Windows XP x64 and Kubuntu dual boot... Remove kubuntu and prepare for pain

So I've been using Windows XP x64 and Kubuntu side by side for a while but I was sick of dual booting. So I installed Sun's VirtualBox and installed Kubuntu there. Now I don't have to reboot the PC to run Linux when I have to do Linux'y things.

Yesterday I decided to remove the Kubuntu partitions and reclaim the disk space for Windows (since I had 1g left). So I remove the partitions and reboot.

I was faced with a Grub error 22 screen and I couldn't proceed. Seems that /boot was a directory off of / and / didn't exist anymore. So Grub had no configuration data to go on.

Ohh, I remember, I thought. I'll just rewrite my MBR and that'll get rid of Grub. So I boot to the Windows XP x64 recovery console and issue the command fixmbr. Then reboot and no change - still Grub error 22.

Hmm, maybe I didn't save? Maybe I need fixboot? Maybe fixmbr then fixboot? Maybe fixboot then fixmbr? Maybe I need to specify the disk to fixmbr? Maybe I need to specify the partition? Maybe I need to specify the disk and partition? Maybe X64 doesn't use the MBR? Maybe it's a GUID thing? Maybe I'm going insane? None of it worked.

After 6 hours I was ready to simply reinstall Windows but then I thought, maybe if I reinstall Kubuntu, Grub will fix itself? So I reinstall Kubuntu, reboot and behold, a valid Grub screen with a choice to go to Windows XP that worked!

For what it's worth, I manually partitioned, creating a 1g /boot, 1 10g / and a 2g swap. So hopefully, I can reclaim the 10g and 2g, leaving Grub on /boot and configuring Grub to automatically boot to Windows XP.

Bash variable assigment modifiers

I always seem to forget this about bash variable assignment shortcuts and always have a hard time finding it.

Rather than:

if [ "" = "$var" ]; then
    $var=hello
fi

Use

var=${var:-hello}

Conversely, rather than:

if [ "" != "$var" ]; then
    $var=hello
fi

Use

var=${var:+hello}

There's also:

if [ "" = "$var" ]; then
    echo "Error, variable var must be set"
else
    b=$var
fi

And:

b=${var:?Error, variable var must be set}

There are others too, but I find these ones most useful. Check bash man page for full set.

More Progress On Bathroom

In this week's edition, we see more destruction and some progress on new drains and supplies to the third floor bathroom.

Rick is doing the bathroom.

Here are before and during photos from the first day.

Annual cayenne pepper harvest

I try to grow enough cayenne peppers each year so that when I dry and crush them, I have a few jars to give away and a few jars to keep. I've done this for the last 4 years or so, but this is the first time I've blogged it.

After the peppers turn a nice bright red, I pick them and using a big needle and some polyester thread, I make a pepper strand. Each successive harvest of the really red ones results in a new pepper strand.

Hang these strands in a dry place with lots of air exposure. These were hanging under my deck umbrella for several dry days. In a month or so, they'll be dry enough to process in a food processor, or better yet, in a blender.

I HIGHLY recommend processing them outdoors, in a place far away from other people. The fine particles will make you sneeze a lot.

When ground to the size you like, just pack them in old spice containers, or go to a kitchen supply store and buy some new spice containers.

Next, enjoy. I especially like to shake them on turkey sandwiches, popcorn, and any Italian dish. Beware, these ones are much more potent than what you get on your table at an Italian restaurant!

How to grow tomatoes

Plant seeds.
Water seeds.
When the plants get big, transplant into some nice composted material and vermiculite.
Continue to water.

Harvest.

Canning tomatoes

To can tomatoes, you'll need ripe tomatoes, basil, new canning lids and jars+bands

Wash the jars and bands in hot, soapy water and let dry upside down.
Get one large put (depth to accommodate the canning jars and one medium pot. Fill both with water.

Turn the medium pot on high heat to boil. Get one bowl of icy cold water. These will be used for blanching the skins off the tomatoes. Carefully drop 2-3 tomatoes at a time into boiling water and transfer to cold water bowl when the skin splits or after 1 minute, whichever comes first.

Peel away skin and remove stem. Place into large bowl.

Heat water in large pot. Squeezing out excess liquid from tomatoes , stuff into jars, adding basil between tomatoes (3-4 leaves per jar). Use the handle of a wooden spoon to remove excess air. Fill jar to about 1 inch from top. Thoroughly clean top of jar to assure a good seal. Place lid and band on jar loosely and continue until enough jars to fit in large pot are ready.

Place jars in hot water and wait for water to boil. Jars must be submerged. You will see air bubbles escaping from the jars. Boil for 5 minutes, assuring that no more air bubbles are escaping.

Remove jars and tighten bands. The lids should either be concave, or should go to concave as the jar cools. If it doesn't, you'll need to re-process the jars.