tobias.kochs-online.net

Summer is just around the corner. At least it feels like that as soon as the rain stops falling these days. Fittingly the application period for Google’s Summer of Code 2009 started two days ago and so I thought, I could announce one myself. Unfortunately I haven’t got a whole summer of spare time. Hence I’m calling for applications for the Summer Weekend of Code 2009!

I chose the long weekend at Corpus Christi, which is 11th to 14th of June this year. In case you don’t have anything better to do and a software or hardware project in your mind you always wanted to realize (or at least start to), drop me a line. Of course I’d love to see an appetizer in the comments.

Suggestions for a supporting programme are welcome as well.

I have to confess, I was quite proud when I visited carsablanca.de today and discovered an AMC Pacer being the current “favorite of the week“. With it’s dark two-tone paintjob it’s even pretty similar to mine. And it’s equipped with the fancy CB radio as well.

Lately I’m using Sun xVM VirtualBox as a sandbox for all the software, you’d rather not install or run on your live system. I’m using Windows XP SP3 as guest operating system. Works like a charm, but problems arise, if I try to use the guest additions which allow shared directory usage for host and guest system as well as better integration of the mouse in both systems.

And just this mouse integration doesn’t work like intended in my case. Instead the cursor moves to the lower right corner of the guest system’s desktop and registers masses of clicks with both mouse buttons. So I ended up using my sandboxed XP by keyboard all the time when running the guest additions.

After I told him about these problems, as advised me to install the standard Microsoft mouse driver for a “PS/2 Compatible Mouse” instead of the Logitech driver I used. This solved my troubles.

Blogging this while doing 160 kph on the left lane of the Autobahn. Brave new world…

Accompanied by Adrian, his girlfriend Nici and my father, i drove to Mülheim an der Ruhr today and finally picked up my car. So three long weeks of waiting have come to an end now. As a reward everything – except for being a bit late – worked out fine: The car has been ready for pick-up, streets were dry, even the sun took a peek through the clouds every once in a while and the transfer came off without difficulty.

And because the gagging order doesn’t apply any more now, I’m gonna end the guessing game and disclose the secret. It’s a 1979 AMC Pacer D/L:

“Party on, Wayne!“

That I would buy a small car one day, noone might have expected – me included until three weeks ago! But when I stood in front of the car back then, it was plain sailing. Good condition, low quantity still existing (even in the US, I’ve read), geek factor and fancy design were a clear basis for decision-making.

And now some bare figures: