Heather's Blogpile

I've been reading more about software for X10 and Macs, and I ran across more information on the xTension software. I'd initially passed on their software after a brief test, when I saw it start up the Mac Classic environment - that seemed like such a step backwards with the beauty of the Mac OS X built on Unix. But yesterday I got a copy of the beta they are calling X4X (xtension for OS X), and I installed it on my Mac, and - its very fine!

I created the master list for the 9 X10 controls that are running in the house, then I created some events for sunset and sunrise (Wakeup Coffeemaker, etc), and after some more reading, I've started creating Applescripts for some of the events that I want to happen. Very nice stuff - amazing that its considered beta!

There is a support list and quite a bit of resources for the xtension users - unless something unexpected and crazy happens, I think this is what I'll be running the house on.

I'll write more when I have it more experience with it!

Posted by Heather at 8:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

While making the rounds of tech new sites, I ran across Home Automation with Mac OS X, Part 1 by Alan Graham on the O'Reilly site.

About 7 years ago I got a Firecracker kit from X10. I played with it a bit, loaded software on my PC, quickly added $120 of expansion parts, and had the house lighting and coffeemaker on schedules in short order.

But the X10 was creaky. If I shut down my PC for a few days, I noticed the interface clock started to drift right away, and events started occuring at unwanted times. Even on a good day, some lights didn't come on regularly, and for one wallswitch, the only way to know it was on was to flip it by hand.

But as long as I already had the hardware, and have a shiney new G4, I thought I'd look into some Mac versions of the software. (I posted some of the ones I found on a page of links up at Mac Auto). Most of them have Demo versions so you can test the software before you buy it - thats good as it let me write off some of that software pretty fast. I'm just not interested in running software under OS 8 or other Mac Classic Environment.

Fortunately I had put a serial port in the mac, so once I found a Mac serial (DIN) to db9 cable in my "box of spares", I could connect the Mac to the old CM11 interface box and inject commands into the house wiring.

I tested the system by turning my desklight (A8) on and off via software, and I saw that when I toggled it on and off with the remote, the lamp status was updated on the screen. Once I knew that worked, I created all the "devices" that I knew were controllable in the house. Then I created scripts for "Sunset: Turn on Front Light", "Weekday Start Coffee", and Weekend Start Coffee" (the Windows software didn't allow me to differentiate like that.

Last night, I set up the coffee maker with fresh ground coffee and filled it with water. This morning, I was very pleased to find the coffeemaker had run on schedule, and fresh coffee awaited me!

I'll run the demo a couple more days, but that test pretty much convinced me the Indigo software is the one I will buy.

Posted by Heather at 4:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last time I wrote about computers here, I mentioned that I was planning to get a Mac. Well, I found a good price for a dual processor 1.25gHz G4 with 512Meg of ram and a Superdrive (DVD recorder), so I pulled out my VISA card and bought it. I was even able to get Applecare (3 year extended warrantee) on it (for the usual fee).

It was running an older version of OS X, 10.2 Jaguar, so within a week I went to the local Applestore in Tyson's Corner (partly to check the store out), and I left with a new copy of OS X 10.3 (Jaguar). A week later I got a copy of iLife 04, to get the improved iPhoto, and to have a copy of Garage Band to play with.

My initial impression is that its a very cool computer. When I install software, it requires that I "authorize it" by entering my UserID and system password. I bet Microsoft systems would be a lot more secure if they used such a feature.

So far the only time it has restarted (booted) is when I turn it off, or when it has installed a major change in software (security updates, etc).

Most of the setup was painless - I took an ethernet cable and tied it to our router (does NAT and Firewall duties for our network from the cable modem) and a few moments later I was on the internet. It seems Emma's Win98 machine and can read the Shares there just fine, but it can't get into my old Win2k machine. Of course, I've had that problem before - trying to share files from the Win2k system to Emma's PC - so thats not new., just annoying. All my old emails are in Outlook 2000, in a 210 Meg .pst file - I haven't found a way to move them to the Mac yet, but I did get the Mac Mail program working with my ISPs and aliases.

I bought a copy of Photoshop 7 for Mac on eBay, I have no desire to pay $600+ for Photoshop CS, and I use version 7 at work, and had it on my PC as well, so the learning curve should be small. I got a copy of PageSpinner, a basic HTML editor for the Mac, based on comments in Jeffrey Zeldman's blog $30 seemed reasonable for a web editor - $180 for BBedit doesn't. And I've heard bad stories about DreamWeaver on OS X

I'm still sorting out FTP on the Mac - I've tried Fetch and Transmit and neither seems at all intuitive - guess I was spoiled by WS-FTP ...

I have bought a few accessories for it - I found a set of those Apple Pro Speakers on eBay for $22 shipped, so I got them (they look like glass balls). It uses a USB keyboard and mouse, so I did get a powered USB hub for other gadgets. I looked into hooking up one of my older Zip-100 drives to it - I have an external parallel drive as well as a SCSI - but my older PCI SCSI card was not recognized in the operating system, and the Mac uses USB instead of parallel for printer ports. So, I got a 128 meg "pendrive" for carrying files to and from work, and I'll use my old PC to burn any current files off my old Zip discs to CDR.

I also bought a Stealth Serial Port from geethree.com. I plan to run my x10 style Home Automation gear on the Mac, and may be able to use it for Midi later on.

I also got a video to USB adapter from ExhoFX. This should allow me to use my old Phillips deskCam with the Mac - tho I doubt I'll be running it with CuSeeMe - that software dates back to 1998 and predates USB ... but there is iChat. More on these extras later.

Posted by Heather at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Please - take a stand against the bullying by President bush _ add your name to a petition to state:

"We, the undersigned, strongly oppose the adoption of an amendment to the Constitution that would require discrimination against any specific group of Americans. The Federal Marriage Amendment is a betrayal of the American principles of equality and fairness. We oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment."

Add your name!

Another fine post courtesy of Bill and Kent's weblog!

Posted by Heather at 9:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well - my coworkers, the "Gal-Gang" aka, the usual suspects, tarted up my cube last night, in memory of me hitting the big 50. 50? Who'd a thunk it? I'd kind of hoped to slip right by it - but they knew it was a big deal, so when I walked in this morning, I found a serious lack of subtlety ...
(Continue to see pictures) ...

The nice thing was the number of folks who seemed genuinely surprised that I was actually that old - like mom, I've managed to look much younger than my years for too many years (grin) - Of course, the real blessing is that I've been on this side of the fence for over 10 years now - and that Emma and I have been together for nearly 8 years now ...

Yeah, who'd a thunk it?

Posted by Heather at 8:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In a column dated Thurs Feb 19, Holly Mullen, Salt Lake Tribune Columnist says:

The numbers are dizzying. In the week since San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom defied California law by allowing same-sex marriages in his city, more than 2,700 gay and lesbian couples have lined up at City Hall to recite their vows.

Should Newsom's act of civil disobedience withstand two hurried legal challenges by anti-gay marriage groups, the number of couples vowing to be "spouses for life" should exceed 3,000 by Friday.

Even if a California judge slams a hammer down on Newsom, as in issuing a "cease and desist" order against any more weddings, a big, clear picture is emerging from this kind of mobilization: The same-sex marriage movement is rolling. It will not be stopped.

Read more at: http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Feb/02192004/utah/140290.asp

Posted by Heather at 8:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Again, thanks to Bill and Kent's Weblog! for the alerts!

If you are a Virginia Resident, please call your representative and let them know your feelings on these proposed laws. If we stand up together, we CAN stop them. If you want Gay Marriage, you need to work for it. You can go to the form here, enter your address and zip and find out who and how to contact them. A phone call works great! (Be polite and professional!) (Link Expired)

From Richmond, Virginia:
Legislation has been passed to allow employers to offer group insurance benefits to gay partners who live together. HB1016

They also rejected a measure that would have made state mortgage loans available only to married heterosexuals or blood relatives. HB187

Feb 17th the Virginia House passed a bill that reaffirms the state's ban on gay marriage. HB751

If you are a Virginia Resident, please call your representative and let them know your feelings on these proposed laws. If we stand up together, we CAN stop them. If you want Gay Marriage, you need to work for it. You can go to the form here, enter your address and zip and find out who and how to contact them. A phone call works great! (Be polite and professional!) http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy/constinput.asp

Posted by Heather at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Found at GullyVuhr's Live Journal

Since the graphics are somewhat large, I've put them behind the "more" cut ...

" Since the gov't has decided to take such a strong stance against gays because the bible says too, I have secretly located a list of future amendments that we should be planning to see, since that all-knowing book-of-books is such a cornucopia of knowledge as it pertains to the holy union that is marriage. "

Posted by Heather at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thanks again to Bill of Bill and Kent's weblog for the link to this story ... S.F. defies law, marries gays - it seems 90 gay and lesbian couples wed Thursday in San Francisco.

Of course, the clueless lawmakers in our State of Virginia are trying to shut the gate to keep out any smoke ...

From the Washington Post Feb 13 RICHMOND, Feb. 12 -- The Virginia House of Delegates gave preliminary approval Thursday to legislation that would ban the recognition of same-sex civil unions and domestic partnerships, mirroring efforts by states across the nation to prevent gays from enjoying the same rights as married couples.

Virginia is one of 38 states that already ban the recognition of same-sex marriages. The bill would add to Virginia's "Affirmation of Marriage Act" a ban against recognition of same-sex civil unions or partnership arrangements allowed in Vermont and California.

With all the other things the legislature could be working on, like the school system, employment, the economy, air pollution, you name it, going after Gay Marriage and civil unions is simply a distraction ... much like a magician' banter keeps you from seeing the extra card slipped into the deck at a critical point.

Could it be that after all the uproar over President Bush's war on Saddam Hussein, the lack of WMD, and continued plumet of Bush credibility, that a wedge issue like Gay marriage is just another way of avoiding the real issues that face America?

Is Gay Marriage the Willie Horton of 2004?

Posted by Heather at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Emma's been in Richmond visiting her mom this weekend, and while she's gone, I've been backing up all the files on my PC, preparing to move everything to the Mac G4 coming tomorrow (Feb 9).

While I was going through the partitions, I found some old MP3 files from Sigur Ros and a few other artists. In the past I'd always used WinAmp - avoiding the DRM issues of the MS Media Player 9 (which I refuse to install!). On a whim, I downloaded the Windows version of iTunes to see what the fuss was all about. It's pretty neat - has some nice sort options, and has a place to stick the cover art when you load albums into it.

Its got a Visualization feature - but it doesn't seem as well done as the visual plugins for WinAmp - it doesn't seem to be modulated by the music as much as the winAmp modules. I did find a site with info for adjusting the visuals - http://doors.stanford.edu/~sr/itunes/.

Posted by Heather at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I had a call earlier this week from my Dad ... he said there had been some kind of an accident with a gun and my cousin Ronnie was dead. I hadn't seen him in probably 15 years - there had been a family reunion at his farm in Lovettsville, VA - back when I was still living in Laurel with Jeannie. It was a gorgeous place - a big 10 acre farm - across the road was another farm, and mountains on the horizon ...

That was a long time ago for me - before my changes - and a long time ago for him - before he got divorced. That side of my family was baptist/fundamentalist - so I never was particularly close to any of them, but its still a big shock to my aunt and the rest of the family, so, out of respect to the family, Emma and I'll will be going to the visitation on Sunday.

Dad's sister's son (he was the eldest of her two kids) died around 20 years ago - on reflection, I'd say he may have been part of the first wave who died of GRID ... no one says anything like that - but looking back on it, he had the signs of being "family". Dad's brother had 4 sons, and Ronnie was his eldest ... Of course, I'm the eldest of Dad's kids - and I've had my struggles over the years ... but since I met Emma and finally sobered up, life has been great. Anyway - this makes me the remaining eldest of this generation of cousins ...

We'll see how the service and all that goes - I expect to be as low key as possible about everything - but I'm sure there will be the inevitable questions of who I am "... oh - I used to be ... " " and this is my partner, Emma" I'll take it as low key as possible ... but its over 10 years since the change I'll be polite and educate them gently ... "we are very nice people and we want to go to Massachusettes later this year and get married!"

Ah well ....... we'lll see ...

Posted by Heather at 8:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Busy times - The weather has turned warmer so the snow and ice are finally melting. We walked through the remains of the backyard snow yesterday to check the pond and saw the goldfish peering up through a hole in the ice. After that we headed to Merrifield to see the Tim Burton film "Big Fish", before it leaves town. The critics at the Washington Post are completely wrong - what a great film - and its not just our opionion - everyone in the theatre sat in their seats to the end of the credits and the houselight came up ...

After that brief warm spell, of course - the weather folks are calling for ice storms again later in the week ...

Posted by Heather at 7:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)