tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45736961843725436662024-03-18T19:44:18.452-07:00Random ThoughtsT. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-63328668973792260492022-02-09T14:02:00.000-08:002022-02-09T14:02:33.222-08:00Been a while since I posted anything<p> Actually it has been almost seven years since I last posted anything. Things that have happened in that time:</p><p>- went to Copenhagen for the first time in July of 2015</p><p>- went to Saint Thomas with my girlfriend in March of 2016</p><p>- went to Cuba with my girlfriend in November of 2016 and thought about staying there because Donald Trump had just won the presidential election</p><p>- always thought the country was bat shit crazy but was confirmed when Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President on January 20th 2017</p><p>- participated in The March for Science in NYC April 22nd 2017 again because the bat shit crazy Trump administration was denying things like climate change</p><p>- went to Colorado Springs with my girlfriend in May of 2017 for a graduation of a girl she use to babysit</p><p>- went to Porto with my girlfriend in August of 2017</p><p>- weekend trip to Montreal by train in Nov of 2017</p><p>- celebrated the Philadelphia Eagles winning Super Bowl LIII on Feb 4th 2018 with childhood neighbors in Philadelphia</p><p>- moved to Hoboken, NJ in 2018</p><p>- day trip to New Haven, CT with my girlfriend via train in July of 2018 where we visited the Yale Art Museum (which is amazing) and saw a friend's band play at Cafe 9</p><p>- went to Dublin by myself in September of 2018</p><p>- moved back to Brooklyn in 2019</p><p>- work trip to Baltimore in April of 2019 for a training session on Globus</p><p>- went to Medellin with my girlfriend in September of 2019</p><p>- went to Sebastopol with my girlfriend in November of 2019 </p><p>- went to Medellin again with my girlfriend in January of 2020</p><p>- accepted a job with Yale Center for Research Computing (YCRC) in February of 2020</p><p>- a world-wide pandemic was declared because of the COVID-19 virus in March of 2020</p><p>- started at YCRC but due to the pandemic it was remote only April of 2020</p><p>- moved to New Haven in July of 2020</p><p>- got married in October of 2020</p><p>- bought my first car in +20 years in November of 2020</p><p>- Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States returning the country to some level of sanity</p><p>- January 6th 2021 Donald Trump and his supporters tried to stage a coup and stormed the capital building in an attempt to stop the certification of the election</p><p>- my wife and I got the COVID-19 Moderna vaccination in March of 2021</p><p>- my father passed away due to Parkinson in July of 2021</p><p>- my wife and I bought a house in Hamden in July of 2021</p><p>Well that is pretty much the highlights and low-lights of what has happened since my last post. </p>T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-19770722833095608852015-06-14T21:05:00.000-07:002015-07-02T06:23:51.047-07:00Hacking my LG G3<div dir="ltr">
<u>A</u> few months ago I bought a LG G3 and then a Zerolemon LG G3 9000mAh Extended Battery + Rugged Black Zero Shock Hybrid Protection Case (http://zerolemon.com/product/zerolemon-lg-g3-9000mah-extended-battery-rugged-black-zero-shock-hybrid-protection-case/) which gives me on average about three days of battery life without having to charge. There are some disadvantages to this great battery life first and the most obvious is the battery itself is twice as heavy as the phone and sticks out of the phone but the rugged case encloses all of this and does give good protection again at the cost of making this slim smartphone into a small brick. I can live with the weight and size because I am hard on my electronic devices always throwing it in my bike bag along with tools, spare tubes and a grease covered rag. The second disadvantage which I didn't realize till a few months later was the loss of NFC capabilities this one I was not happy about and went about finding a solution. The solution I found was a Qi Wireless Charger Charging Pad + Receiver Sticker Support NFC for LG G3 which offered an additional feature of wireless charging but had some complications in that it was designed to work with the original back plate which I was no longer using.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yu8P0Wsb-NM/VX47CuCiilI/AAAAAAABA1w/cdWXOFos1Dg/s1600/IMG_20150614_103712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yu8P0Wsb-NM/VX47CuCiilI/AAAAAAABA1w/cdWXOFos1Dg/s320/IMG_20150614_103712.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Pictured above on the left the original back plate and battery in the center the current Zerolemon battery and case and on the right the wireless charging & NFC reciever sticker and charging pad. Obvious goal is to get the sticker in the current setup enabling NFC and wireless charging. So breakdown the current setup:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tZ-fhCynnHM/VX47CqOYztI/AAAAAAABA1w/4KLsC4rP_bo/s1600/IMG_20150614_104141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tZ-fhCynnHM/VX47CqOYztI/AAAAAAABA1w/4KLsC4rP_bo/s320/IMG_20150614_104141.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
As you can see the back plate on the far left of the picture has no place to put the receiver sticker because it has to allow the 9000mAh battery to stick through. Also another complication:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i8FHoJmiMfM/VX47CvU2cRI/AAAAAAABA1w/pTeDG-6gzQU/s1600/IMG_20150614_104216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i8FHoJmiMfM/VX47CvU2cRI/AAAAAAABA1w/pTeDG-6gzQU/s320/IMG_20150614_104216.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The original back plate is flat and sits right up against the inside of the phone where as the Zerolemon back plate is raised up, here are two images showing close-up of the original and then Zerolemon back plate:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yjPgYCpx6KY/VX47Cu8iAjI/AAAAAAABA1w/7n9hTujvkpw/s1600/IMG_20150614_104307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yjPgYCpx6KY/VX47Cu8iAjI/AAAAAAABA1w/7n9hTujvkpw/s320/IMG_20150614_104307.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Qby7r1YMUo/VX47CrYmS-I/AAAAAAABA1w/BYjwXTEHXEI/s1600/IMG_20150614_104323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Qby7r1YMUo/VX47CrYmS-I/AAAAAAABA1w/BYjwXTEHXEI/s320/IMG_20150614_104323.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I would need to put something in to keep the pressure on the contacts. My landlord/roommate saw me working on things and he had something in his shop that he thought would work well. He did a quick run down to the shop and came back with some black spongy material and after cutting four rectangles and sticking them together I got this:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ebLP1O0UPE/VX47Csyw8XI/AAAAAAABA1w/zTjiP9msfZU/s1600/IMG_20150614_112619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ebLP1O0UPE/VX47Csyw8XI/AAAAAAABA1w/zTjiP9msfZU/s320/IMG_20150614_112619.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H2H4In0G2dg/VX47Cit5CWI/AAAAAAABA1w/rOUuOGvKYlI/s1600/IMG_20150614_112627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H2H4In0G2dg/VX47Cit5CWI/AAAAAAABA1w/rOUuOGvKYlI/s320/IMG_20150614_112627.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And this is how they fit into the Zerolemon back plate:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4lqmzFQnEd4/VX47CpL5mpI/AAAAAAABA1w/ycweUqYoNJQ/s1600/IMG_20150614_112656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4lqmzFQnEd4/VX47CpL5mpI/AAAAAAABA1w/ycweUqYoNJQ/s320/IMG_20150614_112656.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The next problem with the sticker was I had to secure it to the back of the phone with the connectors and pins in line so my solution:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vzeqKuHgscM/VX47CvqaVDI/AAAAAAABA2M/RMxgixWTDLQ/s1600/IMG_20150614_114734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vzeqKuHgscM/VX47CvqaVDI/AAAAAAABA2M/RMxgixWTDLQ/s320/IMG_20150614_114734.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A very thin line of Krazy Glue as far away from the connectors did the trick. To make sure I got things right I put the Zerolemon frame on and then the original battery in:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o1xc28cQzzE/VX47CoDVSII/AAAAAAABA1w/FskXF5ZZBag/s1600/IMG_20150614_120750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o1xc28cQzzE/VX47CoDVSII/AAAAAAABA1w/FskXF5ZZBag/s320/IMG_20150614_120750.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Then I put it on the charging pad:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atDE5U4kwZ4/VX47Cj2RNYI/AAAAAAABA1w/XNuzMBIS9H8/s1600/IMG_20150614_120801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atDE5U4kwZ4/VX47Cj2RNYI/AAAAAAABA1w/XNuzMBIS9H8/s320/IMG_20150614_120801.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Success! The sticker receiver was connecting to the pad. I have seen this 'Charging slowly..." message before and I'm sure whoever connected the phone to a USB cable where the other end is going to a computer or USB hub has seen it too. Anyway it was time to put the 9000mAh battery in the real problem here wasn't the sticker receiver but it is a known issue of bent pins after first use with the Zerolemon battery (the issue is known and is documented on the Zerolemon support website). It really wasn't that tough and the sticker receiver had no problem bending around the larger battery:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xlLdr9Pvmf4/VX47CkavZkI/AAAAAAABA1w/dBen-j9fXdQ/s1600/IMG_20150614_121217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xlLdr9Pvmf4/VX47CkavZkI/AAAAAAABA1w/dBen-j9fXdQ/s320/IMG_20150614_121217.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
I did two tests before I put the rubberized casing on, first was connecting via a USB cable and verifying that the battery was properly connected then verifying the sticker receiver on the charging pad. Once those cleared the rubberized casing went back on and the end results:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aA9KNw1rbDw/VX47ChiGKyI/AAAAAAABA1w/5iyIGSI2yl4/s1600/IMG_20150614_121504%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aA9KNw1rbDw/VX47ChiGKyI/AAAAAAABA1w/5iyIGSI2yl4/s320/IMG_20150614_121504%257E2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I had let the battery drain the night before because I wanted to test how fast and effective the wireless charging was. Sad to report that the wireless charging is not fast or smooth. I had to use the LG charger and even the USB cable, it seemed to lose connection and reestablish connection which caused this annoying little chime sound and finally it is not fast (yes I said it is not fast again). After testing wireless charging I then had to check NFC by using some work access cards I have and the NFC Taginfo app available on Google Play. The reading of my work access cards worked like a charm and a back to back touch of the LG G3 to my Nexus 7 also was successful. I would say the whole process took less then a half hour and gave me one feature I had lost back and added a new feature.<br />
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Update 7/2/2015: I ordered the LG Electronics WCP-300 Qi Wireless Charging Pad off of Amazon thinking that it would maybe speed up the charging but when I tried it the phone would not go into charging mode so I then tried the other pad I had and again no charging mode. I also tried a Aukey Wireless Charging pad that a coworker had and the light on the pad would change from green to red but the phone itself would never show that it was charging. NFC is still working which was the real goal so I guess it is not all bad news.</div>
T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-35470822743656117752014-11-05T05:50:00.001-08:002014-11-05T05:50:13.456-08:00Three plus years in NYC<div dir="ltr">
So with the passing of this summer I have lived in New York city for three years and a few months, actually moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn on July 4th 2011. I thought now would be a good time to tally things up so far:</div>
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-have lived in two different apartments in Brooklyn. The first one was in Williamsburg with Scott who was a gay airline steward alcoholic. The second in DUMBO with a list of people to long to go through but suffice it to say Joe and Dan have been the two constant roommates.</div>
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-have worked three jobs. The first one was at Languagemate as a junior system admin later becoming the only IT guy. Then I went and joined Charles, who I worked with at Languagemate, at Ogilvy and Mather which turned out to be a bad move because I got laid off after six months. For the last year plus I have been working as a system administrator for the New York Genome Center.<br />
-dated two girls; first one worked with Scott and when things went crazy with him shit went crazy with her too. She disappeared for a few months and then turned back up for about two weeks and then went bonkers (see my 'I don't understand women' post). The second one I met at The Vanderbilt in Park Slope and I really thought and hoped it was going to be a long term relationship but she dumped me after about two months.<br />
-zero New York friends. So I've met people but have not been able to really connect with or find a group of people that I fit in with.<br />
The last two points have been a real problem for me and I don't know what to do about them. I thought that with the diversity of people in New York City that there would be some individuals or groups that I would identify with and could form friendships with but sadly I haven't been able to make/find those connections.</div>
T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-52054140216582959392014-11-04T05:46:00.001-08:002014-11-04T05:46:52.418-08:00Election DaySo Tuesday November 4th and it is election day here in the United States of America. I have to look up why November 4th became election day, I personally think it is should be April 15th. Now I know your thinking but April 15th is when people have to pay their taxes they can't be thinking about elections then. I whole heartedly disagree and think that is the perfect time for people to be thinking about who is representing them in government. Just think about it like this, it is the time your actually seeing how much money you personally have given to the government and in some cases how much more they want from you. I also feel it would increase participation in the election process and it would be as simple as mailing in your ballot with your taxes. I know your now thinking well that would mean it wouldn't be a secret ballot and that people would know who I voted for. You know what the whole secret ballot thing is for another time and place. Secret ballots were done in times and places where one could be killed or kicked out of a community if they voted for the losing party and in today's America that is just not going to happen. Fine if you really care about a secret ballot then when you mail in your taxes the election form could be in a smaller sealed envelope marked only with the words <span style="color: red;">BALLOT</span> on the outside and the only thing the IRS and State Revenue offices do is collect them and pass them along to election boards. Oh and if your filling as a couple you get two ballot envelopes and the agencies just confirm that you are a couple before passing the envelopes on. See how simple that is. So instead of the low turnout we see for elections and the even lower turnout we see for midterm elections I see this as a way of increasing participation in the system and actually getting the people involved in the system at the very basic level.T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-70257590824344554662014-11-02T07:56:00.001-08:002014-11-02T07:56:45.472-08:00Rough month October<div dir="ltr">
The first few days of October were great because for the last two months I was seeing this amazing woman. I had met her on July 23rd at a bar/restaurant in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn called The Vanderbilt. I was checking bars off of the New York Good Beer Passport and had just come from Glorietta Baldy, my plan was on just having one at The Vanderbilt and then going back to my apartment. It was a quite Wednesday night and I had no trouble finding a spot at the bar. A quick look at the beer list and I decide on a new brewery from the Gowanus neighborhood Other Half Pale Ale, a friend had told me to keep an eye open for their stuff. As I settled in with my pint I noticed that there were four or five little origami dollar bills by the tap handles with one being really good and the others not so great. While I was playing with the origami a woman sat down to my right and she noticed the origami and a conversation started. Well after two or more drinks and some great conversation it was time for the woman to leave so she asked for the check and went to use the ladies room. I sat there thinking what I great time I just had and decide that when the woman came back I would ask for her number and give her mine. When she came back she settled her bill and as she was saying good night I asked her for her number and to my surprise she was applicable and we exchanged numbers. I settled up and rode back to my apartment very happy. I called her the very next day but got her voicemail so left her a message saying how much I enjoyed talking with her the other night and how I would like to see her again. The next day I got a text from her apologizing for missing my call it was due to a dead battery. I responded with a quick 'understand' then asked if it was good to talk at noon and she respond that she was free to talk then. I wanted to see her again as soon as possible so at noon I found a quite place in the office to talk and gave her a call. Told her again how nice it was to have met her and how much I enjoyed talking with her and she said the feeling was mutual. I suggested going to a music festival that was happening that weekend in Brooklyn called the Psychobilly Luau the only reason I wanted to go was because the Turbo A.C.'s were playing. She was interested but wasn't sure she was free and said she would get back to me. It turned out she wasn't free but we agreed to try to work something out for next week. I later saw that the upcoming Friday Mucca Pazza was playing at the Brooklyn Bowl and when we spoke later suggested it and that worked for her. We planned on talking again Thursday to workout times, where to meet, where to eat before the show and all that other stuff. I called her at lunch time on Thursday and we decide to meet at a new place by her apartment called Bar Chuko at eight on Friday. I got to the restaurant about forty minutes early and walked around the block twice before sitting down outside the restaurant for fifteen minutes. She showed up pretty much right on time and looked great. However one thing that became very apparent that was not noticed at The Vanderbilt was the height difference me being a tall and lanky 6'5" where she was a cute and petite 5'6" maybe. Once we sat down for dinner though it was not a problem because we were face-to-face and the great conversation just started. I told her about Mucca Pazza and she told me about a band that she was part of from time to time called Polyphonic Spree. My first thought was a woman who understands music, great! It was also discussed about how she was transitioning out of a job that she had been at for six years and that she was leaving because of management changes. Now having been through similar situations at VMware and then later Interwoven I could certainly relate my experiences to her. Still it made me a bit uneasy that she would be in a transition period. Anyway we had a great dinner and got over to the Brooklyn Bowl to catch about three or four songs of the opening act. During the intermission we decide we should make a restroom run. I was in and out of the restroom like is typical for guys and was waiting for her down the hallway. When she came out of the ladies room she called me down the hallway to point out a poster for a upcoming Polyphonic Spree show. She told me that they had contacted her about it but that she was going to be visiting with family in Colorado. The show was a typical Mucca Pazza experience which she enjoyed. After the show we decide to not fight for a cab and get a drink so I suggested the Gibson which was just up the street. We had one drink at the Gibson and then headed back to Park Slope. Since it was still early we decide to have one last stop at where we first met The Vanderbilt. After we walked backed to her apartment and as goodnights were being said she initiated the kiss to which I gladly responded. From that point until October 3rd I thought everything was great. Even though I was thinking about her pretty much all the time I wanted to take things slow so I was not calling, emailing or texting her all the time didn't want to become annoying. She did a trip to visit her grandmother who was celebrating a 98 birthday and then she was off to Colorado, she was gone for about ten days. She also did a trip to Burning Man for a few days and I went to Chicago. Neither of us were being clingy but we certainly were enjoying each others company when we were together. So when on Friday October 3rd my sister and husband were up for a visit I thought to introduce her to them so I suggested it to her and she said yes. I met her at her apartment a good hour before we planned on meeting my sister and her husband. We decide to stop at a small speakeasy sort of place around the corner to have a drink in the backyard. Once we had our drinks and found seats in the backyard that's when my month became shit. She was honest but could not explain other then whatever "chemistry" there was she no longer felt it. She talked about how great of a guy she thought I was and how she hoped we could be friends but I was just sort of numb and blindsided. I could tell it was rough on her so I just pretty much nodded and agreed still not believing that I had found such an amazing person and now she wasn't going to be in my life anymore. Needless to say she did not join me when I met my sister and her husband later instead I walked her back to her place and we said good-bye. I haven't been depressed but I've just been feeling a great sadness for the past month, it might not help that I'm listening to a lot of Johnny Cash. The thing that really sucks is for the previous months when I thought of her it would always brighten up my day but now those thoughts make me sad. I've been riding my bike and been repeating the same thing over and over in my head 'STOP THINKING ABOUT HER!STOP THINKING ABOUT HER!STOP THINKING ABOUT HER!STOP THINKING ABOUT HER!STOP THINKING ABOUT HER!.....' with the occasional 'SHE'S FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU!' and/or 'YOU WILL NEVER SEE HERE AGAIN!' so 'STOP THINKING ABOUT HER!STOP THINKING ABOUT HER!STOP THINKING ABOUT HER!STOP THINKING ABOUT HER!...' but it hasn't helped. I'm just pathetic. The thing is I don't understand why I can't find someone who can stay with me longer then six months. I like to think I'm a caring, compassionate and good person but there must be something else that the women in my life are seeing that makes them want to stop being with me after a few months. Anyway it has been a rough month.</div>
T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-84515140634764172812014-10-20T06:10:00.001-07:002014-10-20T06:10:29.870-07:00U.S. medical system and the insurance system are a rip-off!So in the last year I've had two occasions to visit medical professionals and even though they did practically nothing I was charged over a $1000 and my insurance didn't get any of it.<br />
The first one was a dermatologist to look at a small lump/bump that was on my forearm. It started out small but grew in size to that of a pea and stayed that size for a few weeks. I asked my oldest sister about it, she is a emergency room nurse, and she said it most likely was a calcium deposit and there was nothing to really worry about but if I wanted I should contact a dermatologist and they could take care of it. I found a dermatologist in my neighborhood made an appointment and when I finally got there the calcium deposit had started to reduce in size. The doctor took a look at it, poked it and asked me a few questions about it then finally said it was further under the skin and that she wouldn't want to do anything about it but recommended another doctor the whole process took all of fifteen minutes. I never followed up with the other doctor because it just kept reducing in size and eventually went away. I received a bill a month and a half later for $365.<br />
The second visit was due in part to the fact that I still don't have a primary care physician which is another headache I don't even want to get into in this post. Anyway, I was running a fever of 102 so I went to the Brooklyn Hospital Emergency Room. I waited more then two hours in the ER lobby before I was escorted into an examination area where I sat for about another fifteen minutes. When I finally spoke with a medical professional it was all of ten minutes and was told it was just a cold and I should go home and rest. Well I've had plenty of colds and sore throats in my life but rarely have I had a temperature of 102 along with the sore throat and all the other symptoms so I felt it was something much worse. Well with little else in the way of options I did go home and spent pretty much an entire week in bed before whatever I had ran its course. Now here is where the the zinger comes; a month after all this went down I received a bill from the hospital for something like $1200 and I ignore it because I figure it is the first one and that after they deal with my insurance company it will end up being something like $300. A month and a half later I receive the next bill but instead of being lower it is actually the same and there is a warning that it must be paid in full within the next thirty days. So I start looking over the bill and here is another twist the original charge the hospital made to the insurance company was under $1000 but I later learned that the insurance company has a deal with the Hospital to pay a standard flat fee of $1200 for ER visits. So my thinking is they have spoken to the insurance company so why are they talking to me. I then decide to contact my insurance company to see what the hospital has sent them. After calling a few numbers and not getting anywhere I decide to use the online chat that the insurance company has on their website. The chat basically worked out like this; yes the hospital did contact us with ~$1000 bill, yes we negotiated that price up to $1200, you didn't meet your deductible so we don't pay this one and by the way the bill stays at the negotiated cost of $1200 and does not go back down to the below $1000. Thanks insurance company for costing me more.<br />
So here is what I would like to find 1. an insurance company that no matter what the medical treatment is picks up anywhere from 75% to 80% of the cost leaving me the 25% to 20%. When I say 'medical treatment' I mean everything from dentist visits, to eye examinations, to wart/tattoo removal, to open heart surgery and all the way up to full body cloning! 2. hospitals, doctor's offices, medical clinics etc to have standard fees for standard procedures not changing the cost depending on what insurance company the patient has and what deals your organization has worked out with them already. I mean it seems to me that the medical and insurance companies have a a lot of say over people's lives and the treatment they receive instead of the people having that control.T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-34131283788870687872014-02-16T12:18:00.000-08:002014-02-16T12:18:40.771-08:00I don't understand womenSo a girl I dated briefly when I first moved to New York City recently got back in touch with me. We reconnected last weekend and pretty much picked up where we had left off. This weekend I asked if she wanted to meet me at Mercury Lounge in Lower Manhattan for a punk rock show and the following disaster unfolded (be warned foul language follows):<br />
<br />
Me: Mercury Lounge is at 217 E Houston St you would take the R to 34th then F to 2 Av and need to leave your place between 5:30-6 to make the show at 7 2:11 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Ok im in 2:17 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Ill be there by 630 2:18 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Just make sure u are lol 2:18 PM<br />
Me: I'll be there at 6:30 for sure. Show will most likely be over by 10:30 at the latest. 2:24 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): I haven't a curfew. .lol 2:34 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Do you want me to come? 2:47 PM<br />
Me: Yes 2:48 PM<br />
Me: And it is good to know you don't have a curfew 2:48 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Ok .. lol ill be there then 2:48 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Im taking a nap now 2:49 PM<br />
Me: Have something to ho 5:21 PM<br />
Me: ld you over till after the show because no food at Mercury lounge 5:22 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): No I knew that. 5:23 PM<br />
Me: Be careful walking 5:25 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Im getting in shower now. I will b e babe 5:28 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Im wearing what I wore ladt night since no one saw me. Is that ok for the show?? 6:00 PM<br />
Me: You could go even more casual if you want but whatever u feel comfortable in 6:01 PM<br />
Me: I'm wearing boots, jeans, long sleeve beer shirt, hoodie and vest 6:02 PM<br />
Me: I'm leaving now, if I am not outside and it is after 7 I'll be inside 6:04 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Ok cool . Im leaving in 10 6:05 PM<br />
Me: Dress for snow and wimd 6:14 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Yeah im dressing to look hot 6:17 PM<br />
Me: No dress for snow. Seriously 6:18 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Ok 6:28 PM<br />
Me: Thanks 6:31 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): I still look hot though lol 6:32 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Holy shit scott its bad out 6:35 PM<br />
Me: Kind of 6:36 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Kind of?? 6:36 PM<br />
Me: Sort of? 6:37 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Its bad babbe 6:37 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Omg I just got a snow facial 6:38 PM<br />
Me: Yeah best you stay in 6:38 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): I agree but im all dressed 6:38 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Pick a bar after and ill cab it 6:39 PM<br />
Me: Really! 6:39 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Yes really its bad out 6:40 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Im cabbing it 6:40 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Im a girl 6:46 PM<br />
Me: The Library on 7th ave is the closest bar 6:48 PM<br />
Me: But I'm questioning you coming out at all. 6:48 PM<br />
Me: It is bad 6:49 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): If you pay my cab ill come 6:50 PM<br />
Me: I'll pay your cab but your not going to make the show 6:51 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Ok 6:52 PM<br />
Me: Do you want me to text you when it is over and I will wait at the library for you or would you just want to meet me in DUMBO? 6:53 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Tell me 6:54 PM<br />
Me: I still question even being in a cab 6:54 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Ill meet youin dumbo give me an address and time 6:55 PM<br />
Me: I'll text you after the show with time address is either bridge and Plymouth streets or Jay St and something 6:56 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Ok cool give me an hour heads up so I can call a cab 6:59 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Ill be at your apt by 10 7:03 PM<br />
Me: That might be to early, try for 10:30 or even 45 7:11 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Ok 7:12 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Im waiting on u 7:31 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Ill take a cab no prob 7:32 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Tell me when to leave 7:46 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Street address 7:47 PM<br />
Me: Scandals, the band I really wanted to see, just finished but waiting for the Queers. 8:03 PM<br />
Me: Queers up next 8:39 PM<br />
Me: Am I paying for your cab to DUMBO? 8:39 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Yes in cab now 8:47 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Im coming to dumbo 8:49 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Babe pick b ip 9:01 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): I cannot pay for this cab 9:01 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): List4n douche bag im atvuour house 9:53 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): You are such a douche bag 10:00 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Ifuckindespise v u 10:00 PM<br />
Me: Show just finished 10:01 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Fuc k u dick 10:01 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Fuck u 10:01 PM<br />
Me: So am I to take it that you don't want to see me 10:02 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Fuck u asshoke 10:02 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Fuck u 10:02 PM<br />
Me: Not sure what brought this on 10:03 PM<br />
Me: Leaving a rock show now 10:05 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Go fucking die 10:06 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): I fuciking hate u 10:08 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Im sio pretty and you fucking blow 10:09 PM<br />
Me: Really? What the fuck? I'm heading back to my place now 10:10 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Fjck u 10:12 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): You blow 10:18 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): You soo like to punish me... 10:33 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Go gu5ck off 10:33 PM<br />
+(carzy chic): Fuck off 10:34 PM<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
I was clearly wrong; however, about what I can't really say? I clearly told her what time the show was starting and when I would be there and when she should leave to be there on time. Once she missed the 6:30 meet time we agreed to meet later that evening with me telling her after the show when and where even stating general ball park times as to when the show would be over and I would be ready to meet up. So when I came out of a enjoyable show feeling good and then to see the barrage of texts along with about ten missed calls (I was at a punk rock show so I wasn't going to hear the phone ring no matter how loud it can get) needless to say it made for a horrible way to end an evening.T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-66239499436036821132013-07-31T05:52:00.001-07:002014-02-16T10:51:36.040-08:00Random act of beernessSo last night I was riding home from my new job at the New York Genome Center and as I was coming down the Manhattan Bridge into DUMBO I saw a very curious cardboard sign that simply read 'Free Beer'. It took my mind a second to process it but when it did I pulled over and sure enough there were a group of cyclists gathered on the grass around a cooler. I walked over and asked what was going on and was handed a cold can of beer. It turns out a guy (Trevor) who works at the Brooklyn Navy Yard for a small sign making company decide he wanted to share a few beers with random people so he bought two cases of beer filled up two coolers with ice and pulled them over to the grass area at the base of the bridge with his Radio Flyer wagon. Even though the beer wasn't what I would normally drink I hung out and had a few just talking to random people. When I left I offered to kick in a few bucks but Trevor said no but maybe next time. Things have been kind of rough these past six months in New York for me after getting laid off from Ogilvy & Mather and not having much of a social group but with this new job and running across Trevor and his free beer are making me feel like things are turning around. So I just want to say thanks to Trevor and look forward to drinking with you and other random cyclist again.T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-69981522452029621142013-01-09T14:34:00.001-08:002013-01-09T14:34:17.701-08:00Filming in the building<p dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800246/">Are We Officially Dating? (2013) - </a><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800246/">IMDb</a><br>
So the above movie is filming in my building for the next four or five days. They have taken over an apartment on the 4th floor as the set and another on the third as a green room. The only problem I've had so far is that they are leaving the doors to the building open including where I and the other tenants keep our bikes. Supposedly there is going to be some security but I haven't seen any yet which leads me to believe that I'll be asked to gain access to my own place and that it won't be my stuff that will be looked after. Have to see how it goes.</p>
T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-63124764617881967602012-11-15T08:16:00.001-08:002012-11-15T08:16:55.667-08:00Android 4.2<p dir="ltr">Well it took some manual intervention on my part to get the update via OTA; had to go into Settings then Apps then All and select Google Services Framework where I had to clear the cache, force stop the app and finally clear the data before the update would install. I filed an issue with Google issue #39712 because a former coworker of mine from VMware who now works at Google sort of shamed me into filing it :) So far the only difference I really notice is the lock screen change, which isn't that exciting. I do want to see how the screen sharing feature works but need to find a TV that supports it. Since I use a Bluetooth keyboard I haven't really tried the gesture typing but I'm sure I will play with that over the next few days.</p>
T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-43212099233253730592012-11-13T13:49:00.002-08:002012-11-13T13:49:27.182-08:00Comparing my Android devices' screens<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Just comparing the home screens on my three Android devices. First is the Nexus 1 which is my everyday phone and has a screen size of 3.7" with display of 480x800 running Cyanogenmod 7.2</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtA_O5Ar1cPsfh6zaqDA6oSnjJtyQ9K2vYgyDIaKkCyFQ9GNxuQRd1g9eualJjKuSUNhoD4UhGQH9NVhNtkuz0JcDQsIS66Plwl0ZOwy4rt2JPIuEhx-fQ3nz046LMOtJJ9IJc-VW6y7Ln/s1600/Nexus+1a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtA_O5Ar1cPsfh6zaqDA6oSnjJtyQ9K2vYgyDIaKkCyFQ9GNxuQRd1g9eualJjKuSUNhoD4UhGQH9NVhNtkuz0JcDQsIS66Plwl0ZOwy4rt2JPIuEhx-fQ3nz046LMOtJJ9IJc-VW6y7Ln/s320/Nexus+1a.png" width="192" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">next is the B&N Nook Color which I've rooted and do testing on it also currently has a small crack in the screen which I'm looking into fixing. The screen size is 7" with display of 600x1024 also running Cyanogenmod 7.2</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnY8cdDkDp6lr0fgg_-2i_NIrYd7zkj6UHOGi99aZg7rfkw8I1srRF-5dntdfKn-iSDaMozb5nRgjC5-zDucL4N7DobINc8vGt0e-hX5I43blDuGnbOSs6zaYDemgMbj507RzDbPBicRm/s1600/B&N+Nook.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnY8cdDkDp6lr0fgg_-2i_NIrYd7zkj6UHOGi99aZg7rfkw8I1srRF-5dntdfKn-iSDaMozb5nRgjC5-zDucL4N7DobINc8vGt0e-hX5I43blDuGnbOSs6zaYDemgMbj507RzDbPBicRm/s320/B&N+Nook.png" width="187" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">and finally the Nexus 7 also with a 7" screen but display of 800x1280 and running Android 4.1.2 aka Jellybean</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYx4n13VAQ5q-WX6dnR_8cpSp1IP0gvIhnJGZuT9CHUBs03DEnlyqKuypx16Fd_0VuCyYeuq6Em8tuMlZOJs57_AXDSuIbI8ua6reVes74OZ7qNZ2fMQWcpixaqVw9LZhKcwNFoWfhLUO6/s1600/Nexus+7a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYx4n13VAQ5q-WX6dnR_8cpSp1IP0gvIhnJGZuT9CHUBs03DEnlyqKuypx16Fd_0VuCyYeuq6Em8tuMlZOJs57_AXDSuIbI8ua6reVes74OZ7qNZ2fMQWcpixaqVw9LZhKcwNFoWfhLUO6/s320/Nexus+7a.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Needless to say the Nexus 7 is the best visual experience of all my devices and also the best performing but I hope it can last as long as my Nexus 1 has along with the abuse it has taken.</span>T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-46419773751344803292012-10-13T07:19:00.001-07:002012-11-04T07:11:44.139-08:00Some political views<div>So in this season of politics I wanted to chime in on some of the issues, if you don't care about politics or my thoughts on the issues stop reading now.<br />
<br />
First the budget and the military. I've come to think of the military as a body builder that is addicted to steroids. My thought is that no matter how big and muscular the body builder gets he still thinks he needs more steroids and just keeps taking them and will even take more if he has a chance. The U.S. military budget is bigger then the next 13 highest nations military budgets combined just do a Google search for 'size of the us military compared to other countries' and see the results yourself.<br />
<br />
Second the George W. Bush tax cuts. I keep hearing that if these tax cuts expire it will hurt job creation but how is that possible? I mean if these tax cuts have been in affect since his presidency and through out the Obama administration well then where are all the jobs that they are supposedly creating? It just doesn't make sense.<br />
<br />
Third education. I have always felt that funding our schools based on property tax is a flawed idea and does not create consistency in education. I mean shouldn't a kid in Brooklyn, NY be taught the same thing as a kid in Greenhorn, OR or a kid in Bearcreek, MT they are all Americans and will all have to join the same workforce eventually so why shouldn't they be given the same quality and consistency when it comes to education. I also have an idea as to how to get better and more teachers into education and that would be if you are a fulltime teacher in elementary & high school where your teacher salary is your primary income then you should not have to pay an income tax.<br />
<br />
And finally Healthcare. This one is simple and two the point, have all elected officials pay for there own healthcare. That is all congresmen/women, senators, judges, governors, mayors, city council members, sherrifs, etc.<br />
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T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-28579799874207900142012-09-21T08:52:00.002-07:002012-09-21T08:52:35.588-07:00New York streetsWow two posts within less then a day of each other!<br />
<br />
Wanted to follow up on some more observations of my year in New York. This post is prompted by the fact that I got doored this morning by someone hoping out of a cab. First the details of what happened; I was riding in the bike lane west on Charlton Street when I saw a cab in front of me with his right turn signal on indicating he was going to turn north on Hudson Street but he was stopped at the traffic light with another car in front of him and he was not blocking the bike lane so I just continued riding my easy pace and was planning to pass him but when I got to about his rear bumper the fare decide to throw the door open and get out. I tried my best to turn away but my left hand & handlebar hit the door and I also hit a parked car to my right, luckily I didn't go down. The stupid kid that was getting out of the cab just looked at me and so did the drive. This incident and numerous other small things makes me think that New York schools must never have basic safety classes where a police officer comes in for the day and teaches kids about looking both ways before crossing the street or they don't even get taught basic idioms like 'look before you leap'. Now don't get me wrong I'm not looking for the crazy L.A. traffic rules where the police will issue jay walking tickets but I would like to see some basic common sense on the part of New York pedestrians like no walking in bike lanes, look both ways before crossing a street, stay up on the curb until it is safe to cross and other things like that.T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-87831142664314691952012-09-20T19:09:00.001-07:002012-09-20T19:38:13.267-07:00Change the title<div><p dir=ltr>So I'm looking at 'Daily Thoughts' and since I haven't posted anything in ages I feel it is only right to change the title, but to what? Maybe 'Occasional Thoughts' or 'Random Thoughts' I think I'll have to work on that.<br>
So let's do an update; my second summer in New York and I'm in my second apartment (Williamsburg to DUMBO) and working my second job (Languagemate to Ogilvy & Mather). I've been able to rebuild some of my savings after Austin depleted them but that's OK I can at least say I did it and I have some friends there that I can reach out to if I ever want to go back for a visit. I have decide to buy a place and that Fort Greene in Brooklyn is where I will concentrate my search. I've been saving up and also plan to sell some of my Apple stock to use towards the down payment. I figure by Spring 2013 I should be ready to make the move. Well that's about it for now.</p>
</div>T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-27131617300095769682011-06-05T09:24:00.000-07:002011-06-05T09:26:44.811-07:00Microsoft finally doing something rightI stopped being a MS-Windows user years ago because I felt the OS was getting stale and I'm not likely to go back using it anytime soon because I have become an avid Linux user but I do feel that this article highlights some much needed changes in the MS-Windows OS and I look forward to seeing what MS-Windows 8 is all about.<div><br /></div><div>http://www.osnews.com/story/24814/Windows_8_The_Legacy-less_Windows_We_ve_Been_Waiting_for</div>T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-87975384238443892692011-04-13T19:26:00.001-07:002011-04-14T10:06:13.521-07:00CyanogenMod 7<div><p>Well got CyanogenMod 7 running on my Nexus One and only one previous program/app doesn't seem to work, SwiftKey keyboard. Going to play around with it and see if I can get everything running the way I like it.</p>
</div>T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-30981039524381819342010-11-17T09:10:00.000-08:002010-11-17T09:43:12.295-08:00Wow!It has been a while since I've been excited and anxious for a new Linux kernel to be released, think the last time was the 2.2 to the 2.4 because it added SMP capabilities. Now I am really looking forward to the 2.6.38 kernel for the new scheduling feature which from everything I've read is going to increase desktop performance. Here are some links worth checking out:<br />http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=linux_2637_video&num=1<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk70SeGA7pg<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prxInRdaNfc&NR=1<br />Maybe this and the new window system Wayland desktop Linux might have a real chance of taking over Microsoft's control of the desktop or at least putting a dent into it.T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-52950168164972174672010-11-15T07:16:00.000-08:002010-11-15T07:50:30.249-08:00Two downWell I am unemployed once again and that makes it two companies (BioWare & HostGator.com) that I did not enjoy working with in Austin. I guess on the bright side of things it is giving me the time to put the latest version of CyanogenMod on my Nexus One and also Fedora 14 on my desktop system. It will also allow me to spend Thanksgiving with my family back in Philadelphia, really looking forward to that. The plan for this week is to brew a batch a beer, do some work on my bikes (fix a flat on my Trek road bike, get my brakes working on my Cannondale & also build the wheels for my Van Dessel) and also look into some certification programs.T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-9264971546581327472010-10-13T09:07:00.000-07:002010-11-15T07:51:39.526-08:00CyanogenMod on my Nexus OneSo I decide to try a community created ROM on my Nexus One and I went with the CyanogenMod (http://www.cyanogenmod.com/) because it appears to be the most popular. I have not found any good documentation which tells me what apps are included with it and what the purpose of the app is. So I am going through it listing the Apps and links to some documentation. Here we go:<br /><br />ADWLauncher.apk - http://jbthemes.com/anderweb/adw-launcher/adw-launcher-information/<br />This app replaces the Android Launcher which is the little bar at the bottom of the screen and gives you access to the apps drawer. What is nice about the ADWLauncher is you can customize what other apps are on the bar by simple dragging and dropping them onto the bar over the existing app shortcut that is there.<br /><br />CMParts.apk<br />Needed to prevent force close when accessing CyanogenMod Settings<br />CMPartsHelper.apk<br />CM Parts Helper<br /><br />DSPManager.apk - http://bel.fi/~alankila/android-dsp/<br />This is a base system framework update, which gives enhanced sound processing capabilities to 2.2-based phones.<br /><br />RomManager.apk - http://www.koushikdutta.com/2010/02/clockwork-recovery-image.html<br />ROM Manager is a Android front end to the Clockwork Recovery image.<br /><br />SpareParts.apk<br />Extra 'settings' menu<br /><br />Stk.apk<br />Sim Tool Kit; manages multiple SIM cards<br /><br />There are a few other apps but they don't need much explanation. I also found this page on the CyanogenMod Wiki which has a good list http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Barebones. Overall I'm happy with the CyanogenMod and look forward to new versions.T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-73204226969833759002010-05-13T08:18:00.000-07:002010-05-13T08:24:31.008-07:00The Austin moveThe move is still a work in progress. Finding a cool place with a roommate proved harder then I thought and after ten days of staying in a hostel and looking I finally had to breakdown and just find a place on my own. I moved into a new complex that is right on <span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1273763890_0">Lady Bird Lake</span> (not really a lake but the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1273763890_1">Colorado River</span> or at least a part of it I think) and is more then I was looking to spend on rent. It just means that instead of lounging around and being a part time sound engineer wherever I could pickup work I actually have to find a full time job. Then on top of that the moving company that I'm dealing with in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1273763890_2">Illinois</span> says they can't have my stuff to me for about another two weeks, which means I'm living out of a backpack and sleeping in a sleeping bag for almost three to possibly four weeks. Oh well nothing to do but chalk it up to a life experience and if/when I move to another city/state I will do what I did when I left S.F. and get rid of everything except what I can carry.<br /><br />Austin, other then living arrangement, is a pretty cool city. I'm still exploring it, so far I've only covered the main drag downtown which is 6th Street which I avoid like the plague <span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1273763890_3">on Friday</span> and Saturdays. I keep telling my parents it is like South Street in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1273763890_4">Philly</span> but only worse. I still know there is a lot more to the city and look forward to discovering the cool spots and things to do.<br /><br />As of now I have a interview lined up with a company called ServiceMesh. I did a phone interview with them in February and I think they liked me but they needed someone right away and I was not ready to leave Chicago at the time. James Galloway, a buddy from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1273763890_6">Los Angeles</span>, is the head of QA at <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1273763890_7">Trion</span> Worlds and he says they have a few openings. Then Michael Gladkowski, my manager from Interwoven/Autonomy-iManage, knows people at Qualcom and has offered to put me in touch with them. Finally Pete Bratach, a buddy from S.F. & VMware days, says that Facebook has some support offices here and is willing to pass my resume along. It seems like finding a job is going to be easier then finding an apartment.T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-87172874715123287762010-04-19T17:07:00.000-07:002010-04-19T17:40:07.440-07:00Cyber security/warfareSo heard this story on NPR a few days back http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125578576 titled Cyber Insecurity: U.S. Struggles To Confront Threat and then heard Richard Clarke on Fresh Air today talking about 'The Growing Cyberwar Threat', can hear it hear http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126097038. I got to thinking how on my home box, which is running Fedora Linux, has port 22 open on the cable modem for ssh access and how I see attempts to connect to my system. I from time to time check /var/log/secure for IP address and I will do a nslookup with most of the time the results coming back as Asia or the former Soviet Union. Now from time to time I will send an e-mail to the admin of the system and let him know that someone is running a bot on his system or there is a script kiddie I then will also let Comcast, my ISP provider, know about the attempts. 100% of the time I get no response from anyone. My thought is would not it be a good thing if people could report attacks either on their own, like me submitting my secure logs, or via some sort of automated mechanism to the government so they could track the attacks?T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-85743761224552098962010-03-16T11:20:00.000-07:002010-03-16T11:30:35.672-07:00Google Nexus OneMy Nokia flip phone's main display died last week so I started looking at what smartphones T-Mobile had the choice came down to the Blackberry Bold 9700 and Motorola Cliq. Having worked with Blackberry devices I have been pretty happy with the hardware and software but was really interested in trying a Android based phone. Before clicking buy on the Cliq phone on the T-Mobile site I decide to do a large search on the Net and discovered that even though T-Mobile does not list the Nexus One on their site they are one of the providers that do support it. Thursday morning I order the phone from the Google web site and by Friday afternoon I had the phone on my desk. After weekend with the phone I have to say I'm happy with it; good size, good feel in the hand, the interface is nice, takes great pictures and I'm discovering more and more things that make this a great phone!T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-29923716303422985662009-08-13T06:45:00.000-07:002009-08-13T06:54:15.747-07:00Rebels Without ApplauseWent to Sub-T last night and saw Rebels Without Applause and Soul Pollution. Rebels was pretty good they had a mix of hard rock and blues down just right, their myspace page (www.myspace.com/rwachicago) says Metal/Rock/Other.T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-1770084597128920002009-05-06T11:04:00.000-07:002009-05-06T11:06:33.320-07:00Crazy radio hostsSo yesterday I accidentally tuned in the Rush Limbaugh show and today I got the Alex Jones. These guys are just plain crazy.T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573696184372543666.post-49633073800146383002009-02-15T17:46:00.000-08:002009-02-15T18:33:08.204-08:00Long tough winterWell this winter has gone on way to long has been way to cold and snowy for me; here are some stats from the Chicago Critical Mass e-mail listserv:<br />2008-2009 Chicago Bike Winter Weather Summary <br />Period 11/1/2008 thru 1/31/2009<br />---------------------------------------------<br />Days 92<br />High (F) 73 <br />Low (F) -18 <br />Average (F) 26 <br />Days Above +20F 36 39%<br />Rain Days 38 <br />Total Rainfall (inches) 8.74 <br /><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1234750333_0">Snow Days</span> 31 <br />Total Snowfall (inches) 44 <br />Average <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1234750333_1">Wind Speed</span> (mph) 11<br />So with stats like these and with nothing much keeping me here in Chicago I've started planning my escape. Currently I have two destinations in mind Vancouver and D.C.. My plan is to spend the summer looking for jobs in both those cities and take whatever opportunity I get.T. S. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318030574153447451noreply@blogger.com0