http://www.barik.net Work hard. Laugh often. Keep your honor. Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:24:00 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en > Generally speaking, people provide better maintenance for their cars than for their own bodies. Scott Adams, The Dilbert Future http://www.barik.net/archive/2008/04/06/212353/ In addition to the [Virtual Computing Lab](http://vcl.ncsu.edu/), ECE distance students have access to a Linux and Solaris server farms. They can be accessed at the following locations: * ECE Solaris Server Farm at compute.ece.ncsu.edu. * ECE Linux Server Farm at grendel.ece.ncsu.edu. These resources are presented in the [Graduate Student Orientation](http://www.ece.ncsu.edu/academics/grad/orientation/). http://www.barik.net/archive/2008/03/23/151626/ The 2Wire 3800HGV-B Gateway web interface can be accessed through the following URLs: * Use [gateway.2wire.net](http://gateway.2wire.net) to access the basic setup for the router. * Use [gateway.2wire.net/mdc](http://gateway.2wire.net/mdc) to access the Management and Diagnostic Console (MDC). This is essentially the advanced configuration page. The 2Wire Gateway does not include support for the popular [DynDNS](http://www.dyndns.com) ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2008/03/13/172628/ AT&T technicians Tim and Leland came by the house today to install the newly unleashed [U-Verse](http://uverse.att.net) service, offering 10 Mbps downstream and 1.5 Mbps up. As advertised, it does exactly what it's supposed to, as demonstrated by these [Speakeasy Speed Test](http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/) (Atlanta, GA) results: While we did have a few issues ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2008/03/12/195104/ I turned 25 today and got an [Xbox 360](http://www.xbox.com), which I promptly modded through a software-only firmware hack so that it would play burned DVD+DL games. The firmware installation required nothing more than simple disassembly of the Xbox 360, and then connecting its DVD-ROM to a standard PC with a ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2008/03/04/201205/ > I rise to urge the Congress to think twice before thrusting this nation into a war without merit -- one fraught with the danger of escalating into something no American will be pleased with. 9/4/02. I voted for [Ron Paul](http://www.ronpaul2008.com). http://www.barik.net/archive/2008/02/05/190240/ The [NCSU](http://www.ncsu.edu) recommended approach to running remote X11 applications from a local Windows machine is through the use of [StarNet X-Win32](http://www.starnet.com/products/xwin32/), for which a student license is freely available from [EOS](http://download.eos.ncsu.edu/). The X-Win32 technique works well for most applications, but for low-bandwidth connections, VNC provides an alternative, lightweight connection option. ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2008/02/02/185448/ The course outline for Error-Control Coding is as follows: > An introduction to the theory and practice of codes for detecting and correcting errors in digital data communication and storage systems. Topics include linear block codes, cyclic codes, cyclic redundancy checksums, BCH and Reed-Solomon codes, convolutional codes, trellis-coded modulation, LDPC and ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2008/01/22/201526/ The course outline for Digital ASIC Design is as follows: > Modern digital design practices based on Hardware Description Languages (Verilog, VHDL) and CAD tools, particularly logic synthesis. Emphasis on design practice and the underlying algorithms. Introduction to deep submicron design issues, particularly interconnect and low power and to ASIC ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2008/01/22/201325/ I have dropped [ECE 515: Digital Communications](http://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu/onlinecourses/coursemarketing/spring08/ECE515.html), and replaced it with [ECE 767: Error-Control Coding](http://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu/onlinecourses/coursemarketing/spring08/ECE767.html), by using the [EOL Class Schedule Revision Form](http://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu/forms/Class_Sched_Revision.pdf). Thus, my schedule for the [Spring 2008](http://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu/onlinecourses/spring_2008.html) semester is finalized as follows: * [ECE 520: Digital ASIC Design](http://www.ece.ncsu.edu/asic/2008/index.htm) * [ECE 767: Error-Control Coding](http://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu/onlinecourses/coursehomepages/spring2008/ECE767.html) With two heavy Engineering courses, this will ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2008/01/18/204400/ Grades for CSC 510, Software Engineering, have finally been posted. They are as follows: * Midterm Exam, 90% * Homework 1, 100% * Homework 2, 100% * Homework 3, 100% * Final Project, ? * Final Exam, 89% **Final average**: ? (A) **Costs**: $2040 (tuition) + $140.32 (books) The final project grade was never posted, so ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/12/21/153400/ The second semester has concluded and the grades are slowly trickling in. Grades for ECE 570, Computer Networks, are as follows: * Midterm Exam, 86% * Quiz 1, 60% * Homework 1, 100% * Homework 2, 106% * Homework 3, 98% * Homework 4, 100% * Homework 5, 95% * Final Project, 98% * Final Exam, 66% **Final average**: 86.44% ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/12/16/163912/ [Cade Thacker](http://www.cade.org) is raising money for a [Ron Paul billboard in Atlanta](http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showpost.php?p=472333&postcount=129): > Over 250,000 people will see this per day. We have 3 different locations we are scouting on the Cobb I-75 parking lot between 575 and 285, but depending on how quickly we can raise the money will depend ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/11/28/180418/ I noticed that a lot of my older posts had a comment count of one, even though there were no comments associated with that post in the database. On closer inspection, I found that the comment\_count field in [WordPress](http://www.wordpress.org) for table wp\_posts actually had negative numbers for these very posts. ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/11/26/194754/ From the default [Mozy](http://www.mozy.com) backup sets, make the following changes: * For My Documents, add the AppData folder. Exclude the file desktop.ini so that it is not included in the backup set. * Under Photos and Images, unselect the Desktop for consideration in the backup set. http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/11/09/103518/ On a new installation of Windows, there's a lot of software that I need to reinstall. This entry is designed to save me some time. Items available for download over the Internet: * [SiI3114 32-bit Windows SATARAID5 Driver BETA](http://www.siliconimage.com/support/supportsearchresults.aspx?pid=28&cid=3&ctid=2&osid=10&), Silicon Image RAID driver for Windows Vista, needed during operating system installation. * [MozyHome](https://mozy.com/account/download), ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/11/09/094121/ From [LewRockwell](http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/016209.html): Americans are looking to turn on its head the English celebration of the foiled Gunpowder Plot on Guy Fawkes Night, as a goal to make the largest political donation event in history for one of the greatest anti-statist candidates in history. > People should not be afraid of their ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/11/05/200405/ The Northbridge chipset fan has stopped functioning on my Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe. On system startup, the BIOS presents the following message: *** Warning:Your Computer CHIP Fan Fail or speed too low*** You can also disable this warning message in SETUP While ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/11/03/103007/ The next homework assignment for [Computer Networks](http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/08/25/110907/) requires that we utilize the [OPNET Modeler](http://www.opnet.com/solutions/network_rd/modeler.html), a commercial discrete event simulation engine for networking. For NCSU students, the product can be accessed through the [Virtual Computing Lab](http://vcl.ncsu.edu/). http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/10/30/192444/ I delayed as long as possible, but I've now been forced to the install [WP Hashcash](http://wordpress-plugins.feifei.us/hashcash/) on my Weblog: > WP Hashcash is an antispam plugin that eradicates comment spam on Wordpress blogs. It works because your visitors must use Javascript to submit a proof-of-work that proves they opened your website ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/10/13/142240/ [NC State Engineering Online](http://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu/) has posted a list of courses for the upcoming [Spring 2008 semester](http://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu/onlinecourses/spring_2008.html). Registration for graduate students begins on Tuesday, October 16. This semester it looks as though they will be offering a variety of 700 level courses, including Computer-Aided Circuit Analysis, Digital Electronics, and Pattern Recognition. http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/10/10/123538/ Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul has managed to smash his $500,000 goal for the week three days early. Now he's trying for a million. The flash animation shows his incoming donations in real-time. At the time of this writing he has just over $700,000 in donations. Neat. http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/09/28/124634/ The third day of DragonCon continued with more of the same, with some new panels thrown into the mix on game design and programming. * [Tara McPherson](http://www.taramcpherson.com/) and [William Stout](http://www.williamstout.com/) competed head to head to win this year's "7th Annual Iron Art Competition," presented in a format similar to Iron Chef, but ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/09/02/154548/ It's hard to believe, but this is my fourth year in a row at [DragonCon](http://www.dragoncon.org/), once again joined by [Adam](http://www.acpstudios.net). This year I preregistered for the event and as a result did not have to ensure the long waiting time normally encountered when obtaining event passes. Unfortunately, the event was ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/09/01/124353/ The course outline for Software Engineering is as follows: > An introduction to software life cycle models; size estimation; cost and schedule estimation; project management; risk management; formal technical reviews; analysis, design, coding and testing methods; configuration management and change control; and software reliability estimation. Emphasis on large development projects. The ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/08/26/111322/ The course outline for Computer Networks is as follows: > Detailed description and related performance issues of OSI layers two and three for wide-area networks, well-known standards for local and wide area networks such as Ethernet and TCP/IP, and basic random access mechanisms for local area networks. 3 credit hours. The course ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/08/25/110907/ The second semester as an official distance learning student at [NC State](http://www.ncsu.edu/) has begun, and I've finally been reimbursed for my first semester by [my employer](http://www.archchemicals.com). Grades for the course were as follows: * Midterm Exam, 96% * Homework 1, 100% * Homework 2, 100% * Homework 3, 100% * Homework 4, 105% * Homework 5, ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/08/24/105708/ Robert McNamara served as U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968, during the Vietnam War. In his 1996 book, [In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0679767495/barik-20), McNamara outlined 11 lessons gleaned from this experience: 1. We misjudged then — and we have since — the geopolitical intentions of our ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/08/08/095207/ We drove three hours from Atlanta, GA to attend the [Ron Paul Lunch Program with the Spartanburg Republican Party](http://www.ronpaul2008.com/events/ron-paul-in-spartanburg) in South Carolina to listen to 10th-term Republican Congressman Ron Paul spread his message of freedom. I'm not one to normally become involved in politics, but Dr. Paul earned my respect ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/07/21/203552/ I have been unable to get [MindManager Pro 7](http://www.mindjet.com/) to work under Windows Vista. The installation completes successfully, but every time I attempt to start the MindManager program, I receive the following message: > Please wait while Windows configures Mindjet Manager Pro 7. after which I get yet another puzzling dialog box: > ... http://www.barik.net/archive/2007/06/29/162541/