The Vent and Rant Thread

[covingtoncat73]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

My dog Gracie had another seizure today.

Her first was in August, and the vet said if it didn't happen again within a month it'll probably be OK. Her second was two weeks ago, so three months following the first. Today's happened just two weeks later. Going to the vet on Friday for a followup and additional testing. My poor little girl.

Oh, poor doggie! I hope she gets better.

[cromag]

Good luck to Gracie.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Hi:

Damned if I know. We had two separate "things" (now...not sure that they ARE separate, mind you) happen this weekend; we were testing the batteries on the UPS, and learnt to our horror that they weren't recharging, and were near-death. During the test, we ended up browning-out, and that seems to have screwed with the BIOS. It took several hours to get THAT straightened out. THEN, Sunday, we had the Dropbox issue. Are the two related, or...? Not clear to me.

Long story short: simply unlinking/relinking the main computer to the Dropbox didn't solve the issue. We had to uninstall/reinstall; we copied the existing DB files over to another portion of the RAID, and we've been letting it resynch since yesterday, so, another 100K+ files. Only 9 hours left! {grim smile}. So, now, I'm sitting here looking at drive racks, to slap up some additional terabytes JUST to backup the Dropbox archives, because restoring Dropbox, FROM Dropbox, is a giant pain in the tuchus. I normally don't back-up the Dropbox, for the obvious reasons. But after all the headache and stress and massive inconvenience of the last 36 or so hours, doing nightly incrementals seems like less agita to me.

I have to say: I think that the utter lack of any decent, "real" Dropbox documentation/manuals is beyond absurd, as well as the lack of any real method to up/download files in a remotely timely manner, like an FTP or other, much-faster FTP. Just sayin'. (This is one of the things that really irritates me with the Amazon S3's; no FTP. Makes them worthless, at least to me, for storing our [fairly massive] file archives. Who on earth wants to sit around loading a file at a time? Who is that storage at Amazon even aimed AT?

Hitch

The good news is, there are FTP clients which support S3 buckets.
Filezilla does not, although they have a ticket for it.
Cloudberry, CrossFTP for example.

There are also command-line tools which allow you to copy files to S3 buckets using scripts.
http://s3tools.org (free, Linux/OSX)
http://www.s3express.com (paid, Windows)

For Dropbox, there are a few Web services which will sync, and some stuff for linking FTP servers but nothing that could be used on any random computer with authentication keys.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

The good news is, there are FTP clients which support S3 buckets.
Filezilla does not, although they have a ticket for it.
Cloudberry, CrossFTP for example.

Well, if you've been able to get Cloudberry to work, more power to you. I tried, emailed them about a dozen times, asking them some very simple questions, and they blew me off. I was never able to get a single file to upload to my S3 using Cloudberry. I haven't tried--or they weren't obviously available at the time--CrossFTP. I'll be happy if/when Filezilla does, as I use that (I use sFTP for my site).

There are also command-line tools which allow you to copy files to S3 buckets using scripts.
http://s3tools.org (free, Linux/OSX)
http://www.s3express.com (paid, Windows)

Thanks, I'll look into it. I was pretty aghast at learning that S3 didn't have FTP. I mean...hunh? Then, why have it?

For Dropbox, there are a few Web services which will sync, and some stuff for linking FTP servers but nothing that could be used on any random computer with authentication keys.

Well, perhaps there is/are, but I haven't found anything that works reliably. In fact, I'm pretty vexed with DB right now, over a lot of aspects of this debacle. Should some of it not have happened, as in, should we have noticed that the batteries in the UPS weren't fully charging? SURE. But the gyrations you have to go through once you are STUCK in Dropboxland, with something that won't synch, etc., are pretty damned ridiculous. Just pausing synching, for our main computer, is an hours-long operation. PAUSING. It's been well over 24 hours, now, since we started a fresh install (and don't get me started about the ruination of my date-stamps!!!) of my DB here, and it's really ridiculous that it takes that much time to move the data, when it could have been done in a third of the time--at least half--with a normal file-transfer protocol of almost ANY kind.

Oh, and PAID corporate client? With a LOTTA dropboxes (I pay for Pro dropboxes for my staff at their home computers, too, as needed) that I pay for? Been more than 30 hours since I emailed them, too, asking if there was anything that they could do to assist me in getting up and running a bit faster. I'm not Amazon, bygod, and I don't expect everyone to drop everything and come hither when I ask for some assistance, but crap, 30+ hours? I think that Dropbox is just too accustomed to an end-user, retail-type environment, in which everything starts off as "free, free FREE!," so they feel that they can ignore their customers.



Hitch

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Well, if you've been able to get Cloudberry to work, more power to you. I tried, emailed them about a dozen times, asking them some very simple questions, and they blew me off. I was never able to get a single file to upload to my S3 using Cloudberry. I haven't tried--or they weren't obviously available at the time--CrossFTP. I'll be happy if/when Filezilla does, as I use that (I use sFTP for my site).

Nope, just Google-fu.

FWIW, FileZilla does have a ticket to support it, but seems like no one has bothered to pick it up. Maybe someday.

Thanks, I'll look into it. I was pretty aghast at learning that S3 didn't have FTP. I mean...hunh? Then, why have it?

You're welcome.

Another free tool, for Mac OSX: https://cyberduck.io/


Also, here are some tools which mount s3 buckets as networked drives:
http://tntdrive.com/ (Windows, paid)
https://github.com/skoobe/riofs (linux/OSX, free)

Keep in mind I don't really know what I am talking about.

Well, perhaps there is/are, but I haven't found anything that works reliably. In fact, I'm pretty vexed with DB right now, over a lot of aspects of this debacle. Should some of it not have happened, as in, should we have noticed that the batteries in the UPS weren't fully charging? SURE. But the gyrations you have to go through once you are STUCK in Dropboxland, with something that won't synch, etc., are pretty damned ridiculous. Just pausing synching, for our main computer, is an hours-long operation. PAUSING. It's been well over 24 hours, now, since we started a fresh install (and don't get me started about the ruination of my date-stamps!!!) of my DB here, and it's really ridiculous that it takes that much time to move the data, when it could have been done in a third of the time--at least half--with a normal file-transfer protocol of almost ANY kind.

Oh, and PAID corporate client? With a LOTTA dropboxes (I pay for Pro dropboxes for my staff at their home computers, too, as needed) that I pay for? Been more than 30 hours since I emailed them, too, asking if there was anything that they could do to assist me in getting up and running a bit faster. I'm not Amazon, bygod, and I don't expect everyone to drop everything and come hither when I ask for some assistance, but crap, 30+ hours? I think that Dropbox is just too accustomed to an end-user, retail-type environment, in which everything starts off as "free, free FREE!," so they feel that they can ignore their customers.



Hitch

Sorry to hear it.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Nope, just Google-fu.

I should add, in all fairness, and was going to post back and ETA the last post: my interaction with Cloudberry was....2 years ago? Maybe 18 months? But I was underwhelmed. I'm going to try the others, although {SIGH, and not one of my typical sighs, either, a really on-my-last-nerve-sigh}, I have new racks and new terabyte drives showing up, to do incrementals, of EVERYTHING now, nightly, instead of incrementals on the non-DB stuff.

As it turned out, the brownout corrupted the BIOS, which screwed around with this-that-next-thing, and sure enough, my RAIDS were (thank GOD, only slightly) corrupted. (Is it redundant or tautological to say, both RAIDS? Or is that implied--anyone know?) Did some low-level stuff, fixed the drive(s), lost very minimal data, all of which (miraculously) was in DB, so I can restore it.

FWIW, FileZilla does have a ticket to support it, but seems like no one has bothered to pick it up. Maybe someday.

Bugger. I'll go see if I can second the notion. I'm rather fond of FZ, myself.

You're welcome.

Another free tool, for Mac OSX: https://cyberduck.io/

Although I have a Mac Mini on the corner of my desk, for "emergencies" (never thought in my life I'd say that about a book or file transfer), me basically no speak-a da Mac.

Also, here are some tools which mount s3 buckets as networked drives:
http://tntdrive.com/ (Windows, paid)
https://github.com/skoobe/riofs (linux/OSX, free)

Keep in mind I don't really know what I am talking about.

Well, heck, boyo, that's encouraging. LOL...don't worry, we are surprisingly deep here when needed. The rest of the time, the gang lets the Big Dumb One Face of the Company out by herself, but when the mascara hits the fan, we have some good resources here for fixing BAD STUFF.

Sorry to hear it.

Thanks. I was really upset with them, and bloody cranky about it, too. I wasn't charming. Bad me.

Sorry for the stream-of-consciousness rambling...basically, we've been up around here since Sunday, when this all started--or when we realized it had happened the day before--and I'm not quite as sprightly as once I was.

Hitch

[covingtoncat73]

Is it really that difficult for adult human beings to flush the toilet, not get pee all over the toilet seat, not leave paper towels and toilet paper strewn about the floor of the public restroom? Apparently, it is. My CATS have better bathroom hygiene!

[covingtoncat73]

Originally Posted by trichobezoar

I used to have panic attacks a lot, especially in social settings. Much of it had to do with my adolescence and religious ideas. The principles (as well as good folk) in AA helped substantially. Now mantras are the most helpful in my daily life. Chanting mantras helps me control my emotional states (including debilitating fear)... not entirely, but to a great extent. I'm much more free to be me.

I chant mantras from the albums "Tibetan Mantras for Turbulent Times" and "Mantras for Precarious Times" by Deva Premal.

These are the mantras specifically:

Compassion: Om Mani Padme Hum

Purification: Om Benza Satto Hung
(Helps with one's resolve to make the mind good, auspicious, immeasurably loving and virtuous)

Perfection: Teyata Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Soha
(Helps one become generous, patient, conscientious, diligent, focused and wise--the six arts of perfection)

Removal of obstacles: Om Gum Ganapatayei Namaha

I know Eastern philosophy and practices aren't for everybody. It took me a long time to become open-minded about them. A LONG TIME... If I had been more open-minded about meditation and mantras, I might've been on the path towards healing a long time ago--in my twenties. My life might've been vastly different.

Whatever you decide to do, may your path bring you in touch with people who understand, are compassionate and believe in the power of prayer. *hugs*

I completely forgot to respond to this but I wanted to say thank you so much. I love Eastern philosophy and have been meaning to try meditating. I will try the mantras.

[trichobezoar]

Originally Posted by covingtoncat73

I completely forgot to respond to this but I wanted to say thank you so much. I love Eastern philosophy and have been meaning to try meditating. I will try the mantras.

You're welcome. It helps if you have the MP3s to listen to while chanting. I purchased them on Amazon.com, as well as a few other Deva Premal MP3 albums.

And for meditation you could try OmHarmonics. It'll help you reach the alpha state faster, but it's expensive... Let me know if you're interested in their MP3 album and I'll give you a link.

I'm craving sugar right now... real badly. It's all I could think about and my head hurts a lot. No more corn bread (it has some sugar) and pumpkin pie. Yesterday I was told I could not eat anymore pumpkin pie... which is for the best. lol

I'm a sugar-aholic! Do we have a 12 Step thread in here? Probably not... It'd be nice if we did.

Ugh.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by covingtoncat73

Is it really that difficult for adult human beings to flush the toilet, not get pee all over the toilet seat, not leave paper towels and toilet paper strewn about the floor of the public restroom? Apparently, it is. My CATS have better bathroom hygiene!

+500!!!

I don't understand this when I see it in public bathrooms. What's UP with that? It's disgusting.

Hitch

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I should add, in all fairness, and was going to post back and ETA the last post: my interaction with Cloudberry was....2 years ago? Maybe 18 months? But I was underwhelmed. I'm going to try the others, although {SIGH, and not one of my typical sighs, either, a really on-my-last-nerve-sigh}, I have new racks and new terabyte drives showing up, to do incrementals, of EVERYTHING now, nightly, instead of incrementals on the non-DB stuff.

At least you'll be prepared next time. (JK, I hope there won't be one. But, really, number one rule of redundancy in backups and all that. )

As it turned out, the brownout corrupted the BIOS, which screwed around with this-that-next-thing, and sure enough, my RAIDS were (thank GOD, only slightly) corrupted. (Is it redundant or tautological to say, both RAIDS? Or is that implied--anyone know?) Did some low-level stuff, fixed the drive(s), lost very minimal data, all of which (miraculously) was in DB, so I can restore it.

I suppose if the BIOS were to cause Things to happen, it would scribble on all drives equally.

Bugger. I'll go see if I can second the notion. I'm rather fond of FZ, myself.

Good luck. It seems to have been totally forgotten for 3 years.
http://trac.filezilla-project.org/ticket/7421

Although I have a Mac Mini on the corner of my desk, for "emergencies" (never thought in my life I'd say that about a book or file transfer), me basically no speak-a da Mac.

Well, neither do I. Perhaps someone on your team does?

Well, heck, boyo, that's encouraging. LOL...don't worry, we are surprisingly deep here when needed. The rest of the time, the gang lets the Big Dumb One Face of the Company out by herself, but when the mascara hits the fan, we have some good resources here for fixing BAD STUFF.

Hmm, maybe now is the time for me to learn data management.

Thanks. I was really upset with them, and bloody cranky about it, too. I wasn't charming. Bad me.

Sorry for the stream-of-consciousness rambling...basically, we've been up around here since Sunday, when this all started--or when we realized it had happened the day before--and I'm not quite as sprightly as once I was.

Hitch

Well, I hope this gets resolved quickly, and don't worry -- if this thread wasn't meant specifically for stream-of-consciousness rambling, what is?

Here's to a good night's sleep, the greatest cure.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by covingtoncat73

Is it really that difficult for adult human beings to flush the toilet, not get pee all over the toilet seat, not leave paper towels and toilet paper strewn about the floor of the public restroom? Apparently, it is. My CATS have better bathroom hygiene!

Originally Posted by Hitch

+500!!!

I don't understand this when I see it in public bathrooms. What's UP with that? It's disgusting.

Hitch

Apparently it's supposed to be a guy thing.

Even being a guy, I am not terribly clear on this myself... but I have it on good authority that that is indeed considered normal.

It's not just adults, either.


I suspect while I was busy reading, other guys were having meetings about how to be disgusting.

[Hitch]

I swear to God, you can't make this S**t up:

I had a guy, a prospective client, today who informed me--politely, mind you--that I was WRONG about the size of Kindle screens. ME.

... about the kindle screen being 3 x 4 inches....you can see photos of them and they are much larger .....and also the kindle previewer shows a screen of 8 x 4 (approximately)

AAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!

Is there an emoty for shooting yourself in the head as an act of mercy?

P.S.: @eschwartz:

Apparently it's supposed to be a guy thing.

NOOO, you know what? It really, really ISN'T. I've seen women's rooms that are just bloody disgusting beyond any comprehension.


Hitch

[poohbear_nc]

@Hitch: Breathe deeply in .... and out .... whilst pouring a large Scotch ... and checking on your retirement funds balance ....

Maybe one of these? http://www.amazon.com/The-Original-B...oppo+the+clown

[cromag]

Hitch, explain to your client that he's using old inches. The inch was recently resized as preparation for our changeover to the metric system.