The Chao of Dragons

Here it is, 2012, and I still haven't finished my entries on the European trip. So it's time to get off my lazy butt, and get these done.

It really wasn't interesting contrast as we drove down to where we were staying. We left the mountains of Switzerland, drove across a huge flatland, and ended up in a hilly, coastal mountain area. We were staying on the property of an old manor, in an apartment that used to be part of the carriage house. It was very roomy, with very high ceilings.

Over the next several days, we visited a number of towns and cities that are quite famous. We went around the entire wall of the old city of Lucca. It is hard to imagine it as a wall now though, the outside has all been filled in and it looks much more like a levee now. We also wandered around the old town a little bit. (I slathered on suntan oil, and my legs got a decent tan. After Lucca, I didn't bother with suntan oil anymore. The base tan was all I needed.)

We went to Florence, where we were able to buy a few souvenirs and gifts. Sadly, much of the old statuary was inside. The lineups were horrendous, so we only saw the copies that were still outside. I think it was here that we saw an interesting aspect of old Italy. Several centuries in the past, some of the important buildings were re-faced with marble. On itself, this doesn't seem too exciting. The weird thing is when you take a closer look; the marble was stolen from old Roman ruins. Some of the plates for the refacing still contained the old Roman inscriptions from the original buildings. I guess it was too difficult to ensure that the inscriptions were on the backside of the plates.

We also saw Piza. This was really strange as there were clouds scudding across the sky. Yes, the tower still has a lean. Yes, you can see where the lean was adjusted halfway through the construction. The strange thing is watching the clouds scudding across the sky. They made it continually look like the tower was about to fall over. I'm glad I was in a wheelchair, as I'm sure if I had been standing I would've fallen over. My balance is bad enough now, but this completely upset it. The place was also mobbed. It was hard to take a photograph, as people were constantly walking in front of you. The grass was also littered with idiots sun tanning. Not that there's anything wrong with taking a break and tanning, but a lot of these people looked like they had been lying there for quite some time. Why go there if you are just going to suntan for several hours?

And of course, we went to Vinci. We got there in time to quickly to tour Leonardo's museum. (We were late getting there, as our GPS let us down. It seemed very confused as to how to get to the town.)

We also spent some time driving the hills behind the manor. That was quite interesting, and we got some beautiful views.

As I think I've mentioned before, driving in Italy is quite surreal. There can be five lanes of traffic on a two lane road. Signs tend to lead you to within 15 km of your goal, and then disappear. (This means actually getting to where you are trying to go is almost impossible.) There is a lot of backtracking involved. The drivers are also crazy. Most cars have some sort of dent or damage on them. We found out that everyone has a good safe driving record, because nobody claims anything. They would rather drive a wreck than have their insurance go up.

One thing I loved: we went to a pizzeria that made authentic, Italian pizza using gluten-free crusts. The pizza was, in a word, awesome! I desperately wanted to go back a second time, but that would've meant that Jim and Brett could not drink during supper. And that wouldn't have been fair.

Rainer

Last year, I decided to upgrade my computer to Solaris 11 Express. Unfortunately, I updated one of my partitions to the newest version of ZFS. This was a mistake.
Solaris 11 Express did not support the Sun Ray. For almost a year now, Ele has had to boot up her computer just to check her e-mail. After an interminable wait, Oracle finally announced an update to Solaris 10, as well as Solaris 11 Early Adopter. So, I tried them. First was Solaris 10; after 10 months, the update to Solaris 10 did not even include the version of ZFS in Solaris 11 Express. That made Solaris 10 a nonstarter.
So, onto Solaris 11 Early Adopter. I really don't know how Oracle could have released this as an operating system. It is so bad that, if I was still working, I would refuse to install it even in our test lab.
First off, I've installed it four times on my server. Each time, the network has behaved a little differently. This aside, the network is the first biggest problem with Solaris 11. NWAM cannot be turned off. This is Solaris' "network auto magic" functionality. It is basically DHCP. The SMF service that is supposed to turn it off, doesn't. The network tools meant to give you a static IP address don't do anything. ipadm and dladm do nothing but spit out error messages. The only thing they did tell me was that Solaris 11 does not know how to assign networks. The pseudo-driver net0 points to the real driver e1000g1 and net1 points to e1000g0. Not that this matters, with the inability of the tools to operate on either the pseudo-driver or the real driver.
Next comes DNS. The XML file for SMF for setting up your system as a DNS server does not exist. Neither does the file for the DNS client. Since you can tell the system to be a DNS client (and it works, at least through sysconfig--the new name for sys-unconfig), this means that Oracle has already broken the SMF model. Based upon a previous discussion online about SMF, involving a question that was never answered, DNS does not appear to be the only thing broken here. SMF appears to keep some of its data in a database somewhere, a database that you cannot back up because nobody is saying where it is. Perhaps I am being a bit harsh here, but the lack of response to that thread, combined with Oracle's silence around everything else, leaves me very disheartened.
I have also been unable to compile software on Solaris 11 Early Adopter. It seems that the C preprocessor is unable to compile executables. This means that I can't build MediiaTomb on the system, which has been the server's main role since last year.
There are also other tools missing. I won't get into listing them all, but combined with the first three they leave a very bad taste in my mouth.
I have spent almost a week backing up my data, with several more days to go. When I am finished, I will install OpenIndiana. This is built on the last version of OpenSolaris, but it uses the Illumos kernel. This attempt to take all of the proprietary pieces in the Solaris kernel and replace them with open-source variants. OpenSolaris supported the Sun Ray software, but I know that OpenIndiana probably won't. I'm willing to live with that. Even being two years old, OpenSolaris was a much better operating system than Solaris 11 will probably ever be. I strongly suspect that Oracle will do the same thing with Solaris that it does with its unbreakable Linux. That is, take the updates provided by the open community, roll them into Solaris, and self the final product. Ellison will prove once again that he has no interest in giving back to the community. Him being a capitalist, this makes sense and is understandable. However, he should at least acknowledge that he's making his billions by riding on the backs of others.
I will keep a sharp eye out for what's happening at Joyent. Some of Sun's top engineers have left Oracle and joined Joyent. Their recent release of SmartOS shows that they will continue developing good product. Much of their work is being funneled into OpenIndiana, since it is all open source. And that's a good thing.
Rainer

Some of you may already know that back in August, I was implanted with the deep brain stimulator. On August 26, I was at the Vancouver General Hospital getting my brain drilled open. It was an interesting operation, as I had to be awake for the first half of the operation. It was quite interesting listening to my head being drilled, and listening to the two doctors discuss what they're finding.
The second half of the operation involved putting in the controller and the wire running down from my head. They put me under for that part.
On October 7, they turned to the stimulator on. The implant is on the left side of my hypothalamus, so it controls the tremors in my right side. The stimulator does a lot to control the large tremors, but it isn't able to do much for the small tremors. So, I am still finding out what it helps with and what it doesn't. Things involving fine motor control, like typing and working a mouse, still aren't very good. That said, it has done a lot to help me with my work in the shop and around the house. I am now even able to cut my own meet at supper. It isn't easy, but I'm doing it.
I guess this officially makes me a cyborg. Unfortunately, it does not help me pick up the mothership. :-) In November, they will fine tune it to little once everything gets settled down. I have a remote to turn it off when I'm sleeping, or not doing much. This helps conserve the battery as well as make sure the brain doesn't start working around the stimulator.
Rainer

Country the second: Switzerland

The second country we visited, though we really only drove through it, was Switzerland. We were driving through on our way to Italy from Germany.

We got into a major traffic jam, which we later found out was due to the Gotthard tunnel. After inching forward, sitting for a while, inching forward a little more, we got to the turnoff for the first pass. We decided anything was better than sitting in traffic all day, so we took the turnoff. As we climbed, we could see that the traffic jam went for miles. We then spent several hours crossing three of Switzerland's four passes. This resulted in a very long drive, which only got us 100 km further down the road. But it was a beautiful drive.

The weather was lovely, and we were able to see much of the Swiss countryside. Part way down one pass, we stopped at a restaurant and had lunch. The food was delicious, if a little expensive. One can't fault them: I hate to think what it costs to drive the supplies up every day. Jim had the stone soup. It turns out that this comes from an old story that teaches about neighbourly help.

Ele didn't get nearly enough pictures on this drive.

We finally got back down to the highway we had left earlier in the day, and continued on into Italy. We finally arrived where we are staying quite late in the evening. While we were all quite tired, I certainly think that the scenery was worth it. I hope the others agree.

Rainer

Greetings, everyone.

My apologies that I haven't continued telling you about our holiday, but it has been so hot here that we have had little motivation to do anything. That, combined with my operation, has meant we've gotten little of anything done. The weather has suddenly cooled off significantly, however, so we are now struggling to catch up.

On August 26, I got my deep brain stimulator put in. It was a very interesting operation in which I was awake for half of it. I needed to provide the doctor with feedback as he tested the deep brain stimulator, sliding it into my brain. This was interesting, as I could hear the comments that he and an observer were making to each other. Apparently, the lesions from my MS actually do look white. They are readily visible against the gray of my brain matter. There were many other interesting comments; apparently, I have a beautiful skull. Once this was done, they put me under for the next step. They then made get cut high on my left chest, and put in the controller. They then fished the wire up my neck and across my skull underneath the scalp. I don't even know how long the whole operation took.

On October 7, I have an appointment to turn everything on and do the initial adjustments. I'm really looking forward to it. From the testing when they put the stimulator in, I have a feeling it will help a great deal. Perhaps they will eventually put in one to control my left side tremors as well.

Now that my skin has been healing up quite well for a while, I can restart the exercises that my physiotherapist gave me. I was worried at first, because some of them involve stretching and opening up the chest. That would not have gone well with my chest having been sliced open for the controller. I have been working on my balance, however. I have been out almost every day to whipper-snipper the weeds in the field behind our house. This is the common area septic field. The unevenness of the ground has been very good for my balance; I have to really work at keeping vertical. It has also been very good for my muscle strength in my legs. I'm probably better than I ever have been since I shattered my leg.

Thanks to Constantin for letting me know about the Solaris 11 Early Access program. I have been waiting since I installed Solaris 11 Express for an update to either Solaris 10 or Solaris 11. That was last December. Now, an update is (finally!) available. I am hoping to install it soon, and to find out whether the Sunray software will work. (It doesn't work at all under Solaris 11 Express.) I have been quite disappointed by Oracle's long delays on Solaris, but have not had a spare box to test whether SmartOS would support the Sunray software.

I am hoping to get another update or two to our travels in Europe this weekend, as Ele will be playing in a bridge tournament. That gives me time to update the blog, and e-mail a friend I finally heard from this past week.

Rainer

Country the first: Germany

As I indicated in our last e-mail, it was a bit of a whirlwind tour of southern Europe. We spent the first four days relaxing in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Our one bit of northern Europe.) With the way the flights turned out, we got into Frankfurt fairly early in the day. The area trains come right through the airport. That meant we were able to go down several levels, and hop right on a train for Wiesbaden. A short cab ride got us to our hotel.

In less than two hours after our arrival in Wiesbaden, we were sitting in a restaurant on the main square drinking schorles. (I hope I spelled that correctly.) Ele actually just drank straight wine. Schorle is basically just a wine spritzer. I wanted extra liquid after the dehydration of the flight. Since it was late in the day for us, not really being able to sleep on the flight, we didn't feel too guilty about drinking at two in the afternoon. When we decided to have a second one, I asked about the aperol on the menu. It turns out that this is a very low alcohol content orange flavoring for drinks. My second spritzer was with aperol. This gives it an interesting, slightly bitter, taste. This was very refreshing in the 30° heat.

This felt all too civilized. :-)

One of the funny things that happened to us was that most of the restaurants were Italian. Ele never really got her German fare. Once we had lunch just as the restaurant was opening. It was quite funny watching the waiter scurry around like Manuel from Fawlty Towers. I have to say though, we did eat well.

We did spend one day doing the funicular railway. This took you up a hill, where you could wander around and see the sights. There was a great view of the rest of the city from up there. We saw the monument for the city's fallen dead during World War I. You can also wander down the back side of the hill to a Russian Orthodox Church. While it isn't big in square area, it is the standard full height. It seems that, way back when, the prince of the area (or whatever he was) married a woman from the Russian royal family. If I remember correctly, she died in childbirth. She needed to be buried in a proper Russian Orthodox Church. So they built one. A very beautiful one, with all the iconography standard in a Russian Orthodox Church. It felt a little surreal, as there was probably only enough room for 10 worshipers. Yet, as I said, the full height. While we were there, there was actually one person praying. v We also got to see a little bit of the Kurhauss. Unfortunately, as it started raining and we were already running a little late, we didn't get to wander the Kur Park. Next time.

We spent one day doing the Rhine Gorge. We caught a bus down to the river, and hopped on a boat. Over the course of a couple of hours, we cruised up to Boppard. Despite it being quite chilly and windy on the river, we really enjoyed the cruise. It was amazing seeing all of the castles up on the river banks. In some spots, they were almost on top of each other. It was hilarious watching all the Japanese get on in one town, cruise past the Lorelei, and then get off in the next town. For some reason, the Japanese just love the Lorelei. The entrances to the railway tunnels were even done up in a medieval style, each one different.

After getting off in Boppard, we wandered the town a little bit. After lunch, we hopped a train back to Wiesbaden.

We also spent a day visiting my cousin Richard and his wife Elke. One of their daughters, Nora, sorted out the train schedules for us and then met us halfway. We had a good visit with Nora on the train, and then with all three of them at their house.

Ele and I quite enjoyed the German train system. Not only were they all well-maintained, but each stop was announced ahead of time (as well as being shown on a lit sign.), and it was announced on which side of the train the exits would be. So no matter which town you came to, you knew where to be to start disembarking. There was no guesswork as to which side the platform was on. Some of the country that we saw was very pretty. It seems that some of the regional rail systems are run by local railway societies. This is quite cool, and relatively unknown in North America. I do not know if other areas in Europe have this.

Not long after lunch of our last day in Wiesbaden, the Cowans picked us up and we did our sprint to Italy.

Rainer

Wow, where did the time go? This year is just racing past.


It is nice to see that March is finally here, though. And no, that isn't a typo. Victoria has had the worst spring in 70 years. Cold, wet, rainy, and cloudy. It really has sucked.


We've been busy, though. The shop has a new floor that will make it easier to move things around. Paul helped to revamp my dust collection system. I've been doing a bunch of planing, both for the china cabinet and for some tool cabinets. Any nice day has seen us out in the garden. We finally have most of the irrigation system done, which will be good for when we go on holidays. And, our neighbors' friend did a bunch of trimming on the fir trees behind the house. That has really opened up the patio.


The trimming of the fir trees was a full day's work, though. Putting the branches into our neighbor's truck was a hard job. Ele and I were both dead by the end of it.


I have good news on the health front. It looks like I will be getting the deep brain stimulator to control the tremors on my right side. I finally had the meeting with the surgeon, and was approved on the spot. Ele and I were shocked. The surgeon was a little surprised as well, as he doesn't often recommend MS patients. It turns out that my ataxia, which the operation doesn't help, is minor enough that the operation will help my tremors significantly. So we should see a very big approved soon. I have an appointment at the end of June, and then we will schedule the operation for when I come back after our holidays in Europe. This is all coming just in time. My left hand tremors continue to get worse, and controlling the mouse on the computer is extremely difficult now. The operation will only help one side, but we are targeting my dominant right side.


In a little over a month, Ele and I will be in Europe. We are really looking forward to this holiday. I've never actually been to the continent. Ele's brother-in-law Jim has worked hard to plan this all for us. It sounds a little like he has become a self-appointed tour guide. I just hope he hasn't worked too hard at it. I'm sure Ele and I will enjoy whatever happens. I think I could be happy just sitting inside and drinking wine all day.


Rainer

Greetings.

So, Ian pointed me to a badly-maintained list of audiophile manufacturers, and suggested I could do better. So I took the list, cleaned it up (and added a couple missing items), and posted it:

http://www.dragonhearth.com/content/audiophile-links

I have a fair bit to do yet, like re-enter the alphabet links, hunt for other missing brands, etc. I'm also strongly tempted to remove the furniture/stand links. I mixed the cable makers into the main list--some of them (not many) also make other gear. And I like the idea of one alphabetical list.

Please let me know what you think.

Rainer

wow, I can't believe it's been that long since I blogged here. Those of you that don't get my mass e-mails must be wondering if I'm still alive.I am, but my last few updates have been by e-mail. My apologies for that.
While it has been a long, wet, and cold winter, spring is finally here. The weather is still fairly unsettled, but it looks to be getting nicer each day.
When you go into town, all of the plum and cherry trees are in full bloom. Our plum here is just starting. Ele and I went for a walk along Cuthbert – Holmes trail today, and the Indian plum and bitter cherry are in full bloom.the bitter cherry is a tree, and the crowns of all of them are pure white. They actually look a little magical. Unfortunately, the daffodils don't look like they're doing much of anything. We think it was just way too wet a spring for them.
Meanwhile, after several delays, the china cabinet is slowly coming together. We are waiting for the wood for the shelves of the base unit to try. Then we will glue and cut those up, and install them. Then we can worry about the top piece of oak, and the doors.
Since the weather is still unsettled, we will work on this during wet days. The dry days will be spent outside finishing up the irrigation. The latter has to get done before we leave for Europe in July.
My best friend Gary was just here for a day and a half. He managed a quick tour of the island before he leaves for Nepal. He has spent the last three months getting fit for a hike up to the Everest base camp. As usual, he's doing the hardest adventure first.compared to this, his next trips will be a breeze.
So, there is a quick update on where we are at. I will try to make the next update a little more timely. Who knows, maybe I'll have an update next time about how far Gary has managed to hike.
Rainer

What a sucky two weeks!

First, Ele brings home a bug. Nothing big for her--she's better in two days--but it lays me out. It doesn't seem too bad, just a weight in my lungs, but my head is full of wool, I'm dizzy, and I sleep for some 16+ hours a day. :-(

That all starts on the 22nd. On the 26th, I wake up to find the server running, but completely unresponsive. First of several hard power-downs. Over two days, I find several seeming problems, and order two new hard drives.

I'm not entirely convinced the drives have failed. They sound and feel fine spinning up. But the system isn't happy with them. It's also very unhappy with the two drives in the external USB enclosures. Any activity there freezes the system after several minutes. (More Big Red Switch activity.)

So, are the two drives actually dead? I don't know. I don't really have anything to test them in. What about the USB ports or enclosures? Again, I don't have a spare test system. Maybe I can use the Ubuntu laptop a friend gave me for that...

So I spent several days shuffling drives and attaching/detaching drives from ZFS pools and letting the mirrors re-silver. I was able, through cascading bigger drives down, to eliminate the smallest mirror (where the first drive seemed to fail anyway) and still gain HDD space. The elimination of the one zpool means no more USB drives hanging off the server as well.

The system has been running fine for about two days now. The hard shutdowns did break some software, but it doesn't seem to affect anything but itself. (My root mirror is still UFS.) My server is older than I thought, though. The USB ports are still 1.2. I seriously need to look at upgrading the hardware.

As for the OS, that needs updating as well. But, I can't do that until Solaris 11 comes out. The Solaris 11 Express license has a specific clause saying not only that it is only for development and testing, but also that it is strictly a single-user license. No good for someone supporting two people on Sun Rays. sigh

I really don't like Ellison. We OpenSolaris people have really been tossed out in the cold by him. Oracle continues to bleed Sun people as well, making me think that many "inside the wall" aren't happy with the new directions either. And it isn't just (Open)Solaris. Java. Open Office. Ellison is throwing his weight around like a big bad-tempered gorilla.

I'm really hoping the Illumos project will save the day, at least for us OS folks.

But for now, my server is running again. Time to look at making a few core services more redundant.

Rainer