What Works for Me

ir_white for vim

Sean — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:37:40 +0000

I like the ir_black theme for Vim and TextMate, but I really like the ir_white version of this theme. The only problem with this situation is that I usually use Vim, and Vim has no ir_white (cue wailing and gnashing of teeth).

I’m particular enough about the Vim colorscheme I use that I finally decided to venture into the jungle and make ir_white for Vim on my own. My efforts are posted here:

Download: ir_white for Vim!

Note that I only wrote this to be meant for GVim, so I have no idea how this looks in a terminal; I assume it just inherits the default terminal colors.

I based the layout of the theme on the ir_black theme linked to above, and I based the colors of the theme on the actual IR_White.tmTheme also linked to above.

Please enjoy, and post your comments/suggestions!

Friendly Chat

Sean — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:54:27 +0000

I was talking to a friend on IM, when I was suddenly pelted with slanders based on the outdated and outmoded stereotypes of Minnesotan behavior. I struck back for Minnesotans everywhere:

php|tek 2009 Closing Keynote video

Sean — Sun, 24 May 2009 18:21:02 +0000

Download the full movie file here.

Co-worker trouble

Sean — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:21:21 +0000

I sent the following IMs (I’m the blue/gray one) to a co-worker, in an attempt to get her to laugh in front of our boss:

Problem solved

Sean — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:37:45 +0000

We had a problem user that was bothering other users, and there was a question as to what we should do with this person.

My suggestion was a brief email from Customer Service:

Dear [Problem User], Shut your ugly face. Just shut it. Nobody wants to be friends with you EVER. Everyone is out eating Blizzards and making fun of you.

I’d be great at Customer Service.

Microsoft wants to tell you what you can do with your computer

Sean — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:22:38 +0000

Windows 7 “Starter Edition” comes with a restriction that only allows you to run three separate applications at once.

Are you pissed off yet?

Microsoft wants you to give them money for an operating system that holds you hostage.

And this blog post wants you to be okay with that.

That post is totally apologistic, and really pisses me off.

"Yeah, it’s not so bad that Microsoft is limiting what you do with your computer; you can totally have as many IE windows open as you want!" Really? Is this where we’re finally at with Microsoft? We’re letting them dictate what we do with our computers? Man, fuck that. If anyone expects me to hand over money I earned to someone who’s going to use it to tell me what I’m allowed to do with my own computer, they’re fucking crazy. I’ll run AmigaOS 1.0 before I run Windows 7.

And yet Windows has the biggest installed-base. I guess what’s really rewarded is cutthroat business tactics, rather than spending resources on innovation and actually competing fairly by creating a superior product. We have a word for that: it’s called cheating; gaming the system rather than playing it the way it’s meant to be played.

Before you know it, Windows will be charging you for every program you run. And then we’ll have bills in Congress deregulating the operating system.

Kudos for co-worker

Sean — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:08:00 +0000

A friendly chat between me and a co-worker, admiring her recently-posted Employee Profile!

Chat
(2:59:22 PM) Me: Hey I saw your profile up in the brunch room
(2:59:52 PM) Co-worker: did you like it
(3:00:21 PM) Me: I did
(3:00:24 PM) Me: except for all the cursing
(3:00:56 PM) Co-worker: what cursing?
(3:01:22 PM) Me: lotta swears
(3:01:38 PM) Me: it’s like a sailor wrote it while on shore leave
(3:02:06 PM) Co-worker: I don’t think you were reading mine
(3:02:36 PM) Me: it had a picture of you giving the "bird"

If programming languages were drugs

Sean — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:14:32 +0000

C – Caffeine
It’s cheap and it’s ubiquitous. It ain’t exactly safe, but at least its effects are predictable, and there’s a general agreement that it’s just the de facto drug of choice.

Assembly – Cocaine
It’s faster than C, but it’s also scary, so not many people are going to do it with you.

Ada – LSD
Ada and LSD were both created by the government in order to punish people (and coincidentally, they were both created for military purposes). You’ll see strange things, but you won’t like ‘em.

Ruby – Ecstacy
It’s what the kids do, it’s colorful, and it makes people happy. However, like ecstacy, the morning after a Ruby hit will leave you forlorn and depressed, as your happiness fades and you realize that Ruby is just another programming language.

Perl – Magic Mushrooms
You’re going to see a lot of things that don’t make a lot of sense, but repeated exposure isn’t going to elucidate anything.

Java – Clove cigarettes
It’s safer, but it’s also not much fun after the first few times.

Mix: SPRING09

Sean — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:56:11 +0000

Hi everyone,

I’ve created a new mix CD for your enjoyment. Have a great Spring!!

Download the CD
http://lavalantern.org/mix_spring09/

Track listing

01 - MGMT - Time To Pretend.mp3

02 - Jackson and His Computer Band - Hard Tits.mp3

03 - Junkie XL - Not Enough.mp3

04 - Sigur Ros - Saeglopur.mp3

05 - Dr. Dog - The Breeze.mp3

06 - Friends of Dean Martinez - Dusk.mp3

07 - The Sounds - Night After Night.mp3

08 - Kings of Leon - I Want You.mp3

09 - A Man Called Adam - Easter Song.mp3

10 - Stars - Ageless Beauty.mp3

Get your Hovie’s on

Sean — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:56:26 +0000

At my work, a couple of co-workers and I enjoy going to this restaurant in Eagan called Hovie’s. They sell bargain-basement sandwiches in a diner/lunch counter atmosphere. If a $4 club sandwich while watching Maury is your idea of heaven, Hovie’s may be the place for you.

We get to talking about our love of Hovie’s now and then, and today was no different (I’m in red):