That’s what my Nokia said to me today. “Phone startup failed. Contact Retailer.” Swell. I tried several suggestions that I found on the Internet, mostly “reset the phone,” (which I could not do, since I couldn’t even boot it) and “press 3, #, and the green button while powering it on” (no effect) or “press 3, *, and the green button (SEND/ANSWER) while powering it on (also no effect). I also tried booting it with and without the SIM card (no change).
Finally, I removed not only the SIM card but also the memory card, and powered it back on normally. It gave me the brand new startup configuration screen, and the phone’s alive again. Reinserting the memory card makes the phone not start up, and removing it allows it to start normally. So… bad memory card? I guess so. I’ll try formatting it again and seeing if that helps. For now, I need to remove the memory card in order for my phone to start up. Annoying, but I can work around it.
200 Squats – I (over) Did It!
Two days ago, I pushed myself to complete the 200 squats program a week ahead of schedule. Essentially, on my week 5 exhaustion test, I did all 200.
Unfortunately, I think didn’t stick with the form after the first hundred or so, and my posture suffered. As a result, my back’s suffering too.
The moral of the story is “don’t take shortcuts.” Painful lesson learned.
Cell Hell
On Saturday night I lost my iPhone. Fortunately it was found (yay!). Unfortunately, it doesn’t work anymore. After months of terrible battery life, now it won’t power up at all, despite my best efforts and those of Apple tech support. To add insult to injury, my Nokia e71, which was working fine, now won’t start up either, and tells me to “Contact retailer.” Wonderful.
Fortunately Apple is sending an advance exchange replacement iPhone, thanks to my buying AppleCare.
In short, don’t try calling me on my cell any time in the next few days.
All I Want for Christmas
Note: this post is for the benefit of friends and family members who say they “have no idea what to get me.”
World peace. I’ll settle for a lot of aikido practice.
A car mount and charger for my iPhone 3Gs. My iPod recently vanished. I suspect the worst – that it fell out of my pocket during a recent snowstorm. Therefore, I need to use my iPhone as an iPod as well. That’s okay, except the battery life is terrible. Also, when I do try to use it as a GPS, it would be nice if I could have it dash-mounted.
Learning Python (Animal Guide)
Daemon
An espresso machine. A big one. The professional kind you see in coffee shops. A dual-header. I understand if this one has to be a combined Christmas and birthday gift because it would be silly for me to expect someone to spend $8000 or more on just one gift-giving event. That’s okay. I understand.
A Zircon Ultrasonic Measure with Laser Targeting
Gift certificates to thinkgeek.com or Amazon.com
Book Review: Christopher Moore's Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings.
I recently read Christopher Moore’s Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings
A Quick and Dirty "It's Back Up" Bash Script
Today, I had a client’s T1 line go down. Unfortunately, FairPoint Communications has had a mixed track record when it comes to telling us that they have (or more often, have not) fixed the issues.
So I wrote a simple bash script to ping the IP address of the router on the down T1 line, and email me when it came back up. Think of this as the ultra-poor man’s Nagios. Continue reading “A Quick and Dirty "It's Back Up" Bash Script”
Fixing Annoying Keyboard Repeating on an Asus eeePC 1000HA
Ever since I got my Asus eeePC 1000HA, it’s had one very annoying quality. The keyboard, under Windows and Linux, would repeat keystrokes, so if I typed “Peter” I would frequently get “Peeter” or “Petter” or something else with extra characters. Very annoying. Continue reading “Fixing Annoying Keyboard Repeating on an Asus eeePC 1000HA”
Book Review: SAMS Teach Yourself Regular Expressions in 10 Minutes
I bought this book, Sams Teach Yourself Regular Expressions in 10 Minutes
Hundred Pushups Redux, Now With Squats!
Yeah, I’m back on the hundred pushups challenge, again. I’m also doing the two hundred squats challenge on alternating days! I’m in the middle of week 4 (since I was easily able to bang out 50 squats on the first week) of each.
Now, to make it through three Thanksgiving dinners (ah, the joys of large family and being popular) without totally mucking up my progress on making physical self-improvements. I briefly was back up as high as 174# a week ago, but I’m dropping back into my comfort zone below 170#. With an “ideal weight” for a man my height and age ranging anywhere from 125-169#, depending on who you ask and what method you use, I’m toward the high end, but I am adding some muscle mass and I feel great, have lots of energy, and am told I look great, so, I’m cool here.
Heatbox and That 1 Guy Rock Higher Ground
Last night I saw That 1 Guy at Higher Ground in Burlington, VT. Regulars of my blog may recall I saw That 1 Guy last year in the same venue. As with last time, he provided a great amount of entertainment. His stage presence (along with the Magic Pipe) is great, and he interacts wonderfully with the audience, this time including antics such as passing out giant mustaches while directing laser beams out across the crowd (hence, the tour name “Mustaches and Laser Beams”).
However, I have to say I was even more impressed with his opening act, who goes by the handle “Heatbox.” Continue reading “Heatbox and That 1 Guy Rock Higher Ground”