EPKPhoto's Tidbits

At the risk of showing my computer nerd side, I feel I need to mention that the virtual server running epkphoto.com has passed 100 days of uptime (not being restarted). As quite the bleeding edge Linux user, I'm amazed when I see uptime of this amount. If I managed my servers like a sane administrator, I would probably see uptimes in excess of a year, but my desire for testing the latest and greatest usually implies rebooting on occasion. In this case, my uptime streak is going to end in the next week or so when I upgrade to the latest Ubuntu version (7.10, Gutsy Gibbon). I have been waiting for this release for a number of reasons, not least of which include improved virus scanning speed for my email server and the latest ImageMagick and other packages to run the development version of the website I built for NASA Langley this past summer.

Well, I just finished cutting a hole in a computer case with a hack saw. I can't say I'm the most experienced at using such tools, especially since I broke 2 or 3 blades in the process. But now the rear case fan has plenty of open space to move warm air out of the case of my MythTV system. Now you know what former NASA employees do on the weekends ;). Yes, that's right, I have finished my co-op at NASA Langley for the summer. Fortunately, the response to the work I did was so positive that I should be able to continue providing at least an advisory role to some areas of the Center. I had a great time working for NASA and hope that is not the last time our paths cross.

It has been quite hot and very humid here in Hampton Roads the past week or so. We have daily heat advisories for heat indices of 110° F. It's not really unusual for our summers to have periods like this, but it reminds me how crazy I am to go to Rochester for the winter and come back down to Virginia for the summer. It certainly doesn't help that my apartment's air conditioning is not in the best condition (the thermostat is reading 80-85° in here). At least all my wrap-up work as I go through my last week at NASA is keeping me from thinking about the heat too much. Get out of the heat, and take a look at two recent additions to my site: more Princeton photos and "Kerby's Tech Notes."

Those of you who wanted to see some things I am doing at NASA Langley Research Center are in for a treat. I just posted 466 photos of an event we held on June 27th. Here is the description I included on the gallery page: "Langley Research Center's Moonbuggy Palooza: Inspired by the annual competition organized by the Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA's Langley Research Center held its own moonbuggy event on June 27, 2007. The Center shipped in two buggies from Marshall so over 30 teams could race around a grassy course as a rowdy croud cheered them on…" Be sure to check out the photos and let me know what you think.

Let me start off by saying I just posted the photos from my cousin's high school graduation this past weekend. The photos include the after events where we took some group photos and ate some tasty steamed crabs. In other news…I have been working at NASA's Langley Research Center for the past few weeks. My job involves both photography and web programming, so it has been a very good fit for my interests so far. It has been very interesting seeing NASA from the inside and learning the ins and outs of this deceptively large government organization. Stay tuned, and I may post some more details of my experiences soon…though I have to be careful of United States export laws and other government concerns.