第一篇

刚看完阿森纳对AZ的欧冠小组比赛,最后一分钟被扳平,还真是让人感叹现实不能完美。原本这场比赛也不会关系到小组出线,更不是什么重要比赛,我说不完美,是因为接下来的那天,即10月22日,是Arsene Wenger的60岁生日。天朝60岁能把全国都折腾一下,可Wenger’s baby却没给他们的boss带来一场胜利,足够遗憾,也足够我感叹贵党真是能集中力量干大事。。。

根据cooper的说法,15号就进这个店了,一直也憋不出来什么,趁着看完比赛,就继续说阿森纳好了。阿森纳官方有推出一个类似访谈的纪录片系列,当然球员会有昔日在球场上驰骋的片段。这个系列叫Legend,我收藏了Arsene Wenger,Herbert Chapman,Dennis Bergkamp,Patrick Vieira,Thierry Henry,当然都是网上下载的。我不知道什么时候能收到一封官方的邮件给我说:arsenek你好,请去购买(下载)Legend——Robert Pires,啊哈哈哈,Pires很赞。

再来介绍下自己的名字,Arsenek,一个很简单的拆字就明了了,Arsene+K,需要说一下K是Keane的K,而且还是Roy Keane的K,不过反正两个成名的Keane,不论Roy还是Robbie都是阿森纳的死敌,这也是个怪事,哈哈。对此我又想到一点,我坚信不疑喜欢上阿森纳就是命运。98年才开始看球的时候是支持意大利的,可是荷兰的精彩演出,让我记住了Bergy,一个球风十分令人愉悦的大叔。98年让我记住的另一支球队就是法国,不过我不喜欢98年的冠军和亚军,一个也不。再来就是初中班队要买球服了,一群人跑到大田湾的市场,兴冲冲的想买Liverpool的金黄色比赛服,可是老板说货不够。于是就换了同样是黄色的阿森纳比赛服,那时候的赞助商还是SEGA。这件球衣一直都留着,虽然是30多块买的盗版,初中完了我妈想扔,高中完了我妈也想扔,到了大学完了我妈懂了,搬家后都帮我好好收着的,嘿嘿嘿。所以说,对于一个信奉Once be…Always be…句式的男人来说,喜欢上阿森纳就是水到渠成的事了。

Btw,2002年让我真心喜欢上爱尔兰这支球队,而不仅仅是因为Keane的原因,一个团队通过合作去和强大的对手竞争总让人感到高兴,至于胜利,见鬼去吧。04年无所谓支持,06、08年支持德国,这是另一个大叔Jens Lehmann的故事。希望接下来的世界杯预选赛附加赛中爱尔兰能搞死法国,让我明年也有个主队,哈哈哈哈。

说到阿森纳,那就要说一下几句和阿森纳有关的话。第一句是Victoria Concordia Crescit,这个等于队训的东西,翻译成英语是Victory though harmory,涛哥估计要说成“胜利来自和谐”,个人认为很好的解释了我对足球的理解。Btw,你可以是C.Ronaldo和Messi那样的超人,也可以是巴萨和曼联那种宇宙队,但是见鬼去吧,哈哈。第二句和第三句都是来自Arsene Wenger的妙语,原文记不住了,翻译过来是“整个生命的成功是我们通过态度引发的幸福巧合”,以及“相互适应的完美,远胜于独秀于世的华丽”;这基也是我现在的人生观了。好了,说完这两句话,这段没有了,下段开始说Wenger。

Arsene Wenger,阿塞温格,一般我和一个阵营的同学聊天,总称之为温父,一个固执、儒雅、温情的完美主义追求者。对,固执排第一位,原因不说了,我懒。可以这样说,Wenger的足球不仅是表面上的美丽和青春,Wenger的足球透露出公平,诠释着团队,更演绎着智慧。Wenger可能永远不会取得和Sir.Fergy一样多的冠军,也有种说法叫“历史只记得成功者”,但是我想说的是:冠军?见鬼去吧,win in arsenal’s style才是最重要的。我觉得我是有信仰的,因为从12、3岁开始整个人生都开始涂上阿森纳的红色,但是说我信仰Arsenal,不如说是信仰Arsene。虽然我只了解Arsene在足球场上的一面,但我能从中感受到他的态度:公平竞争、团队足球、功利面前保持的个性和温情、责任感。法国队报的采访说Wenger只恨一个人,马赛队的前老板,一个用钱收买裁判球员获得冠军的痞子。其实我想说,每个人喜欢的东西总是代表了对现实的情绪。前天cooper让我看了阮一峰的《为何我喜欢编程》(大概是这个题目),里面提到代码的世界是公平的,我想我的态度也大概如此,在球场上,在一定的规矩内公平竞争,如同人生,只有公平再好不过。

隐约记得,当初不是想写这些的。好了,6点了,睡2个小时该上班了。突然发现国庆回来后,上班时打了鸡血的状态没得了。。。岁月催人懒啊

on October 21st, 2009 | 4 Comments »

Linux wifi driver for Thinkpad T400

My girlfriend bought a new Thinkpad T400 R29 half month ago. ThinkWiki just told the wireless hardware must be Intel 5100/5300 or Intel WiMax 5150/5350. However, I failed to setup the driver.

Windows just told it’s a realtek on it. But I didn’t believe. I don’t believe because it’s too crazy for a Thinkpad to not use the Intel wireless chip.

Then things on the easy way.

  1. Google, then confirm that there’s no native driver for linux.
  2. copy the inf and sys files from windows xp. rtl8191se
  3. ndiswrapper. HOWTO in Chinese
  4. no wlan found
  5. remove the installed modules, revert all changes
  6. realtek driver for windows 2k, which is suggested by the archlinux wiki
  7. ndisgtk (GUI for ndiswrapper)
  8. found wlan0 without restart computer

on September 27th, 2009 | No Comments »

SQL note (1) – INSERT

Today, I tried to update the structure of database and learnt something new about insert statement. Share it with abstract example.

Now we got a `interest_rate` table in database contains these columns: `currency`, `interest_rate`. It indicated the relation of interest rate and currency. One day, we find that the interest rate is only relate to currency but we want also `period` for the fixed deposit.

It is a database and contains so many data, so we can’t change it manually. We just want to write a SQL script and run it.

Surely, this process works.

  1. change the structure of database and insert data if necessary;
  2. do the code improvement;
  3. then the system should act exactly the same as before;
  4. use the background control panel to modify the data when necessary.

It’s nice because it just need one hour to upgrade and then the whole system works fine. It’s online without database export, changing, and import, which are very danger and result a quite long downtime.

Then let’s focus on how to upgrade database structure and insert records for this example. I’m using MySQL and assume that there’s a table contains all possible `period` values.

# create a temporary table
CREATE TABLE `interest_rates_tmp` (
  `currency` VARCHAR(3) NOT NULL,
  `rate` INT NOT NULL
);

# and copy data
INSERT INTO `interest_rates_tmp`
  SELECT * FROM `interest_rates`;

# truncate the old table
TRUNCATE TABLE `interest_rates`;

# add a new column to the table
ALTER TABLE `interest_rates`
  ADD `period` INT NOT NULL AFTER `currency`;
ALTER TABLE `interest_rates`
  DROP INDEX `currency`,
  ADD UNIQUE `currency_period` (`currency`, `period`);

# insert the cartesian product of the `interest_rates`
# table and the `periods` table
INSERT INTO `interest_rates` (`currency`, `period`, `rate`)
  SELECT `currency`, `periods`.`value` AS `period`, `rate`
  FROM `interest_rates_tmp`, `periods`;

# drop the temporary table
DROP TABLE `interest_rates_tmp`;

I got little knowledge about the INSERT statement with SELECT subquery before. Even I didn’t know it’s a valid SQL script or not. So save it here.

on September 15th, 2009 | No Comments »

Travel to Eastbourne

I’m now vpn + vnc to lamar, my thinkpad t43, because I leave the photos in it. And I don’t get a Chinese input method on the laptop from B&B. However, I still failed to call scim out. Maybe it’s caused by the bad vnc configuration.

It’s the bank holiday this Monday. So I got a three day break before I leave. I spend the Saturday on Oxford Circus shopping and the Hyde Park roaming. It’s really nice in Hyde Park and got a drum show there. I still remembered that the Speakers’ Corner in the Hyde Park but didn’t find it because no guide.

On Sunday, I decided to go to somewhere out of London. And Eastbourne looks like a nice place to go to. It’s a sea-side city with railway, cliff and about 6km beach. The same day return ticket cost me £23. But it’s much cheaper if I did a advance booking. (Maybe 2~3 day in advance, £7.5)

Tickets to Eastbourne and Return

Tickets to Eastbourne and Return

Although weather report said it would rain in Eastbourne on Monday. I still want to try my best for the sea-side sunrise. After checking the sunrise calendar (of course I can calculate by myself but not accurate enough), I found that the sunrise is at 6:10 when the first train arrive at 6:00. Great challenge to me.

The first problem is I didn’t have a map. The only map I got is a tube map up to then. And I didn’t know how to setup the net printer in the office. So I turned to the Android application. I need a offline map app because I had no Internet access on my mobile. Fortunately, I found one, the AndNav2.

Everything ready.

With the Redbull to go, I started this journey at 2:30 am. N73 bus to the Victoria station, then got on the train at 4 o’clock. The coaches looks like CRH’s.

Fast view inside the coach

Fast view inside the coach

I must change the train at Brighton because Eastbourne is a small village, a few train to London, especially in the so early morning. The arriving was 2 minutes later than the schedule. So I just got 8 minutes to run to the beach. And I got it. It’s really nice as far as I can see. Then many photos.

Sunrise (1)

Sunrise (1)

Sunrise (2)

Sunrise (2)

A photographer is working on the runrise

A photographer is working on the runrise

Sunrise (3)

Sunrise (3)

Sunrise (4)

Sunrise (4)

I’m absolutely the lucky guy, because the cloud is almost reached the skyline. The sun is hidden about 10 minutes after the sunrise. Then I roamed on the long beach, played with birds, collected the beautiful stone…

Sunrise is my first objection, and I just achieved it. The second one is the Beachy Head, the sharp cliff close to Eastbourne. It’s still very beautiful on the way to that hill.

The very end of beach is the Beachy Head

The very end of beach is the Beachy Head

A public green, a lot in Eastbourne

A public green, a lot in Eastbourne

A park close to the sea

A park close to the sea

I got the offline map and experience to public footpath this time. So easily found the way

The beginning of the footpath

The beginning of the footpath

Look, let's have a ball game there

Look, let's have a ball game there

Road in the trees (1)

Road in the trees (1)

Road in the trees (2)

Road in the trees (2)

Nice hill & Sea

Hill & Sea

Look backward, Eastbourne

Look backward, Eastbourne

Edge and Lighthouse

Edge and Lighthouse

Beautyful flowers. but means somebody die

Beautyful flowers. but means somebody die

Very close to the lighthouse now. On the most sharp edge

Very close to the lighthouse now. On the most sharp edge

I still got some films. Maybe will on youtube.

on September 3rd, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Laptop problem solved, and the Arsenal Stadium

I went to an electronic area to repair my laplop’s LCD in Sunday morning. But it will cost me more than 150 pounds, a half price of new one. So I just give up its repairing in UK. I think when I come back to Shanghai, I will buy the componenet from Internet and try to fix it by myself.

Fortunately, the B&B owner just lends me a spare laptop. Unfortunately, they just run a windows xp uk version on it. And I didn’t get a administrator user. So I cannot install the Chinese input method now. That’s fine. At least, I get the Internet access now.

I went to the Arsenal Stadium just because one of my best friend, Keane, is very fond of Arsenal FC.

I went to The Old Place Restaurant for lunch which is near the Liverpool station.

Twice Cooked Pork in The Old Place Restaurant

Twice Cooked Pork

And then got the Arsenal FC by tube.

Arsenal Tube Station on the Piccadilly Line

Arsenal Station on the Piccadilly Line

A natual preserve park near the station

A natual preserve park near the station

Nice place

Nice place

the street which Arsenal stadium is on

the street which Arsenal stadium is on

A glass house next to the stadium entrance

A glass house next to the stadium entrance

On a entrance bridge

On a entrance bridge, photo through the gap of wire

Another entrance

Another entrance

Stadium, logo on the wall

Stadium, logo on the wall

Arsenal logo on the wall

Arsenal logo on the wall

The map, and the reflection of me inside

The map, and the reflection of me inside

It just too huge, and very modern

It just too huge, and very modern

Just a conner

Just a corner

The End.

on August 11th, 2009 | No Comments »

笔记本电脑屏幕坏了

Lamar,我的笔记本电脑的名字,Thinkpad T43,生于2006年2月。

前段时间屏幕开始出现异常。表现为屏幕刚点亮的时候特别红,然后在10秒内逐渐恢复正常。在带到英国来之后,不断出现屏幕背光自动关闭的情况,间隔越来越短,到现在可能在点亮后2秒到30秒内自动关闭背光。

屏幕变红是CCFL老化的征兆,不过那时我还不太清楚这一点。以至于需要在当下的情况下想办法修复。

下面是细节参考,给来自Google的人:

目前屏幕能够点亮,但短时间内就会暗下去,用强光照射可以看到白色的窗口,证明液晶部分仍然是好的。当屏幕暗下去后,可以通过修改分辨率来使得屏幕恢复。在Windows下可以进入一个大型游戏来得到这样的效果,Linux可以简单的Ctrl+Alt+F2/F7切换tty和X。此外还可以通过按下并松开屏幕Lid On时会压下的按钮来重新点亮背光。显然,这些办法都是因为通过对屏幕完全关闭并再次打开来点亮背光的。所以问题集中在CCFL或者LCD的直流逆变器,而不是控制电路或者屏线之类的。

我计划的方案是,先更换CCFL,因为它已经表现出老化迹象,始终是需要更换的;如果不行再考虑更换直流逆变器。

PS. 开始还准备在这边买一台的,但没想到UK的电脑比国内还贵,比US更是贵了太多,于是作罢。

on August 7th, 2009 | No Comments »

Give peas a chance

周一晚上被同事带去吃Hummus Bros,一家以色列菜。店员都穿着可爱的T-Shirt,GIVE PEAS A CHANCE。

中间凄惨的经历不说也罢,一大盘稀糊糊,还不得不假装好吃。还有那恐怖的Hot Spiced Apple Juice。

按我损友们的说法,应该去开个店,卖Hot Spiced Peking Douzhi,这叫做GIVE PEAS ANOTHER CHANCE。要让这些老外血债血偿了!

GIVE PEAS A CHANGE

GIVE PEAS A CHANGE

on August 5th, 2009 | No Comments »

Fantastic, Sun Aug 2, 2009

之前提到过我将在伦敦遇到一个非常好的朋友,也就是我的徒弟Hill Wu。今天,就受她的接待家庭的邀请,去共进午餐。然后我就被完美的震撼了。

乘Northern Line到Mill Hill East,中间在Finchley Central换车,随手拍了两张,这地方相当漂亮。

Platform of Finchley Central

Platform of Finchley Central

The Railway of Northern Line

The Railway of Northern Line

到了Mill Hill East之后,换240公车经过大概10分钟的路程,就来到主人的家。男主人叫Chris、女主人叫Ana。这个时候已经是下午1点40的样子,经过大约20分钟的等待,我们就开始享用整只的烤鸡,真是外焦内嫩,香气四溢,现在想起来还口水直流。

在交谈中了解到,Chris在退休前工作于Cisco Systems,在他进入思科的时候,那里才只有5个人。徒弟之前只告诉我这家男主人也是搞IT的,而当我把事情跟她描述清楚之后,她也被强烈冲击了。

我和Chris开始讨论Linux、OSI Model、Python、VIM、Emacs、C++、Perl、Tcl、Qt……太多东西,从饭桌到到他的书房。他给我展示他那些关于Cisco的书架,我给他秀我手机上的Debian。太奇妙了,还好我跟得上。

Chris' Bookshelf

Chris' Bookshelf

如果事情就仅仅是这样的话,那我只会说这是神奇的一天。但接下来的事情把一切推向梦幻。在稍作休息之后,Chris和Ana邀请我们出去转转。在他的带领下,我们走过一条小路,进入了仙境。

刚开始的时候,小路是这个样子的

The beginning of the footpath

The beginning of the footpath

也有人在椅背上留下爱情的见证

Loving Memory

Loving Memory

然后就来到只有在电影里面见过的场景

Movie

Movie

古老的大树在无际的草地上矗立着,草地中散布着白色的小花。

Tree, Green, and white flowers

Tree, Green, and white flowers

转过一个角度,还有明媚的阳光

And the Sun

And the Sun

这样美丽的小道,我曾经痴迷于收集这样的图片。

Once, I could only collect photograph like this

Once, I could only collect photographs like this

但现在我就在其中

But now, I'm in it

But now, I'm in it

完全不敢相信自己,我曾经到过这样的地方。

I can't believe myself at all

I can't believe myself at all

简直是做梦都会笑醒。不得不感谢我的徒弟。朋友们,努力移民吧,还有什么好犹豫的。

on August 3rd, 2009 | 2 Comments »

Picture, Sun Jul 26, 2009

伦敦的天气怪得死人,夏天比上海秋天还冷,每天都有可能下雨,不管早上天气是否晴朗。难怪从初中开始英语老师就说英国人喜欢讨论天气。看起来我刚到这边的第一个周末还是最好的。把26号的图片

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge

London Eye

London Eye

Renaissance Show | Iron-like clothes

Renaissance Show | Iron-like clothes

Renaissance Show | Face in the Pot

Renaissance Show | Face in the Pot

Parliament, Exploded Building in movie 'V for Vendetta'

Parliament, Exploded Building in movie 'V for Vendetta'

六周的时间还算比较充裕,计划找一个周末去一趟其他城市。有谁愿意给出一点建议么?

on July 29th, 2009 | 4 Comments »

安全抵达伦敦

一切都好,只是在英国入境的时候遇到一点小麻烦,稍微耽误了一点时间。

恩,好累,今天先休息,明天再来:)

on July 26th, 2009 | No Comments »