Grubby hands

I recently installed Ubuntu and set up dual boot with Windows XP. I've used LiLo in the past, but this one is called Grub. It works great, but it loads Ubuntu by default and I need to manually choose to go to XP. I'm not quite ready for full time Linux yet, so I wanted XP to be default. With a bit of googling I was able to find which parameter to change to default. But it wouldn't let me save it. Thank you, sudo. So now it default boots the way I want it. I know it's just a minor thing, but I'll take my victories where I can.

They got me!

I'm on hold with Verizon. I'm calling them because instead of burying the FiOS cable like they were supposed to, they have it drooping low from the pole to the house. It's hanging through the tree and even resting slightly on the shed roof. That won't be good when the winds come. But while I'm waiting on hold, they Rick-Rolled me! It was a highly intrumentalized Muzak version, but I still recognized it. Now it will be in my head all day long. Good one, Verizon!

Watch Dr. Horrible

Here it is, the three act, Dr. Horrible. It's just a bit over 40 minutes long. You can watch it for free now courtesy of Hulu or buy it in iTunes store for $3.99. Seriously. It's really good.

Dr. Horrible

I know we should be blogging about our wedding and honeymoon and posting pictures with comments and so on like that. And we will soon. Really. But we got distracted by amazing internet production! Joss Whedon, the genious who brought us Buffy, Angel, and best of all Firefly, brings to us an internet event. A wonderful piece of imagination and skill. A supervillain musical. Go forth and view Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.

Today's the Day

Today's Wedding Day. Less than 12 hours from now we'll be married. I think we both started freaking out a bit yesterday over all there is to do and details and stuff. I know I feel much better after getting some rest. I imagine Maegan does, too. And extra bonus! I found my iron and ironing board last night, so I won't have to wear a wrinkly shirt. I'm sure that will be nice.

By the way, the Trebuchet idea didn't pan out. It launches the little wooden balls the kit came with. It may launch golf balls well (I didn't have any to test). But it won't launch water balloons. They keep falling out of the sling barely before it swings around. And while this kit has great detail for the winch, it has a fixed release pin. Next version I'll need to have something adjustable for items with varying weight.

Test Fire - Day One

Day one of testing the Bouquet Trebuchet:

The goal was to launch a small water balloon from Matt's patio, across Prestonwood Road, and into the parking lot of an office building. However, we ran into a bit of a problem early on. The ammunition kept falling into friendly territory. "Incoming!"
We spent several hour tinkering with lines, adjusting the launch pouch and adding to the counterweight. Yet it kept releasing too early. Finally we used a small wooden ball and it launched correctly.
Apparently water balloons are not ideal for trebuchet ammunition...

Origins of Wedding Traditions

With Wedding, Wedding, Wedding stuff on the brain I was not surprised to stumble across an article on Mental Floss about the Origins of Wedding Traditions. This part about the Best Man caught my eye.

The original duty of a "Best Man" was to serve as armed backup for the groom in case he had to resort to kidnapping his intended bride away from disapproving parents. The "best" part of that title refers to his skill with a sword, should the need arise. (You wouldn't want to take the "just okay" member of your weapon-wielding posse with you to steal yourself a wife, would you?)

The best man stands guard next to the groom right up through the exchange of vows (and later, outside the newlyweds' bedroom door), just in case anyone should attack or if a non-acquiescent bride should try to make a run for it.