I've been playing with it for a few days now. The first problem with it is that it's invite-only for now. With a "ordinary" Google product (say when GMail was invite-only, or Music is right now) that's not too much of an issue - the usefulness of the product doesn't depend on how many people are using it. With a social network, the usefulness of the product is DIRECTLY related to how many people use it.

Very often on Google+, I feel like I can hear the echoes in the valley walls. As for the actual product, once it gains traction it will be awesome, I think. The concept of circles is, I think, revolutionary. Yes, you can do the same thing with Facebook groups. But how many people do you know that have actually done so? Google just makes this so easy, and front and center to the entire user experience, that it forces you to do it and think about what you're doing (though I do have to admit to dropping most everyone in the "Friends" circle, and I think lots of other people probably do the same). You can define as many circles as you

There's also the concept (that I haven't tried yet for lack of equipment - but I might go buy a webcam after posting this) of a "hangout" which I think is basically enhanced group video conferencing, but not having used it, I really can't comment on how good or bad it is.

For all of you Android phone users, there is a native Google+ app, which is very well integrated into the Android user interface - you'll see Google+ show up as an intent provider all over the place (i.e. when you share stuff, Google+ shows up as a place that you can do that). Also, optionally, all video and camera operations on the device will be automatically uploaded to a private Picasa album (which I think is pretty cool).

I'm not sure how the invite situation is working out, but if you're not on Google+ and want to be, let me know and I'll see what I can do!

When a friend recommended to me to go see "The Rap Guide to Evolution", I have to admit that I was slightly skeptical about combining theater and rap. I must say, I walked away from the show absolutely blown away at the performance of Baba Brinkman (and his DJ and music producer, Mr. Simmonds)

We start the proceedings with a reading from Charles Darwin's "On the origin of species" and wind up in a scientifically accurate, fun, and thoroughly entertaining evening of rap and education (yes, the two can co-exist!). I can't really do this show justice, so let me link to a few places that I think have.

Darwin Got It Going On - NYTimes
Gothamist

From the Gothamist article, I consider myself pretty high on the "openness to experience" front, so when I was presented with the opportunity to get tickets to this show, I jumped all over it (especially having the recommendation of a friend), and I'm glad that I did. At the end of the show, he takes three questions from the audience which he'll work into future revisions of the show (as the rap following this section states, the only way to get better is via Performance, Feedback, Revision).

Playing for a minimum 2 month run at the Soho Playhouse, 15 Vandam St. $55, premium seats $75. I've even included a convenient link here to get tickets online, but if you'd rather not do that, run, do not walk, to the Soho Playhouse and grab yours!

When a user that has Google Voice clicks on a phone number in GMail, don't you think that they may want to use GV instead of their computer to talk to the person? Especially if the computer in question doesn't have a microphone attached?

That is all.
kthxbai

I'm running for the Fedora Board this election cycle. My appointed seat expires this cycle, and I figured that I'd put it to the vote of the community whether or not I've done an acceptable job that they wish me to continue my work on the Board.

Note that as I mentioned in my nomination, it is an anti-goal of mine to use my Board position to drive technical or other changes in the project, simply by the nature of being on the Board. In my vision, the Board's job is to set strategic direction for the project (you'll notice that I use the word "project" alot - there is much more to the Fedora project than putting out a shiny new distro every 6 months).

The Board's job is distinctly not to take an activist role for or against anything in particular, but rather to enable groups that want to do something to do it.

If you want to have a say in the future direction of Fedora, I urge you to go put your name on the nomination page now!

Voting for the Fedora 16 Release Name is now open. And I ask you, how could anyone vote for anything other than "Beefy Miracle"???

Go forth and vote, but make sure it's a beefy one!

Oh, and if you're in NYC sometime, go check out the ultimate shrine to the Beefy Miracle!