Author archives: Mike
Another couple of hours down its gullet (nVidia still gives a blank black screen on startx)
Written by
on
in
Tuxedo.
Have now patched the nvidia-kernel drivers with two different x86-64 patches that are supposed to fix various problems, yet no change in the symptom. Takes a very long time for the change-test-reboot cycle on this. Oh well, for now I still have to run with the (flickery, slow) vesa driver. Not pleasant... a few minutes ...
The Path-and-Place metaphor (Why it doesn't satisfy...)
Written by
on
in
Design Theory.
There's always a danger, when you start into describing the operation of the human mind in order to describe how to get something done (e.g. design a building). It's tempting to reduce the entirety of human perception down to a simple metaphor or process, something that can be readily understood. The problem is, human perception ...
Existence, Space and Architecture (an older book by Christian Norberg Schulz)
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on
in
Design Theory.
The first book I picked it up this afternoon sounded fascinating, it's approach sounding very similar to my own, and I figured maybe I had found a kindred spirit. I decided that, rather than read it at the library, I'd keep looking for other books to take along with me, on the assumption that I'd ...
Quiet day reading (And then some poker)
Written by
on
in
Vindaloo.
Spent the day at the library reading again. Seem to have hit that point where continuing to read is not going to help. I need to start writing some things to get a better feel for where I need more material.
I also spent some time reviewing my bachelor's thesis (in printed form). It's actually ...
Fumbling towards KDE (Get nVidia driver to load, but just a blank grey screen on startx)
Written by
on
in
Tuxedo.
Since the chance of getting any significant amount of work done before needing to leave for the meeting seems to be pretty close to nil, I've been working on the video-card problem. I rebuilt with the ~amd64 nvidia-glx and nvidia-kernel stuff from source, no change.
However, when I did a search of the drivers/*.so directory ...
Limping nVidia card (Vesa-driver only!)
Written by
on
in
Tuxedo.
Burnt off some of the excess energy last night trying to get the new video card working (there were some posts to the gentoo amd64 list that suggested the problem might be solved by updating to the ~amd64 drivers). No such luck.
Still, got the desktop running with the vesa driver so that I don't ...
Fey Dream Creatures
Written by
on
in
Vindaloo.
The fey mood is upon me as I stare into the dark
Vibrating strings of reason holding me in check
There are grand dream-creatures roaming
Just beyond my shuttered sight
and I long to join them
and howl in darkest night
Ladies pouring coffee
Written by
on
in
Vindaloo.
Have you won a lottery?
Are you an actor with your grand, vibrant actions?
Or are there songbirds trapped within you?
They ask me
For life is sweet
Stoic temperments
Written by
on
in
Vindaloo.
The problem with stoics is they shatter
They don't stretch like overtaxed steel
With moans and pings of stresss
They wake up one morning
Decide they've had enough
And walk away
Why work on details (When your strength is conceptual operations?)
Written by
on
in
Snaking,
Vindaloo.
Had one of those days. Lots of pointless, stupid little details, the kind of thing that should really be getting handed off to someone who enjoys fiddling with everything until they achieve perfection. In the same day I came up with 2 ideas that are both marketable business plans, things that address an immediate widespread ...
Mike C. Fletcher, the VRPlumber, is a philosopher of design turned computer programmer based in Toronto, Canada. He works primarily in the Python programming language, and maintains a large number of Open Source software packages. You can reach him at: mcfletch@vrplumber.com.