How to catch ’em all…

Everyone is out in the streets catching Pokemon and it is glorious. I was recently blessed by my Fairy Tech Brother Jus Technology with a super useful Pokemon Go hack using Python. First of all, every time I think of Python, I think of my friend Ekans. I then I proceed to do the Ekans call for several minutes (Ekaanss, Eakansssss!)

 

So this hack will allow you to see just where the Pokemon are on the map. This way you’re not wondering around aimlessly and you can save your incense for more important stuff.

You will need to know your way around your terminal and a little Python knowledge will be helpful also. This hack is pretty useful. You’ll catch those Pokemon and gain some Python XP at the same time. Happy hunting!

How to utilize the public library…

About two years ago, while doing a basement purge, I came across my library card. I went online to see how or if I could renew it, and was very pleased at what I found. My public library has stepped into the technology age. You could now create an account using your card number and access library materials digitally! You can browse for items, put them on hold and pick them up at your favorite location! I’ve been doing that ever since I found out about it. My latest ‘library haul’ included Hamilton: The Revolution, Lois Lowry’s Son and a book about coffee roasting, because that’s my latest hobby.  Such a convenient way to keep up with my favorite reads, and best of all, it’s free.

I thought I couldn’t get anymore excited about this new library set up. Then, I learned about Hoopla. Hoopla is a digital library app filled with audiobooks, e-books, movies and music that you can stream for FREE using your library card! I LOVE audiobooks, but they are NOT cheap, and even services like Audible can get a little pricey. Hoopla lets me borrow audiobooks, directly on my iPhone. The app is available on iTunes, Google Play and right in your browser. I’m borrowing a few graphic novels right now!

Making music, telling stories with words
So you listen in your headphones to the stories you’ve heard
As I stroll throughout the timeline of life gone past
And it’s like when I do my thing
It’s so Ira Glass!

Adam WarRock, Ira Glass

How to REALLY appreciate Ira Glass…

Ira Glass is a National Treasure. If a nuclear apocalypse occurs, please make sure he gets to one of those super fancy bomb-proof bunkers. We’re going to need him to recount stories from the past.He brought us the brilliance that is This American Life and personally, my Sunday is not complete without his soothing vocals and gripping stories. I need people to appreciate him more. He quotes are floating around the internet, there’s little gems of appreciation to him hear and there, but I need him to be a bigger precesence in our pop culture consciouness. I would like more rap references to Ira Glass, perhaps a Broadway Musical dedicated to him. I need more. One of my internet faves, Evelyn From the Internets gave a solid shout-out to the radio man and mentioned my favorite Ira gem specifically!

‘Do a lot of work’ thats what Ira said! Sometimes I feel like, I’m not the most creative person. I’m not the best programmer. My coding skills are mediocre, everything I put on CodePen is laughable, but then Mr. Glass comes through with the knowledge.

So I just have to do the work. Do a lot of work, until I get better. My weather app my not be cool, or unique, but its something I’m working on until I can write a weather app code in my sleep.The work won’t be perfect, or even close to good, but it’l be done and I can look back at it, and see where I need improvement. Thank you for the insight Ira Glass.

Enjoy this love song to Ira, via Adam WarRock–

Clap your hands everybody, and everybody clap your hands! We’re Lambda Lambda Lambda and… Omega Mu. We come here on stage tonight to do a show for you. We’ve got a rockin’ rhythm and a high tech sound, that’ll make you move your body down to the ground.

-Lamar (Revenge of the Nerds), Tri-Lam Rap

How to get into Lamda…

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I’ve been working through some AWS labs in preparation for the Solutions Architect Associates Exam. I’m getting more familiar with the services provided and getting to know the inner workings of each service. I’ve mentioned before that EC2 is the superstar around which all the other services revolve. Well, there seems to be a new girl on the rise and she seems to be coming for the EC2 throne. Lambda is the service that seems to be on every developers lips. At first glance Lamda just looks like EC2, but with the ability to deploy code. It’s so much more than that.Startups seem to love it, its cost-effective and everyone is excited. Cloud Academy is launching a new learning path for it and ‘server less architecture’ is a buzzword.

So what is Lambda exactly, and how is it different from EC2?

AWS Lambda is a compute service where you can upload your code to AWS Lambda and the service can run the code on your behalf using AWS infrastructure. After you upload your code and create what we call a Lambda function, AWS Lambda takes care of provisioning and managing the servers that you use to run the code.

-Amazon Web Services

In other words Lamda is a way to run code without a server. The code runs in response to ‘triggers’ that are put in place by the developer/user. It’s a sort of ‘set it and forget it’ model. It also seems to be a lot more cost-effective than dear old Ec2.

AWS Lambda lets you run code without provisioning or managing servers. You pay only for the compute time you consume – there is no charge when your code is not running. With Lambda, you can run code for virtually any type of application or backend service – all with zero administration. Just upload your code and Lambda takes care of everything required to run and scale your code with high availability. You can set up your code to automatically trigger from other AWS services or call it directly from any web or mobile app.

-Amazon Web Services

It seems to be an interesting and useful service to learn. I wouldn’t be surprised it a Lambda Certification pops up in the very near future. Also, every time I say Lamda, this song gets stuck in my head–

 

 

How to be happy…

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Learning a new skill can get so overwhelming sometime. Throw in some turmoil and uncertainty and its a recipe for a mental breakdown. So how do you maintain a positive attitude and push through negativity and frustration? One of my favorite podcasts did a show this week called Getting Back to Happy.

They talked about some mental hacks to get you through some slumps and even mentioned a weighted blanket for some sensory stimulation. Coloring books are a legit way to ease anxiety and take you to your happy place.

TED talks are always great for inspiration and can bring a little happiness into your day as well. This talk by David Steindl-Rast is a great way to practice gratitude and get out of a funk.

I’m too loyal and too focused, to be losing and be hopeless.

TYGA, Bedrock

How to get in CloudFormation…

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I’m still trying to figure that out. I did a lab recently on Cloud Academy, where I was able to create a stack and using a template I deployed a WordPress site. How do I create my own Cloud formation template though? I’m still figuring that out. In the mean time, I’m using this tutorial from my fairy tech father, Jus Technology. This tutorial walks through connecting a WordPress site using the AWS superstar, EC2. I’m feeling confused but encouraged.

How to find inspiration…

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Sometimes I get big ideas in my head. Maybe I CAN build a TARDIS from scratch and travel through space and time. I could be a bit more realistic and maybe just end poverty and violence in the Third World. I could zoom in on that idea a little more and maybe…(well I’m not telling you my idea yet. I don’t even know you that well). Where do I even get started? How do I get over the feeling of not being a good enough programmer, not having any business savvy. How do I just get over all the doubt hurdles and just do the damn thing?? Find some inspiration. Nothing inspires me and fires me up more than watching someone talk about their passions. That’s why I love TED Talks. I mean I could go down a serious rabbit hole and spend a good twenty hours watching them so I try to limit myself to a few videos in a row. Here’s a playlist of my current favorite TED Talks.

 

https://embed-ssl.ted.com/talks/jennifer_pahlka_coding_a_better_government.html

https://embed-ssl.ted.com/talks/richard_turere_a_peace_treaty_with_the_lions.html