I have been keeping my eyes open about this issue. I even went to the VDOT six year plan hearings at the Fairfax County Building to hear what was being said. I would have stood up and presented my support for improving both bike lanes and side walks over i495 except I was recovering from a cold and I had more or less lost my voice. I did meet Bruce from FAAB who posted an excellent summary of the event. If you have only ever driven along route 7 as it passes over i495 you might not appreciate just what a daunting task it is to either walk or bike across that bridge. For the walkers there is no side walk. if you are lucky the ground is dry and you are not walking in mud but you have to cross two lanes of fast moving cars. For the bikers you have to be 2 lanes out in fast moving traffic to avoid being sucked onto i495. While living in the area I would take the bus the 3 miles to work rather than biking on route 7 over i495. Currently VDOT is looking at creating additional HOT lanes on the beltway, in order to do this need they to rework every bridge and every interchange the HOT lanes pass. So this is a unique opportunity to improve the biking and pedestrian access across those bridges. I just read that McLean Citizens Association has put their support behind the issue and would like to add my support. Tyson Corner is trying to convert itself into a pedestrian friendly zone, but unless they can do something to bridge the major roads in the area Tysons will only ever be a car destination and a metro stop at the mall.
Sad story of a memory leak
One of the DARPA Grand Challenge teams gets hit with a memory leak
On race day, we set the timer and off she went for a brilliant 9.8 mile drive. Unfortunately, our system was seeing and cataloging every bit of tumbleweed and scrub that it could find along the side of the road. Seeing far more obstacles than we’d ever seen in our controlled tests, the list blew up faster than expected and the computers died only 28 minutes in, ending our run.
Though we thought we had cleared all references to old entries in the list, because the objects were still registered as subscribers to an event, they were never getting deleted.
Read the full story
Automount in Leopard
I automount an nfs share from my mac mini to a linux file server. I upgraded the mac to leopard and discovered that automounts are nolonger set in the netinfo app, in fact netinfo doesn’t exist anymore in leopard. Instead you are supposed to use Directory Utility. The only issue was that the original mount didn’t show up in the utility. After some more searching I found this webpage that explains where the mount files are stored in /var/db/dslocal/nodes/Default/mounts and you need to update the file to say <key>vfstype</key> instead or <key>type</key>
How to capture a machine, while powered on
Ever wanted to move a computer with the power still on.
https://www.wiebetech.com/products/HotPlug.php
This allows you to plug the box into a power strip, unplug the power strip from the wall, then move the computer while it is still on.
Blade Runner at the Uptown
If you are a blade runner fan I recommend seeing “Blade Runner, the final cut” at the uptown in DC. The story hasn’t been altered much but they have cleaned up the sound and visuals. I read that they re-shot a scene so you see the real actress running through the glass rather than a stunt double. This was the best version of blade runner I have ever seen and the Uptowns super wide screen was very cool.
Geekness
Weekend Activities
Saturday was a fun day, started at the SPBW Real Ale Festival at the wharf rat. I posted my beer list from the Real Ale Festival at the Wharf Rat on planetbrew.com. Then we went to an Indian engagement party. I don’t think I have ever seen so many Mercedes in one parking lot. On Sunday I was complaining about about having a sore back. It took me a while to work out that it was from all the beer I was pouring on saturday. Before you say anything I was a volunteer pouring samples from 4 different casks. Just not used to bending over and turning the tap.
Moving dsl lines
My dsl line is being moved tomorrow so my web server and email server will be shutdown some time to night. If you need something from me call my cell phone as I wont have email up and running till tomorrow night.
Baltimore Real Ale Festival
I have been going to this for a number of years, great fun and not to be missed
The Society for the Preservation of Beer from Wood is holding its annual Chesapeake Real Ale Festival!
“The Region’s Premier Real Ale Event”
Saturday, October 27, 2007
1-6pm
The Wharf Rat at Camden Yards
206 W. Pratt St, Baltimore
Tickets are $25 in advance, $35 at the door
More information at https://www.spbw.org/realale
Job
For those who know where I work and have read the news today will know that there has been a reduction in force. I wasn’t one of them but the group and department I work in was affected. Most people seem to be taking it well, and all things considered its not a bad time to be looking for a new job. I wish them all the best and good luck in the future.
