Written by Greg put up a pretty amazing post about reading and writing to TCP network sockets using nothing but the BASH shell and the Linux kernel pseduo-filesystem. Go check it out here.
I will not fly any more. You probably shouldn’t either.
I live in the state of California in the United States. I’m a FAA-certificated pilot. That basically means I can legally fly airplanes wherever I want in the country.
But I won’t fly any more, at least commercially. This past winter I needed to travel from my hometown, Redding, to Detroit, Michigan… and I drove. It took me six weeks, and I enjoyed every minute of it. As you’ve probably figured out by now, I won’t fly because I won’t give in to the TSA.
I’m a fiercely independent fellow anyway, but the scanning fiasco was the last straw. You have to understand me first: I’d rather not eat and live in a box than get welfare help from Uncle Sam. They can keep it–I don’t want their help because I never asked for it, nor wanted it. That’s just how I am.
Because of these things I’ve been called silly and unrealistic, but I don’t care. The stakes underlying this whole thing are too important to shrug off. This year, 2011, it will have been ten years since September 11th, 2001. In that time, under the guise of security, I personally believe we Americans have given up more liberties in the past ten years than the prior one hundred. Powers that be are listening to your telephone calls, reading your emails, and now looking at your body–all without a warrant. Sounds great huh?
“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
-Benjamin Franklin
Sit back and think about that for a minute… really think about it. Remember folks, once you give up a liberty to do something it is extremely hard to get it back. Need proof? It has been ten years and we’re still scanning the airport gates like it is 9/12/2001. The powers that control our government are eager to jump at any chance to increase to their power over the people. Those powers are cunning, and are driven by greed and money. They will not hesitate to use a tragedy to further their control–and history has shown this to be true time and time again. Yet we’re allowing them to do it again, and most appallingly; we’re doing it willingly.
The irony of it all is that this is precisely what the terrorists want. They want us to be miserable. They want us to be afraid and to submit to their whims. If the terrorists wanted us to be afraid to use subways, they’ll bomb a subway next. Swooping in to save us all, our government would then install an overbearing dose of “security”. The terrorists have hired our own government through its ineptitude to do their work for them. More sinister, the moment it became convenient for that same government that “saved us” to use that additional control & security against us, it will happen. Don’t even pretend for a second that it wouldn’t.
The shocking thing is that our government doesn’t care–this single fact alone is the most convincing part about its subversive nature: If our government was really concerned about defeating terrorists, why are they doing what the terrorists want? Wouldn’t being defiant and doing the opposite be the approach to success? Instead of locking down the airports, allow them to open up. Open them completely up.
Would terrorists have a field day? Probably, at first. Would innocent people get hurt? Probably.
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
-Thomas Jefferson
But dear reader, this is the price of liberty. Liberty doesn’t come with a guarantee of happiness, or even life. It’s the conduit to happiness in life. To maintain liberty through our lives people will get hurt and even die, and there is a good reason Jefferson used the word “patriot” instead of “soldiers”. Sound cold? It isn’t. It’s the tax of freedom, and like it or not that is how it works–and has worked throughout history. Our country’s inventors understood this because they too lived (and died) through it. The umbrella of safety will always block the sun.
The generations before us didn’t hesitate when that tree of liberty needed blood. It is because of them that we enjoy the liberties what we now have. My generation has become selfish and complacent–and in the name of convenience, we willingly surrender our liberties to the government
“Give me convenience or give me death.”
-Jello Biafra
Who are we to deny future generations their liberty? We’re doing it right now by making excuses. We do it in the name of convenience and haste. Our fathers and dead soldiers are rolling in the grave.
“No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people, but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue, and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.
-George Mason
I don’t propose going right winger-crazy tomorrow waving guns around in one hand and a Bible in the other. I suggest doing what you can, and for me and most others that is refusing to submit to what I’ve been told is good and safe for me–especially when I know it is a lie.
THAT is what being an American is about, and if you don’t understand that, I’m pretty sure you really don’t understand how or why the country you share with me was built.
No controllers found: PERC 4, 64 Bit CentOS, and OMSA 6.4
Dell’s OMSA is very handy for digging into the status of hardware on your PowerEdge server, but I usually stay a version or so back for reasons like this. The latest 64 bit OMSA on a 64 bit CentOS install won’t see the PERC. But this post over at Steve Jenkins’ blog helped sort it out.
Basically, install 32 bit OMSA on 64 Bit CentOS, and all will be well. Go Dell!
Bands I’ve Been In.
I just got involved with a band here locally, and got all reminiscing about all the different bands I’ve played in over the years. I got a bit worried when I couldn’t remember them all, so I wrote it down… and here is the list, in chronological order (more or less).
1. Ellis & The Revolution, 1993 – 94(?)
I worked with Ellis (his name was Brian too, but that just got confusing) at a pizza place. After I got to know him a bit, we hung out for a while and kind of had the same interests musically. He eventually offered a drumming spot in a giant band (I think there were 12 people) of which we were to play a few cover songs at Oakland Community College. I remember there being a Beatles song, and I never did much care for Ringo’s style, but it was my first “real” band, and we were going to play on a real stage. With real amps and a P.A. How could I refuse?
The night of the show, the band opening before us had some wicked skilled drummer and I remembered being completely (1) Blown away by how good he was and, (2) scared to death because I’d never played in front of a crowd before. All the worrying was for naught, we pulled it off… though I had stage fright and messed up a few times. The same drummer came up afterwords and asked if it was the first show I’d ever played. I confirmed it for him continued on saying something about being kind of a hack at drums. He told me he thought it was alright–he didn’t notice any f-ups, and that I should stick to it since I sounded pretty good. That one comment really helped me get over any stage fright from that point forward.
I have a faint memory of a spin-off deal I got involved in with one of the other members. I don’t remember exactly what it was, or what kind of music — but I do remember driving up to Mount Pleasant, MI to do a recording. I remember the “studio” was really small, about the size of a walk-in closet. The rest is foggy.
2. Bel-a-Bor, 1994 – 1998
After the whole thing with Ellis was over, I went back into the basement at Mom and Dad’s and cranked away at practicing some more. At some point in 1995 I met Mr. Mike Mueller on a computer BBS, of all places — was it the Crossover BBS? He and I both liked some similar punk stuff and I invited him over to do some jamming in the basement. I think we played a few covers, one I remember for sure was Godzilla. I also remember him being retarded-tall and knocking his head on light bulbs hanging from the ceiling. Ultimately we got kicked out of my Mom’s house for nearly shaking all the crystals out of her grandfather clock, and ended up at his parent’s place instead. Mike was the guy that introduced me to the Melvins.
Bel-a-Bor was a pretty well-executed noise band.
Mike and I became really good friends in the long run. We ended up writing a handful of songs as a two piece (bass and drums). Such classics as “Love Taun Taun” and “Flame On”. We did a few shows in basements (I think Lloyd’s was one such unlucky venue, as well as Joseph’s) and near the end we had played a few “real” shows, probably the most memorable being an opening spot for a lineup containing Ultra Bide and Zen Guerilla. We also played a show with Bobby Conn, at a record store. Which was just … mind blowing.
3. God Bullies
Talk about going zero to sixty. The story of me getting involved with the famous (infamous?) God Bullies as I understand it is as follows:
Mike Mueller worked at a used record shop in Livonia, MI called The Record Collector. Mike Hard, of the legendary Michigan punk band the God Bullies walked in and my Mike struck up a conversation. Some how or other, a tape of Bel-a-Bor with our home phone numbers made it into Mike Hard’s possesion. This occurred unbeknown to me.
So I come home from work one day to find a message on my answering machine. It said something like:
“Hey… uh Brian, this is Mike Hard of the God Bullies. Hey, we’re looking for a drummer to do a southern tour and South-by-Southwest in Texas. I listened to your tape. Give me a call if you’re interested.”
I immediately call my Mike, being he’s the only other guy that would know who the God Bullies were; I’m thinking he prank called me. After I tell him what the message was, I realized it wasn’t a prank call and it was serious. I nearly shat.
After getting some quick practice in at an Ypsilanti, MI college book store we went off on the tour in a giant v-10 black Ford van. Highlights:
- Five unshowered dudes + beer + smoke + gear in one van makes for a smelly van.
- The first show we played was at Tacoland in San Antonio, TX. This show was memorable because:
- This was the first time I drank a Lone Star beer.
- I met Ram (RIP!)
- Mike Hard got mostly naked, and was swinging on a pipe.
- We played Emo’s in Austin to a giant crowd. First time my drumset had ever been mic’d. Show was perfect, and insane. Met Dave Grohl in the crowd, and he’d seen me play. We exchanged two sentences: Dave Grohl said I rocked. That is all.
- Played an amazing show in Memphis, TN where I saw/met a band called Quintaine Americana. The drummer blew my mind. They were amazing.
- Final show was in a giant warehouse basement in Kalamazoo, MI. Midway through the set, the sole lightbulb got broken, and the only light was from the strobe/smoke machine we had for a prop. Made for a memorable scene.
- I’m back there somewhere…
I played one other show with the God Bullies in Ypsilanti a bit after the tour, and then they sort of disbanded again. Was good fun while it lasted though!
4. Radium, 1998
After the whole God Bullies/SxSW thing was over, David Livingstone (Bullies’ guitarist) mentioned his girlfriend’s band needed a drummer. They were more chartable/alt-rock, but if I was interested he was sure they’d have me. So I did. Being that I was in two bands at once, I plunked down for a second, nicer 5-piece Pearl kit, which I still use today.
I only ended up doing a few shows with them, but they were all decent. One was a pretty nice venue in Pontiac, MI, and another was a street show in Royal Oak. I don’t remember exactly why the band dissolved, but it was immediately after that show. I do remember the guitar player (Oliver?) having a really nice hollow-body Gibson though. I also remember Tabitha (singer) asking how in the hell I could kick the bass drum so fast with only one foot. Radium was also the one and only band my Mom and Dad actually saw me play in.
Radium found in Michigan
5. Four Percent, 1998 – 2002-ish
After Radium fell apart, I got the drummin’ itch again and hooked back up with Mr. Mueller. This time around he had “met someone” at a Jesus Lizard show by the name of Leighton, who had just moved to Ypsilanti from Texas. Back when we were playing in Belabor, he and I always kicked around the idea of adding a guitar player, but just couldn’t find or think of anyone that would “get” the noise-rock approach we had concocted. Our wait was over!
We wrote a ton of songs, recorded, played a lot of amazing shows, and did some tours (three?) down to Texas and back, got on a Detroit compilation CD. with a whole slew of other amazing bands.
Four Percent eventually just sort of petered out. I’m not sure why; I had gotten kind of busy at work at that time (was buying a house), and the band had sort of run its course, I guess.
6. Christpuncher – 2000 – 2002ish
So this wasn’t a real “band” by definition, but it is hilarious enough to mention. Leighton, Mike, myself, as well as a bunch of other dudes from some local Ypsi talent got together to form a “superband” of sorts that got together and played nothing but 80′s metal songs. It was brilliant… we had two drummers.
Punching Christ, since 2000.
7. Rogerbox, 2001-2003
Secretly during the whole time I’d been playing drums, I was learning how to play guitar too. After I’d gotten point I’d written a handful of stuff, I asked a few guys (Keith, Duane, and Bobby) at work if they’d like to start a new band up, with me doing guitar and trying to sing.
It worked out pretty well, we did a few shows and even recorded four songs at a studio. Was good practice and a different bit of pace to stand up in front of a crowd rather than disappear into the background.
It is notable that Lloyd first got really drunk at one of our shows. We win!
8. Glori5, 2001 – ?
A bit after Four Percent had ended, Leighton hit me up asking if I’d like to be in a more grungy band with him and his wife Jennifer. We were all good friends, and of course I hopped on instantly. Glori5 started as a tribute-type band to the Morning Glories of the 90s. We learned a few of their songs, and eventually started writing some of our own.
Eventually Erin-Elvis joined in and completed the line up for the long haul. We did a few tours down south, one to the East coast to record with Steve Austin of Today is the Day. We also spent the night at an extremely creepy civil-war era house of Leighton’s relatives. Lots of ghost stories that freaked our shit out.
Glori5 is still my favorite band out of all that I’ve been in. I think it is because we were all a tad bit older now and just enjoyed playing out and having a good time, and none of us were really heavy drinkers. I have a funny memory of us playing a show in a kind of grungy bar in Ohio during flu season. After doing introductions and shaking hands, we all disappeared into a corner to dispense hand sanitizer post-haste. That’s how we were…
And I hadn’t really mentioned the music–Leighton, Jen and Erin all wrote songs of which I really, really like. I find myself humming them occasionally just because it’s that good.
Glori5...somewhere in Ohio, and sanitary!
9. Chapstik, 2001-2003
Leighton’s other band was a lot different than Glori5, and not in a bad way. Imagine strapping a v-12 with headers to a beat up JohnDeere tractor and mud-pit racing through a Black Sabbath concert while drunk, and you get the idea. We had three guitar players, one bass, one drummer, and everyone was detuned to C#. Except me.
I jumped in to help and I give credit to Chapstik for helping me loose about 5 pounds of weight due to aerobic exercise. We ran a tour through Texas and had a good time. Highlights of Chapstik:
- I was no longer afraid of man musk after being in Chapstik.
- Whenever I was constipated, Chapstik got me regular again.
- Chapstik stayed at my house, and afterwords the shower made you dirtier and some how more feminineafter you took one for three weeks thereafter.
- While I was in Chapstik, Phaedrah got pregnant with Ethan. Coincidence?
Playing a Chapstik song... trying to remember how it went.
What happened to them after I left.
Then we moved out here to California, and left all my band buddies behind… until….
10. The Minsky Blackouts, 2011
Just met up with these guys in January, and having a bad ass time with them so far. Sort of garage/punk, a nice throwback to the early days when I listened to Dead Kennedys a lot. We have a show in April, so we’ll have to see how it goes. Here’s a song by them, before I came along.
Announcing the NorCal LUG
Today we’re launching the Northern California Linux User Group. As far as I can tell, the closest LUG to Redding is the Sacramento LUG, and that’s just too far away! This LUG will be based in Redding, of course, and for now we plan on holding monthly meetings when the group achieves a large enough membership base.
For now, visit the site and sign up for the mailing lists! We’re still in the early phases, so be sure to suggest ideas and comments for the focus of the group.
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