Hosting at home...

Some notes i captured while i was experimenting hosting my website at home.

Setting up hosting on your home computer
source: http://www.boutell.com/newfaq/creating/hostmyown.html

Free DNS Hosting:
There are many options, i went with ZoneEdit.com

- Sign up for ZoneEdit.com (also check out dyndns - not free tho)
- Add Zones
- Provide your zone (domain you want to use)
- Provide the ip address - your current home ip address
- Copy the nameserver addresses
- Contact your registrar (example: www.godaddy.com) and tell them to change the nameservers for your domain, or use these nameservers when you buy a new domain.
- You can do this on your own.
- log into godaddy
- domain manager
- manage domain
- update nameservers


Getting Apache server on your linux
source: https://help.ubuntu.com/6.06/ubuntu/serverguide/C/httpd.html

sudo apt-get install apache2
- configurations : /etc/apache2/apache2.conf
- The default page is taken from /var/www/

sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 start

Setting up dynamic DNS on your home computer
Why? Cause your home computer IP will keep changing each time to login to the network
- I'm using http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/ddclient
- check out the code

svn co https://ddclient.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/ddclient/trunk ddclient

- go through the README file once downloaded
- follow the steps
- to start
/etc/init.d/ddclient start

/usr/sbin# ddclient -daemon=0 -noquiet -debug -ip=71.198.38.193


Getting your home router to give you a static IP
- log into netgear (or your router)
- Attached Devices (see whats attached already)
- Lan IP Setup
- Address reservation
- Provide the IP and the devices mac address and you're all set.

Notes:
- To check your current IP I used http://www.ipchicken.com/

Smart Grid IPOs and Trilliant...

Here's an excerpt about the company i work for...:

http://www.greenchipstocks.com/articles/coming-smart-grid-ipos/943

Enter Trilliant, a prime candidate for a 2010 smart grid initial public offering (IPO).

The company makes wireless devices that attach to existing meters and devices at each tier of the electricity distribution system, allowing for the real-time relay of information about substations, outages, and the energy usage patterns of neighborhoods and schools.

For the tech savvy out there, Trilliant's products are better than their competitors because they support multiple modes of data transfer, including static IP, dynamic IP, and circuit-switched.

What's more, the company is in bed with the big boys. Their products are compatible with a number of branded meters, including models from GE, Landis+Gyr, and Obama's darling, Itron.

Consumers can even get the data on their cell phones. Trilliant's feed is compatible with Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, Telus, Rogers, and a number of other wireless service providers.

And Trilliant is allowing things to be done in the electricity industry that have never been done before...

• Real-time pricing based on usage profiles of homes and neighborhoods
• Remote connect/disconnect
• Voltage reporting
• Automated power outage reporting

Further down the line, Trilliant's systems will be used to optimize energy efficiency, enable demand response, help integrate distributed sources like wind and solar, and help with the adoption of charge-at-home vehicles.

What we're about to witness is the networking of the grid — the Internet for energy.

This was the aim of the $3.4 billion: to bring smart grid solutions to the table.

The Quest for Credit

...But remember, with great spending power comes great fiscal responsibility


Budget Calculator- Mint.com

Opinions and Viewpoints

Thats just what they are, opinions and viewpoints.

Everyone has them. But its up to you to take them in context, customize them, and make them work for you.

I've seen people go through life listening to others, sometimes doing what they say just to make them happy, maybe even hoping that they would be more likeable. In my opinion this does not work. You have to ask the question, ok you're making the other person happy, but are YOU Happy? Is this what you really want?

My take on this is the following,

In giving advice, seek to help, not please, your friend - Solon

- Some people like to share their opinions (i'm one of them :) ). Listen to them. They are sharing their opinions because they want to help and they care.

- However, it doesn't mean they are right. Maybe what they said worked for them, but there are many things that factor into it. What was the context? What was their thought process, their personality, what was their desired outcome? Do all of these match what you want? Most often not. People are different.
- So take into consideration what they say. Think about it. Filter out the noise and do what feels right. Very often your gut is right :)

So in conclusion, everyone will have their own opinion or viewpoint on the things you say and do. But remember,
thats just what they are, opinions and viewpoints.

Miluwakee memories...

Ok, so its been a good 4 months since I moved from MKE to SFO. Having settled down, here are a few things i miss most from MKE.

1. My group of friends: I had an incredible set of friends over in MKE and I miss them the most. The mix includes a best friend I've known for around 17 years, football enthusiasts, throw in a crazy bunch of party animals! yes animals haha.. mixed together with my work buddies make a wonderful recipe for 'trouble': always resulting in good memories!

2. The end of summer camping trip: For the last 2 years we've been doing this camping trip just before the end of summer. Ironically, its been on the exact same days as the previous year. The trip has always been fun: pitch up the tent, spike the bbq, get drunk, sing till you drop, play some games, take plenty of pics, good laughs and memories

3. Summer soccer: I'm sure I'll sign up for soccer here as well, but its not going to be the same. We started it just last year, and it was interesting to see our fitness levels rise. Initially we could just survive 5 mins a half lol and towards the end we managed to make it through the entire hour. 

4. Sri Lankaness!: Yes I said it. It was nice to spend time with the Sri Lankans. Enjoying a home cooked rice and curry over conversations about how much our work sucks! Getting tangled up in other people's domestic issues. Typically Sri Lankan! Lol... (well... on second thoughts maybe I dont miss this one that much)

5. Street races - Our Sunday morning street races on the 794. A stretch of road that is pretty much a deserted bridge. We've hit almost 150mph+ on that 1 mile stretch. Although that adrenalin rush does tend to live on in you, which resulted in me getting a couple of speeding tickets, I have no regrets.

View Larger Map

6.  Suite, Whiskey Bar, Notte and the gang: Our local watering holes. Good friends, good drinks, plenty of forgetful memories.
http://www.suitemilwaukee.com/

http://www.whiskeybarmilwaukee.com/

http://www.nottemilwaukee.com/

7. Ghost Recon: Our many online gaming nights: Maybe we can continue that here as well. I just need to get myself an XBox360

http://ghostrecon.us.ubi.com/

8. Pizza hut, Chinese and Thai take away : I'm not sure why I have it here 'cause you get plenty of that here as well. These were my fall back options whenever i was too lazy to cook.. and that happened a lot so i guess it fittingly is on my list.

There you go. The top 8 things I miss most about Milwaukee! 

Start up ideas...

Some interesting blog posts i came across:

The best way to come up with startup ideas is to ask yourself the question: what do you wish someone would make for you?
http://www.paulgraham.com/organic.html

Another related article
http://fbindie.posterous.com/start-up-ideas-its-not-what-you-know-its-who

A secret to making money online

Very very cool presentation.