@paul@montereybay.social
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

paul

@paul@montereybay.social

(he/him) Santa Cruz local since 2001 | montereybay.social admin | Sr Technical Program Manager @ AWS Nonprofits

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paul, to random
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

My speedrun through this week:

Sun: hm, sore throat
Mon 9 am: + test and cough, 11 am: chills for about an hour, 1 pm: chills replaced by fever, 5 pm: fever subsides
Tues: fatigue and joint aches
Wed: hey, brain fog is lifting
Thu: feelin' pretty good, maybe 90%
Fri: back to normal

Continuing to follow CDC guidelines for isolation, of course. I'm feeling extremely fortunate that it wasn't worse and also very grateful for the vaccines.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html

jepyang, to SynthDIY
@jepyang@wandering.shop avatar

Bodge bodge b-bodge bodge bodge

#bodge #synthDIY

paul,
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

@jepyang Yes! Bodge bodge!

davidho, to random
@davidho@mastodon.world avatar

Does anyone have access to High Performance Computing or Cloud Computing that they could donate to a nonprofit working on climate solutions?

paul,
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

@adrianco @davidho David, I work on the AWS Public Sector Nonprofits team (support, not sales) and would be happy to talk more about your org’s needs and how we can help. We have a program that provides $1000 or more in service credits https://www.techsoup.org/products/amazon-web-services-credits-for-smaller-nonprofits-g-50197-, and an open data program that can host datasets that you are sharing with others for low or no cost https://aws.amazon.com/opendata/. Depending on your specific needs, there might be other programs available.

paul, to random
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

Check out Volume 25 of the Two-Hour Album Challenge: “Life” on Bandcamp. As always, I’m amazed at the creativity of the artists who contributed to this release. My track, “Wildlife”, was made almost entirely from field recordings that I’ve made over the years and includes Canada geese, frogs, the ocean, a kookaburra, and one of my grandkids. Oh, and Kali makes a guest appearance. :cowdog:

https://2hac.bandcamp.com/album/life-2hac-volume-25

janxdevil, to random
@janxdevil@sfba.social avatar

I also need to find a decent solution for hosting a website to be the home of my podcast. And I need to register a domain name for it.

paul,
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

@janxdevil Lightsail with a static IP and Route53 have worked well for me, assuming you don’t mind patronizing AWS. Domain registration and obtaining an SSL cert are easy, and there are machine images for Wordpress, Ghost, Joomla, and Drupal if you want a click-to-install CMS. Also inexpensive.

https://lightsail.aws.amazon.com/ls/docs/en_us/articles/compare-options-choose-lightsail-instance-image

paul, to random
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

The LFO lives! At least partially… It didn’t catch on fire when I plugged it in without the ICs, so I socketed the opamp that generates and square and triangle waves. Success! The rate knob even works. I forged ahead and added the second opamp that generates sin and saw and…sad trombone. No output at all. Next step is to double check the wiring against the schematic. Honestly, though, I’m stoked that it’s even half-working.

paul, to random
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

Hey #Jamuary folks! The next Two Hour Album Challenge starts on Wednesday, Jan 10th. Join our ragtag bunch of musicians in our quest to write a song related to a shared theme in two hours (more or less 😁). It’s a great way to practice making decisions and moving on, and the community is extremely open, welcoming, and supportive. You can learn more and sign up for updates at https://2hac.abstractionmusic.com/ Hope to see you there! #2HAC

tobi, to random
@tobi@goblin.technology avatar

The lil drum machine I ordered has a built-in sequencer (korg volca drum), which seems like it's gonna be very cool for sketching out patterns of sick beats. But what if I wanna sequence longer pieces without a DAW? Is there a way to do that? I guess I'd need a separate sequencer and a mixer (if I wanna include more instruments). Is that right?

paul,
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

@jepyang @tobi As to the mixer/interface part of the question, I’ve used a Tascam Model 12 for the past couple of years and it really hits the sweet spot between DAW and DAWless for me. 10 channels that you can record to SD, some basic effects, and it’s also a USB audio interface. I’ve recorded multitrack jams with just the mixer while camping. When I got home, I pulled the audio off the card and into Ableton to add more tracks. Moderately expensive at $530 US but quite versitile.

paul, to random
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

I've been thinking about recording more songs that don't have a definite meter, and gee whiz, here it is #Jamuary and all, the perfect time for experimentation. Lofi meandering jam on a Yamaha P-45 digital piano with minilogue XD for color.

paul,
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

In case it doesn't play in your client... https://soundcloud.com/paul-mietz-egli/2024-01-05-jamuary-5

paul, to random
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

I had a dream last night that took place in the Lord of the Rings movie. As they were climbing Mount Doom, Frodo turns back to look at Sam and said, “Sam, I don’t think I can destroy the ring.” Sam replies, “Of course you can, Mister Frodo - you just throw it in. You don’t have to spin the prize wheel. That’s optional.”

When I related this to Heather, we got to thinking about what prizes you can win on the Mt Doom wheel of fortune… 1/2

paul,
@paul@montereybay.social avatar
  • Free cruise to Valinor
  • Voucher for eagle transport out of Mordor
  • Second breakfast
  • Eowyn’s stew (loss)
  • A set of facial piercings from Orcish Body Mods
  • A loaf of lembas bread
  • 30 minute ride on an Ent
  • A keg of Longbottom Leaf
  • Free pint of ale at the Prancing Pony
  • a Peregrine Took Singing Telegram
  • Osgiliath Vacation Timeshare
  • Shopping spree at the Helm’s Deep Farmers Market
  • Speed Dating with Grimmer Wormtongue
  • Deluxe Rivendell Spa Treatment

2/2

andresmh, (edited ) to random
@andresmh@hci.social avatar

Informal survey for Mastodon sys admins.

Where do you host your instance?

Please bost to increase visibility 🚀

paul,
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

@andresmh MontereyBay.social is hosted AWS because I work at AWS 😁 I’ve used https://github.com/widdix/mastodon-on-aws for over a year with only minor, self-inflicted issues. Thanks once again, @andreas for creating and maintaining the project!

paul, to random
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

I’m doing the Brazen Racing New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day trail half marathons this weekend, so it felt like it was time to pack up the hardware from the 2022-23 trail running season. It was a terrific year for me:

  • 12/19 Summit Rock, 3rd in AG, horrible rain and wind
  • 12/31 NYE, 1st in AG, park shut down due to flooding
  • 1/1/23 10k on my own 😁
  • 5/20 Wildcat, 3rd in AG
  • 7/22 Bad Bass
  • 8/12 Bear Creek, 3rd in AG
  • 9/23 Rocky Ridge, 3rd in AG

Shows what happens when you stay healthy!

paul, to SynthDIY
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

I actually have a (physical) project going for #WorkbenchWednesday! After several iterations on the stripboard design, I’m ready to build the Cha Cha VCLFO from https://github.com/musicdevghost/eurorack/tree/main/Cha%20Cha%20-%20VCLFO. Ran a test mill of the board today and will start assembly tomorrow. #SynthDIY

An illustration of two electronic strip boards with components, colored wires, and labels.

paul,
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

Control board assembled, except for the pin header connectors. I the LED works; still need to test the opamp that buffers the external reset signal.

I’ve learned that all those little jumpers between veroboard pads are almost as annoying as cutting pads on a continuous stripboard. I’ll probably make another one of these (MOAR LFOS) and use the mill to cut the pads for me.

#WorkbenchWednesday #SynthDIY

cooner, to random

“Did you know there's a guy living in our closet?”
“You've seen him too?”
"Who is he? Why does he keep going into our closet?”
"Why do YOU keep going into our closet?"
"To get my clothes, but that's not why he goes in!”
"Of course not. He's twice your size! Your clothes would never fit him!” #quote

paul,
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

@cooner “I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, ‘I drank what?’”

And my personal favorite:

“ICE! IS! NICE! How’s it feel to be frozen? YEAH!”

paul, to random
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

When I was young, my mom, brother, and I would travel to my grandma’s house for Christmas. She would always make sweet aebelskivers for breakfast and serve them with powdered sugar and jam. I pulled out the ol’ pan this morning and made a savory batch with cornmeal, cheese, and chilis, and reminisced…

Happy holidays, everyone. Hoping for peace, equality, and justice in the new year.

A round aebleskiver pan with seven half-cooked, round Danish pancakes.
A close up of the inside of a savory aebelskiver, or Danish pancake, showing fluffy dough, bits of corn, and melted cheese.

paul, to random
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

I don’t blog that often, but when I do, I use Ghost. You can self-host or pay them for hosting, and they are a nonprofit to boot. The Ghost team can help with your #SubstackMigration

https://ghost.org/docs/migration/substack/

paul, to random
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

Today was Kali’s first day in the office. She was an instant hit with my coworkers, what with her winning smile and squooshy jowls. It took a couple of hours for her to settle down, but now she’s snoring away next to me. This dog can sleep anywhere. #OfficeDog #EnglishBulldog

A photo of a round blanket on a carpeted floor. The blanket is printed to look like a giant tortilla. Next to the blanket, a reddish-brown English bulldog is sleeping. She is stretched out in her left side, and her rear legs are extended.

paul,
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

@chaoseris Yes! As you can see, it's hard to keep the filling in a burrito de perro.

paul, to random
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

I didn't commemorate the one-year anniversary of MontereyBay.social on Nov 23rd. I'm still glad that I jumped into the Fediverse pool and am thankful for the folks who call this place home, though. As a small gesture of commitment to our community (and to save a bit on hosting costs), I just pre-purchased the next year of database services on AWS for this site. 2024 is going to be an interesting year, federation-wise, but we will be here for it! :cowdog:

LittleYetFierce, to random
@LittleYetFierce@m.ai6yr.org avatar

Calling all the bunny people. My kids want bunnies. I need to know what bunnies need to live a happy healthy life, please share you bunny knowledge (and include associated costs). @ai6yr? Anyone else?

paul,
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

@LittleYetFierce Excellent info in this thread so far from @ai6yr and others. We have cared for our own house rabbits and boarded bunnies for 20+ years; they are great companions!

  1. The House Rabbit Society https://rabbit.org/ has TONS of info about care, feeding, and more. Very reliable.

  2. Indoor bunnies can live ten years or more. Look for a vet that specializes in rabbits for the best care. The HRS site has a list, and it’s ok to ask a vet about their experience before committing.

paul,
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

@LittleYetFierce Re costs, there will be some initial costs for bunny-proofing the house and/or setting up a bunny area (cord covers, pens). Yearly vet visits for us are about $200/rabbit, but we have senior buns right now and get blood work done regularly. There’s one vaccine for RHDV that we get as well. Weekly costs are about $20-30 for fresh organic greens, Oxbow BBT pellets, and timothy hay for three rabbits. Treats are extra. 😁

paul,
@paul@montereybay.social avatar

@LittleYetFierce One more thing: in our experience, most bunnies do not like to be picked up and held. They are happier on your lap or next to you on the couch or floor. If it’s important to your kids to have bunnies that they can hold, you may have to look at a lot of candidates to find the right personality match. They really are fun, personable little critters (rabbits, not your kids), and we have thoroughly enjoyed being owned by them. 🐰

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