Wireless discovery

After the demise of MetroFi, which was my fast, free Internet access at home since I moved in, I had no Internet connection at the condo. Cafes nearby have free WiFi, but my laptop doesn't do everything and I don't always want to go buy a treat just to get online. After checking on sharing with neighbors, I decided to try Internet through my cellphone.

A few months ago, I decided to upgrade my phone and wanted one that could at least do EDGE (the fastest data speed T-Mobile has). I hate the Windows Mobile phones, and Blackberries are expensive. So I went with the Samsung T-639, hoping someday I could use Bluetooth to connect from my computers to the Internet when WiFi isn't available. Someday just got here.

On Linux it wasn't cooperating my first couple of tries. So, I plugged my USB Bluetooth transceiver into my work laptop with Windows XP, and called up T-Mobile's tech support during the day. About half an hour later, I had Internets. Using the settings from the Windows config and some online cookbooks, I got my EeePC laptop working through my phone too. It was a pretty short step from there to make my home Ubuntu computer do the same.

How fast is it? It's not speedy, but it's about twice as fast as a 56k dialup connection. The fastest I've clocked it was around 170kbps. Good enough to get songs on my eMusic subscription, reasonably well. Turns out I got a phone that does the upcoming 3G service from T-Mobile, which was a nice surprise. It's supposed to show up here around October, and then my Internet access will hopefully get faster. It costs $20 now on top of my regular calling plan for unlimited Internet including browsing on the phone, which is a bargain at less cost than a land line. It even gives me unlimited T-Mobile hotspot usage if I need it.

I love not having a cable or DSL bill on top of my cellphone.

One more weekend for July

I haven't made serious progress on the house plan, and that just won't do. Sunday will be nothing but drafting. Billing got messed up on my web hosting but that should be back online soon, and I'll publish the design spread there.

Girl Talk concert tomorrow night, and one next Friday. The Volkswagen will get some wrench love during the day tomorrow. I'll have to blog that work on the site too, because it's kinda green (flex-fuel and better mileage than my truck) and the design is classic. Need to finish it before we can replace that garage anyway.

Not getting enough done at work. :( Planning to lay down the law for the karaoke gig too, because I don't get my money's worth out of my workers. I need to accept that if it goes under for lack of me being there, so be it. It's had a good run, and I can still DJ or do karaoke for special events if I promote it. But first I should promote the Ladd's nights, and get more music.

USA: GTFO

It's "kind of a big deal" that now Iraq is saying to get our troops out of Iraq. Their actual government, that we helped put in power. Hey, good idea.

I need to see more movies! So many good ones out now: Hancock, Wall-E, Get Smart. Firefly is so good, and when I'm done I'll watch Serenity. Maybe I'll buy that one.

Today I'm posting the container project on the email list, hopefully to get some feedback and maybe a boost with the planning materials that I need to finish ASAP for the competition.

drive

4 big things are finally getting started.

I'm back in the weekend habit of working on the Volkswagen project. Yesterday we decided how to clear the driveway, and narrow down the parts needed.

On July 30th, we record my scratching for Kenn's new tracks.

By the end of the month I'll have my home project in presentation-grade format, and entered into a design contest.

At work, I've found the software I'm going to build a PACS solution out of, to replace the irritating archive and transfer setup they have now. It will make my life easier, teach me a lot, and make me look like a hero again. And of course, next year it'll serve to earn a raise.

Dating is lukewarm at best, but I can live without it for awhile. This stuff has to happen. July is my month. I should reward myself with an August vacation.