Tonight I was stuck on traffic. It's a particularly bad bottleneck from two lanes to one during rush hour.

An ambulance approached and the several dozen cars moved over and opened a lane down the center. We had been at a stand still. Everyone moved over, no honking, no one trying to cut ahead in line. It was a seamless transition to be made in the thick of rush hourand it reminded me of why I love living in Hawaii.

March of the machines

Most machines and interfaces available to the public are designed for simplicity, if not to be intuitive.

I often think of that when faced with a new set of controls with which I'm unfamiliar.

Tonight I was able to use a cash register.

Scan to email with the WorkCentre

UPDATE 8/2014 - For some reason Scan to Email stopped functioning.  Login Credentiasl for the Machine to access the MSTP server stopped authenticating, changing its value to none.  It's a radio button so it shouldn't be difficult to reinstate but it would not commit when using Chrome.  So, YMMV, but I highly recommend using IE when making configuration changes.
 

At work I've been struggling to get scan to email working for two Xerox WorkCentre MFPs, the 7125 and 7545. We use Google Apps for Education and I want to use the Google SMTP server, but I had a very difficult time getting it to actually work despite following Google's guide and the Administrator's guide from Xerox.  I found very little useful information on the web when troubleshooting, some people suggested STunnel which may have worked but would have added an additional layer of complexity.  


The solution was different for each model. For the WC 7125, SSL has to be enabled before being configured on the SMTP page.


WorkCentre 7125

• Set the 7125 to use SSL: 
• Properties 
• Security 
• SSL / TLS Settings 
• SMTP - SSL / TLS Communication [Set to] SSL/ TLS 

Configure SMTP server

• CentreWare IS, click Properties > Connectivity > Protocols > SMTP Server 
• SMTP Server Setup: STATIC 
• SMTP Server IP Address / Host Name: smtp.gmail.com 
• Port number sending email: 465 
• SMTP - SSL / TLS Communication: *SSL / TLS 
• Machineʻs email address: [dedicated service account]
• Scroll down
• Login Credentials for the Machine to access the SMTP Server to send automated e-mails: SMTP AUTH 
• Login Name: [dedicated service account] 
• Login Credentials for E-mail Send: System

The WorkCentre 7545 was just being a jerk. All the correct setting were in place but it still could not send email. The solution was a firmware upgrade and restoring defaults to the SMTP config page. I reentered the settings after restoring defaults and both of those together restored scan to email functionality. I guess Xerox excels at printing, not webpage management.

WorkCentre 7545

• Properties -> General Setup -> SMTP (E-Mail) 
• Required Information 
• Specify SMTP server manually, Hostname: smtp.gmail.com:465 
• Multifunction Device E-mail Address: [dedicated service account] 
• SMTP Authentication 
• SMTP Login credentials: System 
• Login Name: [dedicated service account] 
• Connection Encyrption: SSL / TLS

Put a pin in this moment.

I'm back in Hilo. Like for good. With any luck, I'll die here.  When I do, burn me and toss me in the ocean. Or figure out a way to compost me. That escalated quickly.



I'm back, but there's no shortage of missing pieces in my life.  My Jessie is still in VA, working her booty off in a difficult OT job.  We talk several times a day but it's not the same.  We'll never do this again. We want to be together, settle down and have children.

My cat and dog are with her, being well cared for and spoiled, but they belong here, retiring to HI. HI has no rabies, and they have strict guidelines for letting animals into the state. It's going to be a challenge. It needs to happen.

Our car was totaled recently, we're still working through the paperwork to get that settled. It's difficult to take care of a car in a salvage yard in NV, registered in MA, I'm in HI and Jessie's in VA. We keep hoping to make progress only to keep hitting road blocks. I hope this obstacle will be over come soon. It's my least favorite of our challenges.

We're looking for a house. We have some money for the down payment, but it's a big decision. We know what we want, where we want it and we want it now.  As with the other things we're dealing with, it's difficult coordinating this big decision while we're separated.
I've given up gaming until we have a house. I'm not a competitive gamer but I am a consistent gamer and it used to take a lot of my time, it was a good release for me, but it diverted my attention. I need as much focus as I can get right now.  Until the above items are taken care of how can I justify any more distractions? If I want to keep my wife happy, she needs a house. Gaming is keeping me from that. The joke, of course, is that since I quit gaming I've purchased the THQ bundle and a Death Adder mouse.



I'm thankful for reintegrating into our circle of friends. They're amazing and they keep me sane and entertained. We go on adventures: night swimming, full moon blessings. They're empathetic and fun.

I have roommates again.  I'm tired of roommates.  One doesn't say hello or even attempt to live with me. The other is a drunk, drinking and smoking so much that it's difficult to be in a room with him because of the stench. When he drinks I can't understand him through his slurred speech. He's also taken over the lanai, leaving trash, empty cans and cigarette butts over everything. I used to eat breakfast out there but I can't do that anymore. It's filthy. The third roommate is great, an old friend, but he's never home.

I have a moped again which is great. $10 / month on gas. It's a nice slice of independence. Hopefully it won't break.