Error message

  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementBase::execute($args = [], $options = []) should either be compatible with PDOStatement::execute(?array $params = null): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2244 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::key() should either be compatible with Iterator::key(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::valid() should either be compatible with Iterator::valid(): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).

First light [2014-10-04]

Neal and I recently read a great book about the building of the Palomar 200” reflecting telescope.  We loved how they grappled with each of the many engineering challenges to eventually achieve “first light” – the time when starlight is first observed with a new telescope.  We had our own (very minor) version of “first light” just a few minutes ago here in Tanzania, as Neal fired up the server for Mwandet Secondary School for the first time.  It was very exciting to see the Reneal IEO startup screen filling the monitor!

After a somewhat rocky start, what with a flight delay and a missing box and some other interesting equipment procurement issues, things seem to be coming together.  KLM delivered the missing box Thursday morning, and now we have just about everything we need stacked in our room at the Lutheran Centre.  We’re spending a nice quiet Saturday here working “at home”.  At the moment, Neal is building the server for Ilkiding’a Secondary School, and I finished putting new connectors on the monitor power cables so they will connect to the Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS).  There are a couple of different types of electrical plugs used here in Tanzania, and of course we bring lots of American-style plugs, so there is always an investment in power strips and adapters to get everything to connect properly.  Inevitably there will be more surprises, but we’ve made lots of progress.

Yesterday we visited Ilkiding’a Secondary School, our second 2014 project here in Arusha.  Like Mwandet Secondary School, everything has been prepared wonderfully for our work.  They even have some existing Ethernet cabling that we may be able to use!  That would speed up our work considerably.  Thankfully we were also able to deliver a few boxes of equipment to Ilkiding’a, freeing up some workspace in our room.  It’s spacious, but three full computer labs worth of gear was making it a bit cramped!  A few more photos are up on the Reneal IEO Facebook page.

We’ve modified our schedule somewhat for the trip to Musoma.  The new plan is to head there starting on the 17th.  This Monday and Tuesday, we will visit the 2013 installations in Arusha.  Wednesday we will begin the Mwandet SS installation and training, which should take about five days.  We’ll then start at Ilkiding’a and get as much done as we can before heading to Musoma for the installation at Paroma Primary School.  On our way to Musoma, we hope to visit Serengeti National Park for a couple of days with our colleague Fiona.  Upon our return to Arusha after the work at Musoma, we’ll finish up at Ilkiding’a and then make follow-up visits.  Six weeks seems like a lot of time, but it’s already feeling like it will go fast.

I truly wish I could convey how excited the schools are to receive these computer labs.  They see so many possibilities for the students and teachers.  Even TVs are rare here, so many kids really don’t have a good concept of what a computer is or what it can do.  For them, the “first light” of these computers can be a life-altering experience.