|
|||||
|
sealed is our fate
Welcome to Scott Arnold's personal web site.
3/24/2016
Updated my Vehicle Pictures page, adding a few pictures for my last 3 vehicles.
3/16/2016
A Tesla, be it a Model S, Model X, or even a Roadster, is not just a play thing for the rich. It is important that people understand the deeper motivation behind buying one of these cars. Sure, maybe a few rich people just want one as a play thing. They are great cars, and the S and X are both quite practical as well. But there are more fundamental reasons behind the decision to buy a Tesla for many buyers. Tesla vehicles are fun, they are sexy, they are practical, but there is a mission behind Tesla Motors that has been there from the very beginning, and that mission is compelling. Compelling enough for many to buy a Tesla when they would never consider paying as much for any other brand. The mission of Tesla sounds simple and at first perhaps not very exciting: to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport by bringing compelling mass market electric cars to market as soon as possible. You have to dig deeper into what this really means before you can understand. Sustainable Transport:While some just buy Tesla's because they are great cars, yes, the green argument weighs heavy for some. Pollution control, climate change, and sustainability are important to many people, including me. Yes, the Model S and X are somewhat big, somewhat heavy, and expensive cars that are occasionally associated with wealth and gluttony. But it's not about the type of car, it's about what powers it. Electricity is sustainable. It's the currency of energy. It can be made from anything. And it can be made available forever. Yes, some of those sources are dirty, but if we work to also clean up our power generation sources, the net energy to power your car can become entirely clean. And even with dirty sources, the efficiency of electric motors is so much higher than gasoline engines that in most places, electric vehicles are already cleaner than gasoline fueled cars. Mass Market:Tesla isn't just in the business of building cars for wealthy people. In fact, you can go back to one of their earliest blog posts and see that it has always been their mission to build an affordable mass market car. But you can't just immediately start building mass market products at affordable prices. Technology always goes through a cycle of small production high prices flowing eventually down to large production low prices. And this is exactly what Tesla is doing. Those who bought a Roadster in the earlier years helped fund the research and development needed to build the the Model S and the Model X. And those that now buy the Model S and the Model X are helping to fund the research and development needed to build a cheaper mass market car, which is already in the works. This first mass market car is referred to as the Model 3, and it will be unveiled for the first time at the end of this month, with production likely starting in a couple of years. Will they really make it? Look up the "Gigafactory". If they are funding a battery production facility that big, then you know yes, they really intend to make it. Accelerate the Advent:Tesla isn't just trying to become the sole source for sustainable transport. They are happy to encourage, or if need be, drag other automakers to follow suit. You can see this in their blog posts, presentations, and actions. As just a couple of examples, they open sourced all of their patents, and they have said repeatedly that they are open to sharing important assets like the Tesla Supercharger network to other automakers willing to contribute to it. They are not just looking to push electric vehicles for their own benefit, but for potentially everyone's benefit. Back to Sustainability:So for someone who buys into sustainability and clean energy for the benefit of all mankind both now and in the future, should they not be looking for ways to advance those goals? There are two common approaches. One is to use less. The other is to make what you are using as clean and sustainable as possible. For someone like me who likes the idea of a Star Trek future, the latter is actually the more important endeavor. In what way should I use the wealth I have to move us towards a Star Trek future full of sustainability and clean energy? One great way I can think of is to use it in support of a company whose mission is to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport by bringing compelling mass market electric cars to market as soon as possible: Tesla Motors.
2/26/2016
What if we're the first to make it to the other side and to make a civilization like the Federation in Star Trek? And what if everybody out there is waiting for us to do that? To go out and rescue them. To show them the way. That's a scary prospect. That's a burden. I think we can take it on. I think we can do it.-- David Brin - Physicist and Science Fiction Author - The Science of Star Trek - Documentary 2016
2/1/2016
UPDATED! Tesla Order Progress Everything is looking good, and it appears we are actually ahead of the Tesla timer at this point. However, since I have never updated the Tesla count down timer before, I'm planning on just letting it go as is and see how it pans out.
11/18/2015
UPDATED! Tesla Order Progress The Tesla timer on this page remains eerily on track, having never been adjusted over the last few years. And the Tesla Order Progress page will start seeing some periodic updates. Most likely acquisition at this point is a CPO Model S, but all plans are still tentative.
10/24/2015
Evolution need not only be a physical thing. Never lose your inner child, but never stop growing up either. New poem -- Of Love.
7/21/2015
Non-family exciting things this year:
1/23/2015
I've been nearing the limits of my bandwidth the last few months. Not really interested in upgrading my service, I took a look at the web statistics for my site. The primary bandwidth hogs were mostly large images in a few areas that get hits from the world at large. To reduce the bandwidth load, I have cropped and/or scaled down the biggest offenders. Some of the pages on this site are getting very old, but I find it is interesting to go back and look at some of the older content, so I'm not taking it down. Note that you can get a quick idea of how old the content on any page is by looking at the footer at the bottom. I always add one or more last updated dates to the footer.
9/15/2014
Upgrades to my security system coming soon. New server hardware replaces the horribly outdated Intel Celeron system, including upgrades that will improve system recovery after power outage. I'm sadly ditching the rack mount setup due to cost and the low reliability of the various rack mount equipment I have experienced since I started that experiment. I'm likely setting up a new camera in back, and adding new IR illuminators for front and back of house for better video at night. Yay!
Time for a little bit of Awesome.
5/2/2014
Quick news roundup! SpaceX more-or-less successfully landed one of their Falcon 9 booster rockets in the ocean. This is a big step towards rocket reusability that will help drive down the costs of access to space. This was a _real_ rocket launch that sent a resupply capsule to the ISS (CRS-3 mission). If you want to see some awesome video of the SpaceX prototype rockets landing (test flights, not a real one like the CRS-3 mission -- the CRS-3 mission did not have good video), just search for "F9R" on Youtube. Google Fiber is coming to our town in 2015. You better believe we are going to sign up for it! Cari and I test drove a Tesla Model S. It is a really cool car, and confirmed my intent to eventually acquire one (or similar Tesla model). Superchargers will be coming to I-70 from Denver to St. Louis soon. I'll post some details as soon as I know more. For now, the only thing we know for sure is that there is a permit to build a Supercharger in Goodland, KS. 
8/5/2013
Updated my NAS Setup page to add a new section for setting up Fedora 18 and Samba 4.x. The section on Fedora 13 and Samba 3.x remains as well.
7/20/2013
Stay tuned the release of CatBack 1.4 coming in another week or two. I've made several significant updates, including fixing the progress bars to show a more accurate representation of progress, adding options to greatly speed up backups to slow network locations, and various other small improvements.
6/22/2013
As I did once before with the Mustang, I have posted a Tesla Order Progress page where I will provide progress details on getting a Tesla. While the Mustang was an awesome car, a Tesla is an even more awesome car, and more importantly, goes one large step further by being from a company and a leader with an awesome vision and outlook for the future of humanity.
6/2/2013
If their plan holds firm... Why I've decided to get a Tesla as my next car in a couple of years (bare in mind my semi-regular KC/Columbia/KC commute): 
5/26/2013
5/11/2013I updated my Links page. Yes, it really needs a complete overhaul, but I don't have time for that right now. So I just updated my existing links and added some new ones at the top. And here is a look ahead to things in my future (other than the obvious stuff like doing lots of stuff with my kids):
We can have a world living modern lives without killing the climate. - Michael Shellenberger - President and Co-founder, The Breakthrough Institute Loving your children is about loving the future and loving the world they are going to inhereit. - Mark Lynas - Journalist and Environmental Activist Can you be an environmentalist and be pro nuclear? In light of climate change, can you be an environmentalist, and not be pro nuclear? - Stewart Brand - Founder and Publisher, Whole Earth Catalog 1/18/2013 12/7/2012 Dear Millers First Insurance, I saw recently that Millers First Insurance has agreed to "rehabilitation", and that the company has apparently had issues with profitability. I'm confused as to why this is so. Have you turned away good customers with flawless insurance records for stupid reasons like someone being temporarily unemployed even though they had money to pay the premiums? Oh wait! Yes you have. That was me, back in January of 2004. And to think I still have never once filed an insurance claim in my entire life. I just pay the premiums and go about my day. Too bad you didn't keep me. It might have been more profitable than the 8 years since where my only contribution to the company has been recommending to all of my friends and neighbors not to use Millers First Insurance. Sincerely, <signed> 7/5/2012 4/2/2012 3/26/2012 3/25/2012 2/20/2012 1/8/2012
6/12/2010 6/9/2010 6/2/2010 6/1/2010
5/27/2010 5/6/2010 2/22/2010 1/13/2010 10/31/2009
(9/16/2009)
Galaxy MGB Raid Pro NAS Lesson: The Human ScrewdriverHow To Screw Yourself:
(9/9/2009) (8/26/2009) (8/24/2009) (8/2/2009) (7/27/2009) (7/11/2009) (3/31/2009) (2/23/2009) (2/12/2009) (2/5/2009) Setting Up CVS on Windows
(2/3/2009) (1/27/2009)
1/24/2009
I've been playing around recently with drawing on web pages using the <canvas> tag. Some early adopters of the canvas tag functionality do not provide a way to draw text onto the canvas. Below is a method I wrote that can accomplish this task using absolutely positioned div elements. While I wrote it specifically for canvas, it should actually work on any HTML element, should you find a reason for it. It could use a little more refinement, but it works well enough as shown. So far tested to work on IE6 and Firefox 2+. (note: to use canvas in IE, look up "excanvas" on the web)
PointAlign.LEFT_OF_POINT = 1;
PointAlign.CENTER = 2;
PointAlign.RIGHT_OF_POINT = 3;
PointAlign.ABOVE_POINT = 4;
PointAlign.BELOW_POINT = 5;
function PointAlign() {
}
function drawText(canvasId,text,x,y,hAlign,vAlign,textStyle) {
var canvas = document.getElementById(canvasId);
x += canvas.offsetLeft;
y += canvas.offsetTop;
var canvasParent = canvas.offsetParent;
var div = window.document.createElement("div");
div.appendChild(window.document.createTextNode(text));
var divStyle = "position:absolute; visibility: hidden; left:0px; top:0px;";
if (textStyle) {
divStyle += textStyle;
}
var isIE = /*@cc_on!@*/false; //IE detector
if (isIE) {
div.style.setAttribute("cssText",divStyle);
} else {
div.setAttribute("style",divStyle);
}
// div must be placed before offsetWidth and offsetHeight attributes provide proper numbers
canvasParent.appendChild(div);
if (hAlign) {
if (hAlign == PointAlign.CENTER) {
x -= Math.round(div.offsetWidth / 2);
} else if (hAlign == PointAlign.LEFT_OF_POINT) {
x -= div.offsetWidth;
}
}
if (vAlign) {
if (vAlign == PointAlign.CENTER) {
y -= Math.round(div.offsetHeight / 2);
} else if (vAlign == PointAlign.ABOVE_POINT) {
y -= div.offsetHeight;
}
}
div.style.left = x + "px";
div.style.top = y + "px";
div.style.visibility = "visible";
}
(1/5/2009) (4/25/2008) PS: The surveillance server is coming back soon! Stay tuned! (4/17/2008) (11/11/2007) (10/6/2007) (8/29/2007)
New Page! (1/27/2007) 
I recently ran across this curious and cute little creature while browsing the web. It is a native of China, and is most commonly known as the Red Panda. However, it is also known as the Fire Fox. This immediately got me thinking about the best browser for the web, the Firefox browser. I've always thought the Firefox browser mascot was just a fox with a fiery tail, but maybe someone had the Red Panda in mind when the browser was given it's name.
New Poem! (1/17/2007)
New Link! (1/9/2007)
New Page! (10/26/2006)
Recently Updated! (9/6/2006)
- End Updates - Thank you for visiting! |
This site best viewed with:
Mozilla Firefox or Safari
Poem Quick Links:
|
Internet Explorer may cause mental health problems in Programmers.
 |
|
Sometimes we are the sun,
shining light on everyone;
keeping the world from an eternal night,
to bring us day this must be done.
Sometimes we are the shadow,
hiding from the light of day;
out of sight despite the suns glow,
only darkness leads the way.
Sometimes we are the man between,
sometimes hidden sometimes seen;
on one side shadow and on one side sun,
it is the nature of our being.
So when you turn and see your shadow,
and feel like running far away;
just turn again and see there's sometimes sun,
and light will brighten up your day.
-- Scott (~2/2004)
Gifts of Life and Love
I once had love, but it had a cost
Once was found, but now is lost.
The grandest gift, if one could choose
The grandest gift, that one can lose.
You and I, forever together
Simple dreams, nothing better.
But like a sunset, an end of day
You leave me cold, and drift away.
Thoughts of darkness that will never end
But time does pass and renew again.
A new day dawns and the sun does rise
Bringing forth again those beautiful skies.
despite the sadness, despite the loss
I find I'm stronger despite the cost.
hurt and strife, I rise above
for the gifts we know as life and love.
-- Scott (~11/2004)
Dogs Are Barking
dogs are barking
from their house on capital hill
never taking action
barking and standing still
meanwhile our guns are ablaze
fire lights the night sky
for years months and days
how many will die?
do we bring them liberation
or might we have gone wrong
are we an empirial nation?
who would Jesus bomb?
allies turn their backs
debts burn faster than cinders
dogs in their packs
how will history remember?
-- Scott (5/27/2005)
Our Love
Dedicated to Cari
a tribute to love
and to whom I adore
for the love we have
to share and explore
together in love
together we care
deep in our hearts
forever to share
a feeling of content
that will never die
a wonderful peace
that lives deep inside
-- Scott (7/30/2005)
Time and Friends
-1st segment-
I saw you walking down the street
Kicking rocks, staring at your feet
head hung low, walking slow
A heavy weight upon your shoulder
I walk closer, I start to approach
But I stop, I don't want to encroach
What should I do? I feel for you
The day is getting colder
I decide to follow you to work
I can see your feeling hurt
I saw you cry, but don't know why
There must be someway I can help her
Working at the corner station
Selling gas to endless patrons
I walk in the store through the door
Your selling tickets at the counter
-chorus-
Keep living
I've been there too
Don't give in
There's more life ahead of you
Keep searching
There's nothing else to do
You'll make it
Time will see you through
-2nd segment-
I stand there feeling sort of foolish
I'm not sure how that I should do this
Grab a can of pop in hand
I slap it on the counter as something to buy
She slowly spins around in place
She seems relieved to see a friendly face
She looks at me and I can see
She's near breaking down - a tear is in her eye
I say what is someone so smart and pretty
doing working in this part of the city?
doing chores for this store
Working for them when they should be working for you?
You say my life is mostly stalled
Sometimes I think of ending it all
But you come by again, and I remember when
you said "with time and friends you'll make it through"
-2nd chorus-
Keep living
I've been there too
Don't give in
There's more life ahead of you
Keep searching
There's nothing else to do
You'll make it
Time will see you through
-last segment-
You have your stories
and some of them are bad
We all have our stories
but they won't all be sad
Don't give up on time
Time won't give up on you
Don't give up on friends
Time and friends will see you through
- ending chorus -
Keep living
I've been there too
Don't give in
There's more life ahead of you
Keep searching
There's nothing else to do
You'll make it
Time will see you through
Keep living
We've all been there
Don't give in
to hate and dispair
Keep searching
There's nothing else to do
You'll make it
Friends will care for you
-fade out-
Friends will care for you
Time will see you through
Friends like me and you
In time we'll make it through
-- Scott (8/23/2005)
The Game
Life's a game. You have to play it. Play it right, and you just might make it.
They'll tell you it's not, they'll tell you that a lot. But watch them close, they'll take their piece and play it.
For every ninja in game, you'll find a ninja in life. They'll try to take your job, or even steal your wife.
Play it wrong, and you'll be called a villian. Play it right, and you're a hero to millions.
It's all in how you play, and that's the scary thing. That the villain and hero might have done the same.
Villain behind bars while the hero lives large, and that makes the hero worse, but that's how you play the game.
The righteous man stops...to think about it. How can he win the game without being corrupted by it?
Villainous hero or heroic villian. What to do? So he plays to hold; neither win nor lose.
But maybe that's the real game, like it was all a secret. To neither win nor lose, just pick a spot and keep it.
Can drive a man insane, to try and think about it. Where if you win you lose, but if you hold you win it.
So hold the line; that's the battle plan. Don't reach the bottom or top, just be the middle man.
So if you're on the right, move into the middle. For the middle's right; just come left a little.
A game where if you win you lose, but if you hold you win it. But you have to play; you're already in it.
And once you're centered and righteous, then just stay the same. Can't really do any better in this crazy game.
-- Scott (3/16/2006)
In Dreams
Dedicated to Murphy
Nothing can begin without an end.
But no matter how much I will miss you now, I'd do it all again.
And maybe it's not as final as it seems.
Maybe I will see you in my dreams.
I cried as I layed you out to rest.
But if you're still out there somewhere, and can hear one last request...
It doesn't have to be as final as it seems.
Will you come visit me, come visit in my dreams?
If you're still there somehow and fate allows, come and be my guest.
It doesn't have to be as final as it seems.
Come visit me, come visit in my dreams.
-- Scott (1/17/2007)
Poem of the Passed
living life
but can't find peace
in life their's joy
but only in death release
cry for now
if you must
but peace is found
in ashes and dust
-- Scott (9/9/2009)
Woo Is You
In the beginning when it was new,
apparently there was plenty of woo.
Now time has passed and busy we are;
the woos have grown silent and few and far
Where are the woos, where did they go?
How do we find them, does anyone know?
What streets do we search, what sands do we comb?
What do we do to bring them back home?
I looked in the closet, found only my cat
You looked in your shoes, but that's not where they're at
We've looked everywhere, now what do we do?
Woo is me and woo is you.
And that's when we remembered they cannot be found
No pockets will yield them when shook upside down
My cat did not eat them or bat them away
They have not been lost or wandered astray
A woo's not a noun to be found in a bin
A woo is a verb and comes from within
So where are you my Love? Whom I wish to woo?
And the rest of you, go woo someone too!
-- Scott (6/2/2010)
Of Love
Dreams of those in our past
Souls come and go
memories last
Heartfelt stories...
of love.
With those we have laughed
For those we have cried
Their mark burns eternal
forever inside
The places my heart has been
Mountains of hope and valleys of doubt
Careful with who I fall in
I don't know how to fall out...
of love.
| Last Updated 3/24/2016 by Scott Arnold |
|