So, I've been piggy-backing off my cousin's server for free for the last 6 years, the only payment I've made was the domain name this year when he forgot to pay it. BUT he sold all of his business (including the server which windedhero.com is hosted from) to another ISP. The server previously remained unscathed by the ISP, simply ignoring the fact that it was connected to the T1 that he sold them.
Now, my site's been suspended. I have the server password so I logged back in and un-suspended my site so I could back up all my work in case they wised up.
And here's the lesson I've learned.
NO MORE FLAT FILE DB. I have 4603 files, 3967 are from the journal and its users. I couldn't just download a single file database. I don't believe in SQL or external databases. Each post, friend request, friend and allowed friend is a text file. I think in the future I might either simply develop a simple backup device that puts all those files in a convenient zip for me to download (although that would require quite a lengthy upload should the need arise to restore it... unless I could do a zip decompress also), or some way to just store and read each user's profile as a zip (although that might prove to be adverse for the conditions as well, depending on the amount of users.)
Still, I don't consider SQL of any kind as an option. That's just one more cog that could break in a giant machine of interconnected cogs.
Tell your parents you love them; some of us are less fortunate when it comes to functional, involved parents. Tell your siblings you love them. As Baz Luhrmann said, "they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future".
I was reading online about why he might be pissing on the dirty laundry (whether it's him or Ace, I'm still not sure), and I started reading about separation anxiety in cats, and he fits that description hardcore.
* Excessive vocalization (crying, moaning, meowing)
* Not eating or drinking while owner is away
* Eliminating (often urinations) in inappropriate places
* Vomiting, food or hair often are contained in the vomit. * Excessive self-grooming * Destructive behavior
* Exuberant greetings when the owner returns home
He does all of those things (save for the ones I crossed out).
The steps I can take:
* Provide perches so the cat can look outside.
--He perches on the couch. Every morning I get home he jumps down from the couch and starts meowing at me to go to his food so I can watch him eat it -_-
* Toys, toys and toys
--Uh.. he's 12. The only thing he plays with is the floor, when I rub catnip all over it.
* Let your cat "hunt" for food by placing food in a toy that will make the cat work to get the food out.
--Perhaps.
* Hide food throughout the house so the cat has to find it.
--WTF? He's 12 years old. I doubt he's going to go on a scavenger hunt for some food. More likely than not, I'll just have stale cat food all over the hose.
* Leave the radio or TV on, tuned to your usual station.
--I recently installed a wall outlet timer so dad's TV wouldn't be on 24/7... Don't think I'll be doing this.
* Call home and leave a message for the cat.
--Uhh... no.
* Provide a refuge
--Sounds like some work
* Spend at least 10 minutes daily playing with your cat.
--I spend at least an hour every morning with him on my lap.
It turns out Simba wasn't the one missing the box and aiming for the floor. It was our senile old bat, Ace.
::
2007 3 December :: 11.33 am
:: Music: CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- Original Soundtrack - The Burdened One
Yesterday I (finally) received my import copy of the CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- Original Soundtrack. I got to work and started thinking wayyy back.
Who introduced me to this final fantasy addiction?
Thanks, Jay. You might not remember it, but the first time I went over to your house.. You showed me 2 games. The first one was a game called Seaman. That was some extremely odd game-play there. And then, you showed me a summon on one of the final fantasy games. I think it was FF8. I remember it was a battle on a curved road around a mountain.
I'd also like to thank Bobby Hamel. Wherever he is. He let me borrow FF9 my freshman year. That's what really got me hooked there.
Today was an emo day.
I locked the key in the car at lunch, because Liz brought me taco bell and I sat out in the car and ate it, leaving the keys in the ignition when their sole purpose was to warm me. Good habit or bad, I locked the doors on the way back into work, and didn't really bother to think about it until my second break when I considered going out there again for my notebook. We had no duplicate keys, dad said, so I called the tow service and paid $50 for my freedom. Immediately after arriving in Cedar, I made 2 spares. Let's hope that doesn't happen again.
At work, I started thinking about what a waste my dad's life has become.
He has no life. He works. He sleeps. He works.
He doesn't take care of the house or anything in it. He doesn't take care of anything.
It's been this way since my sister died. So I thought about that.
After I got home, I decided to take a trip to Meijer. I grabbed Taking Back Sunday's "Notes From The Past" CD and the special edition "Tell All Your Friends" CD/DVD. I was feeling pretty okay. I got myself a Peppermint Mocha while I was there.
Then, set out to home.
I decided I'd bring her flowers. Today was the first time I'd done that of my own free will.
The two other times, dad bought the flowers and forced me along.
I didn't want to go with him because I knew he'd stopped living his life and that he just couldn't move on. He'd cry while he was driving frequently, because he kept a picture of her next to the speedometer.
I got these yellow sunflower-ish things. I think she'd like them.
On the way into the store in Cedar, the salvation army bell was clamoring. I walked past, found some flowers I liked, bought them. Walked towards the entrance, grabbed any change I had in my back pockets, and dropped it in.
"Flowers for a special someone?" she inquired.
"Not quite. Have a good one."
Then I headed towards the cemetary, found the plot. The stone has my dad's name underneath hers. I'm not entirely sure where he planned on burying me. At this point, and many other previous points throughout the past few months, I realize he never really cared that I was his son.
Anyway, next to that grave site was my grandpa's.
I thought I had met him when I was little, but apparently not. He died 5 years before I was born.
I went back to the car, unpackaged the flowers, put them in the glass vase, and had a decent cry.
On the way home, I saw an old man in an electric wheel chair. He had a tarp underneath him, probably so he didn't ruin the chair if he had a spill.
I watched as his chair spun around on the sidewalk, and noticed his tarp was caught beneath his wheel. I was going to stop right then, something stopped me.
I drove for another 1/2 mile before I decided to turn around. If he was still having trouble, I'd offer my help.
I drove through town again, he'd gotten much farther than where I had initially seen him. He got across the street and did another loop-de-loop. I pulled over to a side street, shut off my car, and walked over to him.
"Can I help you?"
Silence.
"Sir. Can I help you?"
"No, I think it's okay now."
He tried moving with it again, and did another lap about himself.
"Are you sure I can't help you? It's caught beneath the wheel."
He got out of his device, bracing himself with its stability.
I lifted it up; it was plainly wrapped around the wheel.
I had him move the chair in reverse so I could untangle it, and then I re-adjusted it so that when he sat down it wouldn't happen again.
He said thanks a couple times.
After I got home I absorbed "Your Own Disaster '04" and some other select favorites and flipped on the PS3 to maybe save some lives with Folding@Home.
Today made me feel like a better person.
Have you ever felt this sense of intense joy at all that is, was, should and can be? And at the same time, this profound sense of sadness about all that isn't?
That's how I felt today.
If you actually spent a piece of your life reading this, thank you. I think you just got to know my insides a little better.
Biographical summary of the Michigan Legislature: "Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous".
I'm probably going to buy a PS3 this week. Why?
-I can play all my old games on one system, still.
-Not really an Xbox/Halo fan. Unreal tournament 3 FTW.
-No subscription fees to play online with friends.
-Free downloads, demos and content, and some pay content. Buy what you want, or don't spend anything. No subscription fees.
-5 free blu-ray dvds... that's $150 right there.
-60GB version of the PS3 has been marked down
-60GB model uses hardware emulation for older games, versus software emulation (40GB and 80GB version use software emulation: compatibility issues)
-60GB model has all the same features of the 80GB (Upgradeable 2.5" HDD, 4 USB 2.0 Ports, 802.11b/g WiFi, Flash Card Readers, Chrome trim, Super-Audio CD playback) save for the hardware difference stated in the previous point.
-I can put ubuntu linux on it.
-Classic titles are downloadable.
-Upscaling of older titles! This means better looking older games.
-Liz's 10% discount + coupon for 20% off any 1 item at Kmart brings the cost from $499.99 to $349.99.
Dr Pepper is the name of a poker variant, whereby in addition to jokers, the cards 10, 2, and 4 are wild cards (taken from a previous advertising slogan which encouraged customers to drink a Dr Pepper at 10, 2, and 4 o'clock).
OH SHIT I HIJACKED YOUR JOURNAL!
There, it's all better now ;)
::
2007 24 October :: 6.33 am
:: Music: Bright Eyes
I got home early. We had to come in at 8pm because they're doing inventory at the store. Read more..
Have you ever felt like you're the only one? They call it solipsism.
It feels like everyone around me is watching. Waiting. Watching me be.
Monday night I saw a child. She was just sitting there, in the shopping cart, and her grandmother(?) was shopping. It was like she wasn't even shopping. She was only there to show me the child. The child, she kept staring at me. Watching me with more interest than even my greatest friend. I smiled. Went back to work, pricing the baby formula. I looked up once again. Still, the child staring. The cart hadn't moved. Perhaps I was too focused on the child to really see what the woman was doing. This stare the child had, it wasn't of happiness. More, of intense interest and a sense of contentment. My smile piqued an interest with the little girl. She smirked a little, so I waved. And then, the woman began to pass me, around the corner. Still, the little girl stared.
The stars seem so close. I can't help but look at them lately. I can't help it so much that it might become a distraction severe enough to cause a car accident.
Ever hug someone? Know what it feels like when you don't know what to do next? Know what it feels like when you haven't seen them in so long you just want to hug them again? Maybe this time not let go?
To some others, and now to myself, faith is comfort in death. To choose that over comfort in life is a decision. Why can't we have both?
With or without religion you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion.
My limited edition 10th Anniversary FFVII PSP box set (with FFVII: Crisis Core and FFVII Ultimania) is in Chicago today, on its way from Japan.
:)
Still waiting on the limited edition FFVII 10th Anniversary Potion though. And I got that like 4 days before the psp.
I tried calming dad down, he woke me up swearing and cussing. He was bidding for a car online and there was one minute and the satellite wasn't working too swell.
Dad just threw a case of his medical supplies at the ceiling fan because he lost a bid on the internet. Then he threw something at the wall, after he tore a blade off the fan and totally destroyed it.
Then he ran out of the house and sped out and called me on the cell phone and said that the satellite needed to be out of the house in like a week or something, and I had already told that if they took it out I would have to pay for half of what I signed up for... so..
and he said he wasn't going to pay for something that doesn't work.
