ASCIIDOCTOR
I often need to write technical documentation to describe the function of a script that I wrote (usually something in perl or powershell) or for a tool that we’re using. Over the years, I’ve written that in plain html on a Google Site, Word documents, Google Docs, and once in a while, Markdown. Recently, through a mention on HackerNews, I came across a new tool, for me, that makes whipping up technical documentation a lot easier.
ZAMBIA – HOPE 4
Adam Ovinge goes to work with a chiselHard at work on the Mwase Primary School It’s been a long time since I last went on a short term missions trip — something like 16 years, actually. Part of the reason for that I told myself was that they were an inefficient use of limited resources. But when Jerry (my second cousin) asked me if I’d join them on an EduDeo work trip, I thought that maybe after such a long hiatus, I should go. It was the right decision.
SWEET, SWEET FIDDLE
Edmonton Folk Fest Main Stage at SunsetEdmonton Folk Fest at Sunset I don’t know where or when exactly I developed a soft spot for the fiddle or the banjo, but wherever the origin, the inclination remains strong. The Edmonton Folk Fest this year featured plenty of both, and I couldn’t be more pleased about it. Hearing Jerry Douglas play the dobro with Earls of Leicester was terrific, and that was just one of many, many sessions that I caught this last weekend. Most of them are fairly varied — there’s bluegrass, the blues, indie rock, and quite a few others. Getting a change in pace usually just involves moving to another stage or waiting until the end of the set.
SUMMER HEAT
NASA Global Heat Map for 2014 The summer is fully upon us now, and other than the odd cool day, it’s been a hot one so far. It’s hard to be able to tell anecdotally, but it seems like every year that I have lived here, it’s gotten hotter. And I have been and remain concerned, because the data from non-anecdotal sources is clear and unambiguous. The globe is getting much warmer. Personally, I work indoors for the most part, and should I feel the need, I can afford air conditioning — but there’s obviously far more to this than that. I am torn between despair and cynicism for the future of our world.
GETTING BACK TO IT
New Tech The site is now built on Hugo, a static web site generator built in Go, which has taken me quite a bit of hassle to get setup up and content switched over, but is now working more or less, though I’ll be working on this a bit more to tune it into shape. It’s a big change from the previous Movable Type setup, but quite necessary, now that Movable Type has decided to go bankrupt. Just kidding, but clearly they are no longer interested in the little guy. Just the intro license is about $700 USD. So it was time to move on, and this looks like a great, very fast alternative. Hopefully this new version is a fair bit more responsive too, both in the sense of running very quickly and adapting to phones, tablets, etc.
PIZZA ON A STICK
Ah, of all of the things that come with summer, pizza on a stick has got to be somewhere near the top of the stack. In all seriousness, it’s been years since I have been at an event where there was actual carnival. It really hasn’t changed a bit in all these years. There is of course a proliferation of foods that veer towards either causing the immediate onset of a diabetic coma or a massive coronary collapse. I couldn’t mess out on that, so I bought an elephant ear and a pulled pork sandwich. Both were delicious. I avoided the games and the rides on this particular outing. Seeing them brought back adequate memories for me.
WINDOWS 8 AND JUNE
After trying the Windows 8 Release Preview for a few days, I have decidedly mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, the file copy dialogue and the task manager are much better than they were in previous releases. They include a lot more detail than previous versions did and are easier to use. The copy dialogue box will now show the speed of the transfer and allow pausing, which is a remarkable improvement. The system’s task manager now show nicely laid out system performance details, memory and network utilization details, and information on system services.
CAPE HENRY
I am unfortunately no longer there, but the above photo was taken from the very first commissioned public works project of the United States. To be specific, the photo is taken from the top of a lighthouse overlooking the Chesapeake Bay area on what was a gorgeous spring day. Interestingly enough, this is all now located on a military base (I thought it was a state park), and thus a little different to get to. Would be climbers be warned - climbing the lighthouse is not free. Still, for the view and the nature of the place, I thought it was worth it. I’d go back in a heartbeat. There’s nothing like being right on the ocean.
BUSTED
I probably should have learned my lesson after the first time, but some lessons must be taught a couple of times to truly sink in. The whole bracket came off yet again, breaking my second glass pitcher. I don’t know why on earth I thought it would be safe to store it there a second time, but I surely hope that I don’t forget again. It took me quite a while to sop up all the fluid and sweep up all the glass. I am really hoping that I didn't miss anything. In hopes of avoiding a repeat occurrence, I called up my Grandpa to solicit some advice on how to better secure the plastic, but I am currently leaning towards every man's silver bullet, duct tape.
WINTER DOLDRUMS
In all truth, this has been the mildest winter I remember this far north. It is frequently at or above freezing, and on the whole, it is quite dry. I am really ok with that, although it could prove disastrous for the pine in Alberta. Mountain pine beetle is a serious concern in this area, and mild winters are pretty hazardous for the forestry business. On the whole, I think we are in store for a great number of changes in the climate. The stuff around here is anecdotal, sure, but I am generally convinced that climate change is happening since the last ten years have been the warmest since NOAA started taking records in 1880 and that the Arctic is likely to be ice free in the summer in a few more years. Now, I am certainly not complaining about a mild winter, but I think it is likely to have severely negative consequences elsewhere on the globe. As usual, it will be the poor that suffer the brunt of the change. This must not be permitted to happen.