Now that I'm nearly settled in my new apartment, I need to start working on some new, cool projects to make it better.

pimp, version 5

Pimp v4 was my excuse to learn python. It's great, but needs serious work. Now that I know python better, I think it's time to revisit this project with a complete rewrite. Reinventing the wheel isn't always good, but it's a fun exercise and certainly a useful project.

web-based home automation

Home automation kits are extremely expensive. I'm hoping to leverage LIRC, my X10 equipment, and the web to create a one-shot portal for controlling most of the devices in my apartment. The end-goal is to be able to click a button and have the TV switch to "input 3" and tell my receiver to switch to "dvd". Perhaps some sexy light dimming or something, aswell, with my x10 stuff. Mostly with one or two button clicks.

If you've got lirc experience, let me know. I'm looking to build both a receiver and transmitter. Receiver for recording IR signals from my other remotes and the transmitter for obviously replaying those signals.

Other hacks will probably include low-tech ones to hide wire mess, etc.

I use firefox as my primary web browser. I have for a number of years. Lots of things about it irritate me. Today's irritation is it's startup sequence.

You kids can play at home too! Do this:

tcpdump -np 'port 53'

Now, start firefox fresh. Watch it do a dns lookup. Now do something to disable dns, such as pointing dns at an invalid server, or adding a search suffix to your dns client such that your hostname.suffix does not exist. Start firefox again. Watch it do a dns lookup on yourhostname.suffix and FAIL MISERABLY. What do we do in case of dns failure? Let's wait on DNS!!! WOOT. Except, dns never comes back. So, let's never start.

God damnit this is annoying.