Jojo Kahanding's Blog

Remembering Og Mandino

jojokahanding — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:51:05 +0000

“I will live this day as if it is my last. …I will waste not a moment mourning yesterday’s misfortunes, Yesterday’s defeats, yesterday’s aches of the heart, for why should I throw good after bad?”
I will live this day as if it is my last. This day is all I have and these hours are now my eternity. I greet this sunrise with cries of joy as a prisoner who is reprieved from death. I lift mine arms with thanks for this priceless gift of a new day. So too, I will beat upon my heart with gratitude as I consider all who greeted yesterday’s sunrise who are no longer with the living today. I am indeed a fortunate man and today’s hours are but a bonus, undeserved. Why have I been allowed to live this extra day when others, far better than I, have departed? Is it that they have accomplished their purpose while mine is yet to be achieved? Is this another opportunity for me to become the man I know I can be?”
― Og Mandino, The Greatest Salesman In The World

Paradise Falls–Wildwood Park

jojokahanding — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:19:19 +0000

I finally decided to take a time off from my busy schedule, I needed to commune with nature (find my Zen).

So, right after my meeting in Camarillo, I took time to take a hike to "Paradise Falls in Wildwood Park". The weather was awesome I did this high noon and was blessed to have clouds to filter the rays of the sun.

I had an enjoyable time – I got my Zen. A promise to myself that this year I’ll make time to do my hikes …

Happy trails !!! Am back !!!

Some links:

Pictures

Schulzies – the best bread pudding in Los Angeles

jojokahanding — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:20:32 +0000

Los Angeles, the city of angels houses a lot of gems. On an occasion I happen to be reading the Food Network’s "The best thing I ever ate" show notes, about bread pudding. It mentioned this place called "Schulzies" situated on Venice Beach. This link from yelp will give you the details, reviews and contact information.

Excellent and not too sweet – they converted me from a “non bread pudding fan” to a “yo mama where’s my pudding ?”.

A typical hole in the wall place, always filled with the lovely Venice Beach crowd. If you want to spend a quite Saturday morning and blend in "Californication style" – this is the place to be.

Installing SiriProxy Plugins

jojokahanding — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:21:10 +0000

A detailed installation guide and video is posted on this link http://www.idownloadblog.com/2011/12/11/how-to-install-siri-proxy-plugins-video/.

Detailed list of proxy plugins are listed on this link https://github.com/plamoni/SiriProxy/wiki/Plugins

Next post would be constructing a plugin.

Installing SiriProxy

jojokahanding — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:07:18 +0000

Kindly skip my previous posting “using dnsmasq on a tomato router …”. Let’s start with the basics first before attempting to implement “dnsmasq” on a tomato router. In the next steps I have modified my tomato router’s dnsmasq and removed the entry for guzzoni.apple.com.

I installed SiriProxy on my local Ubuntu home server. More detailed instructions are listed – Installing SiriProxy Link also involves hosting dnsmasq on the local server and modifying it to point to guzzoni.apple.com.

When you connect your iPhone 4s to your wireless network. You have to modify your DNS server to point to the machine hosting SiriProxy. The SiriProxy hosts (which runs its own dnsmasq) will be “guzzoni.apple.com” to your iPhone4s. Note, the SiriProxy hosts must be able to point to the true “guzzoni.apple.com”. Reason intercepted “not handled speech packets” are redirected to the true “guzzoni.apple.com” and responses from these packets are then forwarded to your iPhone 4s.

Note, we will implement the dnsmasq on the tomato router and do some internal modifications to the the SiriProxy server on a later time. Next would be Installing SiriProxy plugins

using dnsmasq on a tomato router (a prerequisite to install Siri Proxy)

jojokahanding — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:57:35 +0000

Finally, thanks to the guys at Applidium and the dedication of Plamoni – a proxy server for apple’s “Siri” was created. In lieu of these developments I have decided to implement “Siri Proxy” – within my home network. Primary hurdle in installing Siri Proxy – is to have all network traffic directed to “Guzzoni.apple.com” intercepted and passed to the “Siri Proxy” which is hosted on a dedicated “Linux Machine”.

My home network consists of an Asus router which I have flashed with the “Tomato Firmware”. Internal to the “Tomato Firmware” is dnsmasq. My home network consists of a variety of Linux Servers both Virtual and physical, along with a myriad of gadgets, windows pc’s and OSX computers - I use dnsmasq heavily.

My Goal is to host Siri Proxy on a dedicated Ubuntu Server (Linux Box). With my “router” directing all traffic from “my Home Network to Guzzoni.apple.com” to the Linux Box. This can be done by modifying the optware host file.

After doing a reboot. I tried to ping “Guzzoni.apple.com”.

Success….

Currently upgrading my Ubuntu Server to the latest build. Once finished I will commence installing Siri Proxy. Wish me Luck

SiriProxy

jojokahanding — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:05:47 +0000

Prior, to my vacation someone posted a YouTube link on “Siri Proxy”. In summary what this “Guy” did was to Host a Siri Proxy in his own network. A “Siri Proxy” is a localized version of the “Siri Server”. Instead of sending the data from your iPhone 4s to the main Siri Server. He was able to send all these commands to a local computer “a proxy”. Intercept them and do processing. His exploits are covered in these links :

Am looking forward to set this up on my home network and see what I can do. I envision some applications that I can develop. Am, hoping that Apple can formalize this into an SDK. But, till then will be so looking forward to studying this.

TuneDok an excellent iPhone Mount.

jojokahanding — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 07:18:09 +0000

Am taking a long trip this thanksgiving weekend and was looking for a phone car mount. This would be temporary I just needed my phone to be visible and reachable during my 6-8 hour drive. In my normal everyday driving I have my phone in my bag and I don’t need to see it.

After a bit of research I discovered this:

As of November 19,2011 the TuneDok can be purchased from Amazon for less than 2 dollars. It is compatible with the iPhone 3GS, 4 and 4s. It fits snugly on my car’s cup holder

Huh ?

jojokahanding — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 06:57:34 +0000

On my way searching for a Starbucks. I happened to pass this sign. I had stopped to take a shot. I have decided to post pictures and comments here in my blog of these strange signs that pepper our lovely state (California). This sign is a tribute to both advertising and bad math. If they do have 100% beautiful subjects how come they have 3 in their population who are not beautiful. Is this some rounding error ? What do they mean by ugly? What is beautiful ? – this ad was masterfully produced.

Excuse Rant:

Same token I am deeply baffled by the phrase “Pardon, my sensitivity.” When you mean “insensitivity” . How can you be forgiven for a proper humane reaction ?

Further, a movement has been started to not use the word “”error”. The word “error” is silently being replaced by the word “issue”. It is not humane to say 1+1 = 3 is an error. It is more humane to say 1+1=3 is an issue.

Foggy – Nov 17, 2011 drive to work.

jojokahanding — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 06:26:16 +0000

Had to write about – Nov 17, 2011 my drive to work. First, I am blessed to live 5 miles from where I work. One of the many things I am very thankful of.
On this day, driving to work I was wrapped in a surreal atmosphere of dense fog.

In that short 2-3 min drive, I can’t help but relive the scenes from the “Mist” and “Zombie” movies that I love to watch. I took an extra minute soaking the beauty and calmness of the fog. I always have an enjoyable day at work – the morning fog was a bonus.