Bowlcut's little piece of the world

Return to Road Atlanta

Bowlcut — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:11:18 +0000

It was that time of the year again. Packed up the car and headed to Road Atlanta. This actually started about a month ago. My poor old Altima was getting way long in the tooth and I was getting tired with it as well. I knew it was time for a new car but I was not looking forward to a car payment again. Yes yes should have saved up and paid cash but that wasnt going to happen, plus I knew it was just a matter of time before the Altima finally would lay down. The past 6 months Ive been looking on and off for a new car. I just couldnt find anything that I really liked, and could afford. The other big thing is a car that I would be comfortable in because I am not exactly small in any way you look at it. So all my friends had become totally tired of me posting links saying ‘what do you think of this’ at least 3 or 4 times a week.

Over the last month I really sped up my hunt for a couple reasons. One was the Altima was coming up to need tags and here in Nashville that is over 100 dollars. The other was a friend offered to buy the Altima off me by the end of the month. Having that money in pocket was really pushing me maybe a little too much. I was on a hunt at that point, knowing that selling the Altima quick and easily kinda really was the linch pin. I started looking at all sorts of full size cars and going to sit in them without much luck. Few months ago I went and sat in a Honda Ridgeline ‘truck’ and was like ok…maybe a truck/suv. I had also sat in a friends Titan and really liked it as well. But I couldnt get over the idea of a front wheel drive unibody truck in the Ridgeline, and well its rear 3/4 is ugly as all get out. Titan I couldnt find with the right options for the right price. Murano was up there on the list but the CVT scared me.

Yes Im super picky on my cars . After a long hunt one day I saw this thing on the lot…and my friend kept telling me he had been trying to get his wife to like them….FJ Cruiser. I went and drove one. Wow tons of room inside, and well funky looks. I used to have a Suzuki Samurai so boxy 4×4 is in my blood. The first one wasnt the one I wanted, but second one I found really fit the bill for options to price ratio. Its just about the right auto for me it seems. So finally the search was over.

I have a 2007 Titanium Metallic Toyota FJ Cruiser. It has the 4l v6, automatic, 4×4, and rear locking diff. The previous owner painted the roof which is sad, but it doesnt look too bad on this color. But it fits me, its unique, and its nicer than the ran down Altima.

Road Atlanta was the first road trip in it since I got it just 2 short weeks ago. It stormed down there like a trooper. I got around 22mpg on the highway surprisingly which isnt too bad for the size of truck it is. Back and forth in town its more like 18mpg depending on your foot. Lots of room to pack stuff in for a single person in it. If two people were going could lay the seats down for more cargo room but myself I kept the seats up and had tons of room for my bag, backpack and a cooler.

This is just part one…Ill continue later on the rest of the story.

Clean up

Bowlcut — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:52:15 +0000

Went though and redirected all my other domains to here. Just because I dont feel like maintaining 3 or 4 other blogs. I like the domains a lot, and really should use them but I just dont have that kind of energy anymore. If I were smart Id start using one of them as my main email since I can control it. But I still just use gmail.com for some crazy reason. Yes Im rambing, trying to stay awake as I have some work to do tonight. Waiting for the boss to get online and start his part. Other than that….yea nothing. And trying to see why the backups from this domain have been getting smaller. Just little bit each day it seems. Either compression is getting better, or something is wrong…

Mind zero

Bowlcut — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:29:27 +0000

Well there is inbox zero, there are mental flushes, I just like mind zero. Totally empty mind. Friends of mine have a hard time understanding that state. If I have not prepared myself before say Thursday night, by Friday at like 7 my mind goes empty. Seriously I dont think I have much of a thought in my head till Monday morning. About once a day I will wake up and think ‘oh its time to eat’ and other than that…empty. Its my way of just decompressing. I wouldn’t say I have ADD or anything, but I do have lot of things going on in my head at any one point. After about 3 maybe 4 things they start queuing. If I dont start thinking about doing something before the weekend starts, I cant do anything. I cant change gears mid weekend. So….warning….you need me to do something on the weekend, tell me before the weekend

Maybe a return to normalcy

Bowlcut — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:08:12 +0000

The blog is back up now. After about a week of not getting the database backup emails I figured its probably time to look into why it wasn’t working. Little did I know the whole damn page was down. I screwed up the update a week ago or something. It seemed to work for a while or something. Oh well. Also thinking of returning to this longer form updating than just letting Twitter handle everything. I still play with the idea of getting rid of my own hosting and letting everything live in the cloud. Twitter can work for microblogging. I could setup a Wordpress.com blog for longer form if I felt the need. Flickr works well for image hosting and its easily accessible. Things like twitpic/yfrog along with Twitter makes it so easy to just give quick blurbs. This feels so old and outdated. But at the same time it feels like home. So I dont know. I need to find an easier way update while mobile. There is an iPhone app but I dont know…just isn’t as slick as say Tweetie. We will see. But for now Ive turned off the putting of the tweets into this main feed. The Twitter posts are going to be regulated to the sidebar for now….

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-12

Bowlcut — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:05:00 +0000

Crap traffic at a stop just south of louisvile. Sucky sucky. #
Monster hit number two. And Kessler is nowhere to be found. #
39 miles from home 70 mph hmm #
Home finally so ends my birthday travels and the IT Fail Fest. Thinking time for bed #
@CanWeBowlPlease feels like Fail has Failed in reply to CanWeBowlPlease #
@dweissinger normal cause it's worse for it to go hard in the truck hard to clean up. Even spinning it will go hard in time in reply to dweissinger #
So much for having today off to rest. Guess it's not that big of a deal tho #
Yet another long day. Going to bed. Yay even on day off #
Development server file system just took a crap. Well guess this is one way to force the RHEL5 upgrade #
New hds installed os reinstalled now the long tireing process of rebuilding from the ground up got about 90% of the data I think #
You know its bad…opening a Monster #
Can't keep my eyes open any longer. Gotta get some sleep. Few hours at least. #
Slept later than I wanted and boss has most of the server put back together…feel useless now #
Monster ran out around 6am, I feel asleep at the computer around 6:15…I hate sucky nights #
@hotmilkgt yea feel the xbox withdrawls. Got a few good games of WaW with cwbp you need to join us one night in reply to hotmilkgt #
@Dan_H Welcome to my world? in reply to Dan_H #
@Dan_H aww man I fell asleep at the computer and missed the show oh well in reply to Dan_H #
@brettmiller I hate you . Debating one for myself #
Guess I should go take advantage of this tax free weekend and do some shopping for clothes and such. Now do I go to the Apple Store or not.. #
@wharpoley I dare not say on twitter But likely some crappy fast food as well in reply to wharpoley #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-02

Bowlcut — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:05:00 +0000

@inferno10 diagonal tube first the the seat tube then my fav a camelback backpack in reply to inferno10 #
@MirandaJanell @CanWeBowlPlease
#!/bin/bash
for (( ; ; ))
do
echo “MEH”
done in reply to MirandaJanell #
Hotel, check, car, check, plans, check…now for Thursday to get here…and wow expensive ‘mini vacation’ #
Oh snap it keeps looking better and better http://bit.ly/DrN3k
#mw2 #
@bear wondering if its related to the AT&T vrs 4chan stuff, those boys are crazy in reply to bear #
@Dan_H I’m not sure you do know much…but you sure can fool a person with geek speak in reply to Dan_H #
Taking bets on when Ill finally get to bed, goal is to wake up by 5am…Im guessing 1am for some reason #
Always interesting to see where all Ive signed up, cause on your birthday you get 500 emails saying it… #
@bear rm -rf / Doesnt that usually clean the cruft? in reply to bear #
@bear had a bad incident with a here doc 2 years ago, just to say rm -rf / ran on 70 REMOTE servers at client locations, yay fun for sure in reply to bear #
@JHVanOphem You might be close as Im close to getting off computer but still not packed, should just do it in the morning eh 5am comes quick in reply to JHVanOphem #
@masterfuzz danke’…go to bed quit messing with the computer in reply to masterfuzz #
Yes I know it’s 6:30, yes I know I’m not on the road, yes I’ll be leaving soon…I hope. #
About to get on the road. Only hour and a half later than wanted. Guess that’s the norm for me any more. #
At a dead stop on the interstate between Louisville and Cincinanti
http://bit.ly/Lscto #
It’s WKRP #
Air Force Musuem rocks gotta come back as only got an hour and a half in it but totaly worth the effort
http://bit.ly/8P0fx #
I see corn lots of corn. #
Is 10 dollar a night wifi worth it. Or just stay Internet poor for once. First let’s order room service. #
Choosing no wifi living off the iPhone and watching some Ask This Old House while on this comfy bed. Could be worse #
Burger and creme brûlée devoured ooh la la fancy but it was so good been a while since I had that treat but was pricey but only live once #
Awake and have a few hours before having anything at all to do. Hmm what to do? Drive around or something? #
@masterfuzz still in hotel. Tho about to leave I think and start making my way north to the track on backroads #
Uh oh more corn #
Sitting at the track feet tired already #
@ajnealey Jeff through the turn http://yfrog.com/e1rjxkj in reply to ajnealey #
@ajnealey Jeff’s hub http://yfrog.com/b3qxkj in reply to ajnealey #
A beautiful day to be at the track for sure. http://yfrog.com/0xvn3jj #
Spec Pinata race almost finished not much carnage. Suprisingly #
Dang forgot the pic http://yfrog.com/6cikxj #
@Dan_H remind me to download your mix when I get home in reply to Dan_H #
Uh oh raining at the track #
@ajnealey Tom’s issue http://yfrog.com/7g8t4bpwj in reply to ajnealey #
I-71 south. Thinking 8 ish hours. Now do I stop somewhere for sleep? #
First fuel stop and uh oh Monster time #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-07-26

Bowlcut — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:05:00 +0000

@CanWeBowlPlease did you say you are wearing a sweatervest? If not it might be a good option in reply to CanWeBowlPlease #
@inferno10 nah used. Go to local small bike shops they likely have some trade ins in reply to inferno10 #
@CalumSult Whats the new toys? I just picked up a wrt310n to do dd-wrt and see if i can replace my ipcop box so thats my toy for the week in reply to CalumSult #
@mpgehrisch Whats the nicest hotel in Columbus? in reply to mpgehrisch #
@inferno10 Farmer’s tan FTL in reply to inferno10 #
Guess spending my birthday in Ohio. Sounds exciting eh? Ok maybe not that exciting #
@CanWeBowlPlease Actually going to try to meet up with 2 of them… in reply to CanWeBowlPlease #
What is New York style Chinese? http://twitpic.com/ba5op #
@cnjohnson @calumsult @seamusjohnson my condolences to you all. in reply to cnjohnson #
@WilcoxN Where did you see Brian, at some point Id like to talk to him know Lindsey would too in reply to WilcoxN #
@owine “the situation will just work itself out” in reply to owine #
Thinking some xbox tonight. Bf1943 bioshock peggle and cod4 #
@brettmiller 5am isn’t too bad we had worse. And it’s not a horrid process like it used to be man #
@brettmiller What did you break this time in reply to brettmiller #
So…need tips for Columbus OH hotels. Anyone? #
@brettmiller still your fault in reply to brettmiller #
@brettmiller always pointing fingers in reply to brettmiller #
@CanWeBowlPlease Someone is a lousy admin in reply to CanWeBowlPlease #
Is wondering why all the sudden these Jesus Twitter’ers are following me…if they only knew #
@JHVanOphem But Torchwood was soooooo good, and probably the saddest thing ever in reply to JHVanOphem #
@JustinRYoung That had to go down in history of one of the best BBLive shows EVAR in reply to JustinRYoung #
@dweissinger Practice drums, take up bag pipe, yodel, maybe some RiverDance in reply to dweissinger #
@mpgehrisch so nothing was hurt… instantrimshot.com in reply to mpgehrisch #
Maybe old, but Ebony kinda missed the prediction just a little http://bit.ly/9Cszy #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-07-19

Bowlcut — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:05:00 +0000

Gota go back to twhirl for twitter client not seeing a good app for Ubuntu and Twitter so far. #
Since cant seem to convince boss to buy me a Mac, its back to using Ubuntu on a daily basis, and today is my first full day at work with it. #
Ok ill admit it, Im impressed, Ubuntu even works with the media keys on this laptop. #
Even got a VirtualBox install with Win7RC on it for my Outlook duties, gota get the other admin to look at the outlook connector sometime #
@dweissinger I like app, twhirl is ok as I have the ram to spare, but its just not as pretty as my mac apps in reply to dweissinger #
Mildly impressed, ubuntu scanned for printers, found networked printer, installed drivers and printed test page without a hitch #
@Dan_H dont we all…dont we all in reply to Dan_H #
@LifeZero Red Cross or Goodwill, the SA got on my bad side for shredding clothes they couldnt sell instead of just giving them away in reply to LifeZero #
Saw a Ford pickup from the show Bullrun driving down I-65 south today in Nashville, and they were speeding or I would have got a pic #
At work. DB changes tonight tho I’m only here for moral support for the most part #
@calumsult what is the desktop widget thing you are running? #
@calumsult, no the widget with weather ans sysstats #
Anyone want to call me in 3 hours? Want to sleep, need to be up at midnight to run a patch. #
@BryG I normally use my iPhone’s alarm but lately it is like either not going off or I ignore it in reply to BryG #
Nice STS-127 launch in HD on YouTube http://bit.ly/2y3FR
I <3 NASA #
Good thing I did set an alarm, fell asleep for about an hour, patch is going out to half the servers right now. #
RT @Dan_H: As usual, the boston.com “Big Picture” column rules: http://bit.ly/cXi5z #
I remember buying this album http://bit.ly/19rB2E
and listening to it on repeat 8 times from college to home and back #
@Dan_H @CanWeBowlPlease OMG http://bit.ly/QY9Xc #
@leahj at least it’s not work at 8am #
@mpgehrisch dude never I mean never question THE Norm in reply to mpgehrisch #
@mpgehrisch One trip to Home Depot is all it takes to start it you NEED a dedicated mortiser dont you? in reply to mpgehrisch #
RT @mpgehrisch: “RT @BulletsandBull: 10 Things non-gun people should know about Concealed Weapons Permit holders. http://bit.ly/RCQ5y” #
Its going to barely top 80 today, maybe I should get out and go shopping like Ive been needing to for weeks #
@BryG make sure refresh is right app powerstrip is good at determining proper settings in reply to BryG #
I swear I spend way too much time looking at used cars…and still not decided to buy yet #
@calumsult ….screw….you #
@leahj well dont let @calumsult insult me like that then #
@CanWeBowlPlease Comments like that push me more towards this full size Chevy truck in reply to CanWeBowlPlease #
@CanWeBowlPlease My apartment stays a balmy 68* so you obviously FAIL in reply to CanWeBowlPlease #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-07-12

Bowlcut — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:05:00 +0000

Well I did almost everything in my list today, watched various tv stuff, played some games, did epic laundry, but no movies, which was fine. #
@gbgeek Silverlight is alive?… odd in reply to gbgeek #
@bear ive not switched to ext4 yet and have no plans, but what fs is it you prefer then? in reply to bear #
@masterfuzz Always impressed with the output of the ‘orchard’ in reply to masterfuzz #
@bear The beauty of twitter, no need for quit response. Same here on ext3 all 150 are on that except oracle data part uncook that in reply to bear #
Use bash script or Automator script to organize things? Hmm decisions #
Cant wait to see what 4chan, SA, and OT does tomorrow during the memorial… #
@bear do you use any sort of management system for your linux boxes? puppet? or anything like that? in reply to bear #
@bear same here, lots of scp’s rsync’s and the like, oh well just guess im trying to make it more complicated than need be…or more lazy in reply to bear #
Ever thought about getting into racing? Then check out my friends book http://www.goaheadtakethewheel.com #racing #
@daynah I dont know, hard to put down Peggle, esp after a restore and it deleting your scores in reply to daynah #
@masterfuzz wrong tension perhaps? Or damage from the last time it flew off? in reply to masterfuzz #
@Dan_H http://bit.ly/IclHL Knew it would happen #
@digitalkitty http://bit.ly/114lZw BILLY MAYS HERE in reply to digitalkitty #
Little BBQ for dinner me thinks. And yay for supporting local business http://twitpic.com/9qed8 #
@qualheim dude this is in the middle of nowhere
http://bit.ly/gAf41 in reply to qualheim #
Redneck Taco was delicious. Besides the now closed Judge Beans, Martin’s is now my fav, had it 3 times and still will go back. #
I can think of 3 or 4 different ways to do this task in bash, but none seem like the perfect answer, dang you open source options. #
@dweissinger so that means things are done and working right? in reply to dweissinger #
Finally getting around to installing Ubuntu on the work laptop, so I can get away from Vista on a day to day basis #
@rmcok Not on a day to day box, when it goes to production maybe. Still pressuring for a Mac instead but outlook grim in reply to rmcok #
@Calumsult what all apps you running on ubuntu and like what launcher was that? #
@LifeZero Considering I purchased Twangle way back, yea I’d like it but could be a bit pandering, or maybe give option to opt out? in reply to LifeZero #
@brettmiller http://bit.ly/CQE4j Stupidity with iTerm+screen+backspace just FYI in reply to brettmiller #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-07-05

Bowlcut — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:05:00 +0000

The life of a sysadmin, up at 3am reinstalling 35 servers remotely, Im doing 3 at a time boss is doing 3 at a time takes about 30min a piece #
@CalumSult Thinking that is exactly what I want to do with my work laptop here soon as Vista and I arent getting along, got a write up? in reply to CalumSult #
@CalumSult I usually throw together a quick steps taken when I did something that complicated cause yea it will never be repeatable in reply to CalumSult #
@gabemcg So are you saying your road trip didn’t go as planned in reply to gabemcg #
At least its not mid to high 90’s so far, I can deal with 80’s not 90’s #
@calumsult do I need to know something? Or what is the family matter? Sis-in-law stuff or worse? #
At work http://twitpic.com/8zob9 #
@calumsult did you use 64 or 32 bit Ubuntu? #
@CalumSult Guess confused since it calls it amd64…i have a core2 you fool, and well 6gig of ram yea in reply to CalumSult #
@CalumSult god they are a bunch of tards, cant they figure it out themselves? in reply to CalumSult #
This poor green chair is about to finally kick the bucket me thinks, time to start looking for a replacement #
@masterfuzz Nope the one from Granny and Pop’s. Wing back doesnt get sit in, does need to be recovered tho in reply to masterfuzz #
@CalumSult not done it yet, havent had time. going to dual boot it at first since i dont have a real install cd handy in reply to CalumSult #
@masterfuzz cant drag it to where you can? grab any grey spot and drag it in reply to masterfuzz #
@masterfuzz you should be able to grab any part that is grey and move it up and to the left, most the time impossible to make box too big in reply to masterfuzz #
@masterfuzz I cant duplicate the problem here, and it snaps back? moving the window doesnt move it? in reply to masterfuzz #
@masterfuzz can try hitting the green button to take it to mini player and hit it again to go back big in reply to masterfuzz #
@masterfuzz try going into system preferences -> dock and turning dock hiding on and off just toggle it twice in reply to masterfuzz #
@masterfuzz select itunes so it shows up in menu bar, hold option, click window -> zoom in reply to masterfuzz #
@masterfuzz appears alt/option + the green button (window->zoom) resizes windows, not at home so cant fully test in reply to masterfuzz #
@masterfuzz i could be mean and say, google “os x itunes window too big ” first link about half way down, and never install something to fix in reply to masterfuzz #
@masterfuzz but…you will learn the power of the google and well the right search terms in reply to masterfuzz #
What is up with this laptop and the hard drive always running…oh yea Vista #
http://bit.ly/bzEpZ
Vegetarianism according to Mitchell and Webb #
Release the weasels! #
@masterfuzz max that it would do 1900×1200 #
@masterfuzz max is native and will be the clearest if hard to see can increase icon and text size #
@masterfuzz resolution was 1900×1200, which is the max the slider will go, and is the native res for that screen where it is crispest in reply to masterfuzz #
@masterfuzz tweetie is an app, in firefox that would be a bookmark to twitter.com in reply to masterfuzz #
@masterfuzz go to the website, then just drag it down to the bar where the rest of the bookmark links are in reply to masterfuzz #
@masterfuzz not totally sure i know what you are asking open up ichat, it will be easier to talk in reply to masterfuzz #
@masterfuzz Just hard to figure out your terms and meanings, and then what you want in reply to masterfuzz #
Guess I know what I’m doing tomorrow. Sounds like fan on my server is going out #
@inferno10 did ya actually wake up on time in reply to inferno10 #
@MirandaJanell buy me a plane ticket and I’ll go. in reply to MirandaJanell #
RT @MorganWebb: Truer words have never been tweeted: RT @chrispirillo: Happiness is when your dad’s computer problem “fixes itself.” #
To get out of bed or not that is the question #
Yay opening at the Genius Bar today. So I can get my iPhone looked at sooner than later. As no wifi sucks. #
Wondering what I should do with a day off, and then what to do for the 4th, maybe like last year’s 4th… #
About to go into the Apple store to see what the Genius says the issue is with this no working wifi #
@Dan_H you should have just stayed at home and played Peggle in reply to Dan_H #
For better or worse the car I was looking at was already sold. But have new ideas for cars I might get #
New iPhone in hand from the Genius’ at Apple. Oddly nice wish it was 3gs tho Oh well, wifi was the big thing for me. #
Now is the nightmare of reorging my apps on the iphone, logging into them all…and all that shit #
@calumsult and you thought otherwise? #
Just realized I don’t have much to eat in the house and it’s the fourth. So who knows might be scrounging for food today #
Invisible Shield installed. About 90% perfect. This is one of the most frustrating products ever #
@masterfuzz not terribly no in reply to masterfuzz #
@dweissinger putting new invisible shield on my replacement iphone in reply to dweissinger #
Debating if I want to go watch the fireworks or not… #
Guess the decision was made for me, they started the fireworks early because of the rain. Its NASTY here, oh and McNair got shot… #
@Dan_H http://twitpic.com/9d188 #
@VariXx Cant stand HFCS in huge amounts, did just notice that it still uses HFCS sadly. The stuff just gives me a headache if its too much in reply to VariXx #
Now thats Mac love http://bit.ly/nmpAm #
I have epic laundry to do today, so what to do, watch tv, watch a movie, play a game…surf…meh bored. #
@garyvee Diet Orange Crush, and its let me down, just noticed it has HFCS so I wont be buying it again in reply to garyvee #