Good Dog!

Well I am posting from Yellow Dog Linux 5.0.1 on my Apple PowerBook and I am quite impressed. YDL 3.0 was excellent and I still have it on my 180MHz Apple 3400c PowerBook, and 4.0 that I had on my G4 iBook was not as good IMO, which caused me to switch to Ubuntu for a while (before they cancelled their PPC versions), but 4.1 brought me back to the Yellow Dog. 5.0.1 seems to be another winner. Of course with every first install of Linux or any operating system, you run in to some problems, but these are minor irritations and will be fixed in time. I am excited over the fact that the open-source driver for the graphics is much better than the excellent one included in Apple's Mac OS X Tiger! The colors are more vibrant and web sites look much better (other than ones created by "web masters" that have no idea what they are doing!) too! Like the drivers, I am very impressed with the Enlightenment E17 Desktop Manager, and so far am enjoying it a lot. Well back to my configs!

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Terra Soft Solutions Are Good People

This Too Was Dugg... is supposed to be my blog with Yellow Dog Linux stories, but 2 days in a row that is what this blog is all about! And for the 2 days before that this blog was all about sane Orthodox Ecclesiology. Go figure. Anyway today I traveled to Loveland, Colorado to visit the folks at Terra Soft Solutions. I met Kai Staats, the CEO and some of the ladies at work in the warehouse and picked up a DVD of Yellow Dog Linux 5.0.1. since I could not get a good download of the freely available ISOs. These people are just as great as their product and it was nice to meet them. So tomorrow I should be all upgraded and blogging from Yellow Dog Linux 5.0.1 on my Apple Macintosh 1.67 GHz PowerPC G4 15" PowerBook. And thankfully due to MOL: Mac-on-Linux I can access my Mac OS X 10.4.9 partition without having to boot back in to Mac OS X. 

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HOW-TO: PS3 Wifi on YDL.net Enhanced HowTo

1. Update the firmware on your PS3
This can be achieved from GameOS with the Software Update function
in settings.

2. Download the new PS3 wifi enabled kernel:
URL: http://ydl.net/enhanced/updates/yellowdog-5.0/RPMS/kernel-ps3-2.6.16-20070425.ydl.3.ppc64.rpm

3. Install the new kernel
rpm -ivh /path/to/kernel-ps3-2.6.16-20070425.ydl.3.ppc64.rpm

4. Edit /etc/kboot.conf
Take your default kernel line, and make a copy of it and then modify
the original line to point to the new kernel.

For example, if your default kernel line is:
ydl='/dev/sda1:/vmlinux-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.2ps3 initrd=/dev/sda1:/initrd-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.2ps3.img root=/dev/sda2 video=ps3fb:mode:3 rhgb'

The new section would like this:
ydl='/dev/sda1:/vmlinux-2.6.16-20070425.ydl.3ps3 initrd=/dev/sda1:/initrd-2.6.16-20070425.ydl.3ps3.img root=/dev/sda2 init=/sbin/init video=ps3fb:mode:3 rhgb'
oldydl='/dev/sda1:/vmlinux-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.2ps3 initrd=/dev/sda1:/initrd-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.2ps3.img root=/dev/sda2 video=ps3fb:mode:3 rhgb'

Where oldydl is your original kernel.

5. Reboot

6. Configuring Wireless
a) Unplug the ethernet cable, eth0 is both the wired and wireless
Ethernet port on PS3s.
b) Launch system-config-network (Network in the Settings menu)
c) Delete the eth0 (gelic_net) interface.
d) Create a Wireless connection.
e) You may now configure that wireless connection as you would with
other YDL versions. One note here that confused me when I did this
was that the ESSID specified as "Auto", when I actually needed to
remove that and select the Auto radio button.
f) You can now activate the interface.

7. Enjoy your new wireless enabled PS3.

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Bible Verse of the Day

"Every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Luke 18:14

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Saint John Chrysostom says

The road to hell is paved with the bones of erring priests, and is lit with the skulls of rotten bishops.

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A HUGE thank you to an anonymous archpriest in the catacombs!

When going to a foreign country, I highly recommend contacting a priest in that area, as they can straighten out many errant misconceptions that you may have gotten from the Internet and can help you with your various connections on your travel itinerary! My doing so has helped me a lot for any future travel plans I make, as I know which color cabs I can take and which ferry ports to go to. Invaluable!

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The Impression I Get: Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Have you ever been close to tragedy,
or been close to folks who have?
Have you ever felt the pain so powerful,
so heavy you collapse?
No? Well…

I've never had to knock on wood,
but I know someone who has.
Which makes me wonder if I could,
it makes me wonder if I…
Never had to knock on wood,
and I'm glad I haven't yet.
Because I'm sure it isn't good,
that's the impression that I get.

Have you ever felt the odds stacked up so high,
you need a strength most don't possess?
Or has it come down to do or die,
you've got to rise above the rest?
No? Well…

I've never had to knock on wood,
but I know someone who has.
Which makes me wonder if I could,
it makes me wonder if I…
Never had to knock on wood,
and I'm glad I haven't yet.
Because I'm sure it isn't good,
that's the impression that I get.

I'm not a coward, I've just never been tested.
I'd like to think that if I was, I would pass.
Look at the tested, and think there but for the grace go I.
Might be a coward, I'm afraid of what I might find out.

I've never had to knock on wood,
but I know someone who has.
Which makes me wonder if I could.
It makes me wonder if I…
Never had to knock on wood,
and I'm glad I haven't yet.
Because I'm sure it isn't good,
that's the impression that I get.

Never had… I'd better knock on wood,
'cause I know someone who has.
Which makes me wonder if I could,
it makes me wonder if I…
Never had… I'd better knock on wood,
'cause I'm sure it isn't good.
And I'm glad I haven't yet,
that's the impression that I get.

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Rapid Eye Movement Too

When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
when you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on.
Don't let yourself go, everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes.

Sometimes everything is wrong. Now its time to sing along.
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on,)
if you feel like letting go, (hold on,)
when you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on.

Everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends.
Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. oh, no. Don't throw your hand.
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone.

If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
when you think you've had too much of this life to hang on.

Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
everybody cries. and everybody hurts sometimes.
And everybody hurts sometimes. so, hold on, hold on.
Hold on, hold on. hold on, hold on. hold on, hold on.

Hold on, hold on. hold on, hold on. hold on, hold on.
(Everybody hurts. You are not alone.)

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The apple sure does not fall far from the tree

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery? Does forgery count? If so then the excommunicated Retired Archbishop GREGORY of Denver and Colorado is really trying to flatter Metropolitan VALENTINE of Suzdal and Vladimir by both continuing to have a site claiming to be ROAC and on that page having forgeries about Vladyka among his various character assassinations on his so-called Orthodox Christian web site. Character assassinations on a church web site are the realm of vagantes and not true Orthodox Christianity. You would never see such vile things on a true Orthodox Christian Church site like http://www.rpac.ru/ or http://www.thegreekorthodoxchurch.com/.

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Rapid Eye Movement Won

Oh, life is bigger…
It's bigger than you.
And you are not me.
The lengths that I will go to…
The distance in your eyes…
Oh no, I've said too much.
I set it up.

…

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A dish best served cold should never be served hot!

Just saying.

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Believe only half of what you see and nothing you hear

Have you ever had something errantly ascribed to you that you really, really wish you had written? Have you ever errantly written something that you really, really wish had been ascribed to someone else? Sometimes it really is both what was said, as well as who said it. Other times neither matter because you just could not really give a care whatever they think or say.

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Orthodox Books and Icons for CHEAP!

Portable Iconostasis Ikon or Icon set from 15th Century
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Large Russian Wall Crucifix with Iconography
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IKON LOT of Russian/Greek Orthodox Christian Icons
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Elders of Optina Book Series + Elder Zosima of Siberia
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LOT: Orthodox Christian Service Books for Clergy/Laity
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LOT: Gospel and Epistle Lectionary, 4 Commentaries (HC)
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The Bible and the Holy Fathers SERIES by Johanna Manley
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The PHILOKALIA: The Complete Text Compiled by Sts...
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The COMPLETE Little Russian Philokalia: All 5 Volumes!!
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The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church
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The SYNAXARION: The Lives of the Saints of the Church
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Microsoft Office:mac 2001 w/ Word, Excel, PowerPoint...
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255 what?

Although perhaps it is a fluke, after working out today I weighed in at 255, which is 2 pounds lighter than yesterday before my workout. It is a digital scale, so I am hoping that it is legit and I keep losing weight quickly. (^_^)

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23 down, 58 to go!

On this Monday evening's weigh-in I was down to 257#. Last week I was 260# and when I started all of this, I was 280#. If I can keep up this kind of progress, I can be under 200# in only 20 weeks! As a reminder, my goal is 199# by November 22^th, 2007

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There is Something in the Water in Guangdong Province, China!

This is from China Daily, the official English language periodical of the People's Republic of China:Twins pose for a group photo at a party of the first "Guangzhou Twins Festival" held in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 22, 2007. More than 20,000 pairs of twins live in Guangdong, and about 100 pairs participated in the gathering.

Another cute set of twins from the gathering:


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2 Steps Away From Check Mate?

I am not a great Chess player, but I do enjoy playing from time to time, especially when I have numerous moves planned well in advance and my opponent arrogantly refuses to admit to his mistakes. This current game of Chess, where 1 person plays each piece began in December. I am the white king, the weakest and most vulnerable piece on the board. During Holy Week, thanks to the black bishop and the bishop's pawn, my side was down to my king and 2 knights. It looked like checkmate was inevitable for my king as I slyly reclaimed a rook which went unnoticed by my opponent. Interestingly, my knights are ones that my sides gained by taking my opponent's 2 knights. During Pascha, my side got the white bishop back, the very white bishop which the black team thought they had taken for good. Last night, just when moves were made so that the black bishop and the bishops' pawn could be knocked off the board in 2 moves, thanks to my reclaimed white bishop, my opponent cried, "Check!" My king was not in check, but was exactly where I wanted him to be. I wondered what the punishment for calling "Check" falsely was and here is the answer from the official rules: " When done on purpose, then an arbiter could punish you, as this would be a case of distracting the opponent, and/or making unreasonable claims." That seems fair to me, especially since the white bishop is the designated arbiter! We are 2 moves away from checkmate and either white or black could win, but it is all in the hands of an arbiter now, now matter how loud my opponent screams, "Check!" Exciting times for me and my 2 knights, and the many spectators rooting us on.

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I am on the same diet as Rush Limbaugh!

I am no fan of Rush Limbaugh, and only catch a half hour or so after his show after the less-neocon Glen Beck Show is over. Today during that over-run before the alarm-clock-radio went off, someone called Rush to ask how he was losing all his weight so successfully.

Rush declared he was simply eating less. Trying to eat between 1200-1400 calories a day, 800 if he was not hungry a dinner time. Almost the exact same thing as me. Of course, I am adding exercise too.

One thing that Mr. Limbaugh mentioned that might be good for others who diet, is that is almost impossible to lose weight when drinking adult beverages. Alcohol is turned in to sugar which makes insulin. Insulin needs to be made to start weight gain. I am not much of a drinker, and have not even had red or pink wine (my adult beverage of choice)in some time, so it is not something I need to worry about.

The other interesting note that Rush had to say was that the first 7-10 days of the diet are the worst as you usually do not start losing weight until after that with week or two. Most people give up in the first 2 weeks because they do not see immediate results.

He did not say what prompted him to start losing, but he said just one day you realize you need to. It can be caused by a girlfriend, a doctor, a family member, etc. saying something or just experiencing someone going through a weight-caused medical issue, or you just wake up and want to do it.

So I guess for one day, for one segment of the Rush Limbaugh Show, I was a ditto-head. Rush is right in what he said about dieting today folks.

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... and if you do not wake-up first, you DIE!

I call bullocks on this myth. I once had a dream where I was on a very tall structure and I was pushed off or something and I consequently fell to my death. Yes, I died in my dream. My soul got up and just looked at my dead body as people came running up to it. At first I was confused, why did everyone think I was dead? Then I realized it was because I was dead. What a weird feeling. Anyway, at least for me*, I can die in my dreams and still awake to find myself alive, albeit a little bit freaked out.

Of course, supposedly due to allergies, I have always had weird dreams. Once when I was about 7, I was having a dream where a monster was killing and eating many of my friends on the street I lived on. Suddenly a translucent staircase appeared and I ran up it and opened the door at the other end. Opening the door made me wake up for a split second.

I instantly was back asleep and closing the door in my dream. I ran down the stairs and yelled at all of my friends that it was okay, they could let the monster eat them, because this was nothing but one of my dreams.

They did not seem convinced. Then again neither would I if anything similar ever happened in real life. LOL!

*Your mileage may vary, so please do not attempt this and blame me if you die. You sleep and dream at your own risk.

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Most things get better with time, why not handwriting?

Chen SiFang, one of the people in China I communicate with, is trying to learn English, and has me write emails in English, and has those emails translated in to Chinese and uses them to learn English. Then Chen SiFang will write me back and have the reply translated back in to English and studies both copies to learn even more.

In April I added some fun to the communication by sending a postcard from a local tourist area to SiFang every Monday. The first one just arrived today. I wrote the address in Chinese and English to ensure both the USPS and Chinese Post Office could deliver it.

I was afraid my Chinese would be very bad, but in fact Chen SiFang said that my Chinese writing was better than most Chinese people, and that I must practice often. LOL! Actually it was my first time writing Chinese, but it took me a long time, so perhaps that is why it was so good: I took my time writing it to key the Chinese characters. Much like how many elementary school students have such nice printing, but when they are adults it is very bust again.

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