I Swear I Ran

I went for a run yesterday, but it wasn't counted by my iPod. It froze just as soon as I started running, and I couldn't stop because I was chasing Beth.

We've been having problems with the nano. My mother has had problems, and Beth's has been nutting up too. We don't know why this happens. Our usual route includes about 0.66mi of walking to the start of the course we've picked out, and 0.66mi walking to the house after the run. I decided to get my iPod ready to start the workout when we left the house, and during the walk it went to power-save mode. When we reached the start point, though, I woke up the iPod and began the workout. It froze before the lady finished telling me the workout had started. Almost immediately, it was catatonic. The backlight stayed on and it didn't respond to any input. I've discovered that the only way out of this state is to let the battery die and try it again the next day.

To make a long story short, I ran 2.23 miles and it wasn't counted. Beth is now winning the challenge we've made. I guess this kinda makes it even since she lost a run a few days ago in this same fashion. Hers didn't freeze immediately, but took a dive when she tried to change music tracks during a workout.

I don't know what's going on with these things, but if it wasn't so absolutely cool when it works, I'd have taken it back yesterday. We'll get it worked out soon. We've got a 5K Fun Run coming up Saturday, and we've committed to running our 3.8 mile course this evening. If I feel like it, I'll report as to the success or failure of the iPod/Nike+ Sport Kit usage tonight.

...and I'm spent.

I just finished my first two classes of an online undergraduate program. I also just realized I forgot to cite my references on that last post to the discussion board, but I quit giving a shit about five minutes ago and will not worry. I have a week off until "Introduction to Computer System Security" and "Systems Administration" begin. What ever will I do with my time? I could:

• Sell some computers
• Who wants a laptop for $549?
• Or a desktop for $499?
  
• Write a new program (I've got some ideas)
• A program that shuts your computer down if you miss a payment on it
• Some other thing a relative came up with
  
• Stay out of Atlanta for a change
• I've been here at least once a week for about six weeks now
• It's 200 miles from home
• Read my new books and create a cool Web application
• nah, I'm trying to get away from caffeine
• Rest these poor fingers of mine
• what - like I'm doing now?
• Paint my shed
• Hang out with the Fam
• Maybe, just maybe, go to my office.
• Keep running (notice the new tracker in the sidebar?)
  

And I'm spent. That should take the eight days I have until the next session starts.

These classes are (so far) scenario-based and are not very hands-on in a technical sense. Maybe that's why I can't get a better job: I don't like the analog work so much. I like to have my hands dirty and lunch on my tie. I like screaming at users for clogging the network with MSN Radio. I like hanging out in a server room and making the systems work. Because then I don't have to. My job is done until the next virus/attack/upgrade/management failure. A manager's job is never done. Way too involved and emotional. That command line always is non-biased and factual; a manager has ups and downs. Should I leave this topic?

I've finally started...

I have been meaning to get around to building an Ajax application so I can say I did, and I finally sat down to do it last night. In fact, I'm just now getting ready to go to bed.

However, I never actually reached the Ajax level, but I tried. I did actually get something working - a tool I've wanted to say I built for a long time. Too bad the logic isn't mine.

If you need an MD5 or SHA1 hash of a string under 50 characters, try my night's work.