I spent some time reviewing all of my blog posts that contained the keyword "networking". I think you'll find the results useful. =) Check out the Constant Connector page for a preview of what just might become a topic-focused blog!

On Technorati: networking

Random Emacs symbol: tramp-find-ls-command - Function: Finds an `ls' command which groks the `-n' option, returning nil if failed.

Started 2:20 PM
Ended 3:00 PM
Attendance: Dave Kemp, Sacha Chua

• Talked about tentative plans for lit review. Sacha will probably choose one of the articles from AN map reference, Dave Kemp will do The Wealth of Networks (book) or maybe change his mind. E-mail each other about concepts.
• Intervention: Press kit about the Experimental Exhibition Laboratory (EEL). Open Source, Open Access grant will fund development of the online version of the gallery under Creative Commons license (Electric EEL). If showing work, then should be released under CC. Exposing people to the ideas that they might not aware of. Gaining attention for? Project launch November or so. We can write the press kit that can be used when the gallery is formally opened in March or so. Press kit for: Eye and Now magazine.
• Integrative summary: We will provide point form summaries, and maybe one person can take the lead in preparing the summary. Wiki: post an outline or bullet points, try to merge as much as possible. Post a summary. Then post full drafts. Individual structure: 1-2 page summary. Set up wiki. Final paper due week 9, outline up by week 7 (Oct 24). Oct 26 meeting, we'll try running through five-minute presentations of key ideas, come up with introduction and conclusion. Week 8, seriously start working on the integrative summary.

SACHA: Set up wiki, e-mail everyone by tonight, post minutes

Random Emacs symbol: pcomplete-match-end - Function: Return position of end of text matched by last search.

(defvar sacha/planner-collector-buffer nil "Buffer for collecting links.")
(defun sacha/planner-collect-reference ()
  (interactive)
  (let ((text (sacha/yank-blog-reference-for-summary)))
    (with-current-buffer sacha/planner-collector-buffer
      (insert text))))

(defun sacha/planner-collect-reference ()
  (interactive)
  (let ((text (buffer-substring (line-beginning-position)
                                (1+ (line-end-position)))))
    (with-current-buffer sacha/planner-collector-buffer
      (insert text))))

On Technorati: emacs, pimpmyemacs

Random Emacs symbol: sgml-tag - Command: Prompt for a tag and insert it, optionally with attributes.

There's something about deep, deep cultural programming. Anything spoken with a British accent just sounds infinitely cool. Everyone uses the default voice for Asterisk and all of that - an American male.

You want to install festvox-rablpc16k or festvox-rablpc8k in addition to all the usual things you need for emacspeak. You'll also need espeakf from CVS.

cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@espeakf.cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/espeakf login
cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@espeakf.cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/espeakf co -P espeakf
cd espeakf
sudo make install

One of these lines is responsible for setting up espeakf. I just can't be bothered with figuring out which. ;) Probably the dtk-program line.

(setq dtk-program "/usr/share/emacs/site-lisp/emacspeak/servers/espeakf.pl")
(setenv "DTK_TCL" dtk-program)
(setenv "DTK_PROGRAM" dtk-program)

Then add this to your /etc/festival.scm:

(set! voice_default 'voice_rab_diphone)

Yummy British accent goodness.

On Technorati: emacs, emacspeak, pimpmyemacs

Random Emacs symbol: mail-extr-disable-voodoo - Variable: *If it is a regexp, names matching it will never be modified.

I love looking back at the day and knowing that I finished everything I set out to do. I can get rid of so much stress simply by keeping my horizon in mind, choosing the one or two things that could make the most difference in my life right now, and doing those things.

Today, I got my MIE assignment out of the way. It won't be due for another 6 days, but it's one of the things with high importance and a hard deadline. The sooner I finished it, the sooner I could concentrate on other requirements that might have softer deadlines.

If my task list looks scarily detailed, just wait until you see my time log. ;) I find it handy to account for as much of my time as possible while still blocking in treats to reward myself with and time to relax. Today, I rewarded myself by organizing a small get-together for tomorrow night. I'll need something to look forward to! First snow today, and lots of work to be done at IBM tomorrow...

... but today was good, and it's nice having the feeling that things are more or less under control.

I'm still probably going to do more than one headless-chicken impressions over the next few weeks. I've taken on quite a set of challenges. I have no idea if I can really pull all of it off, or how gracefully I can drop things if nevessary. But just as I force myself to speak before I'm 100% ready, I'm going to step up and do things even though I'm not sure how it will all work out. I'm going to jump, and grow my wings on the way down!

One day at a time becomes one week at a time becomes one year at a time becomes one life at a time. =) Things are going well.

Random Emacs symbol: gnus-article-strip-all-blank-lines - Command: Strip all blank lines.