Decibel

First meeting of the Austin Postgres Users Group, May 6th, 6PM

decibel@decibel.org — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:06:43 GMT

Part of Austin's Geek culture? Work for a company using an open source database? Interested in Keeping Postgres Weird?

Then join us at the first meeting of the Austin Postgres User's Group on Tuesday, May 6th at 6PM!

The rough agenda will be:
6:00 - 6:30 Meet 'n greet
6:30 - 7:15 Discuss goals for the AustinPUG
7:15 - 7:45 Presentation: What's new it 8.3?
7:45 - 8:00 Wrap-up

The meeting will be held at Sun's offices in Riata:

Sun Microsystems
Building 8 - Longhorn Conference Room
5300 Riata Park Ct
Austin, TX 78727
Map

We will have to register everyone who is attending as a visitor; to make this as efficient as possible, please RSVP to austinpug@decibel.org. Oh, and there's one more reason to register...

FREE PIZZA!

I'll be ordering from Mangia's; please let me know if you'd rather chow down on spinach, pepperoni, or Chicago style (or if you really can't eat any of the above...)

Why I love my girlfriend...

decibel@decibel.org — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:49:56 GMT

Nasby Jim: T-50
Nasby Jim: :P
Aestas08: does that mean you miss me? :P
Nasby Jim: either that or I just like countdowns
Aestas08: you're an engineer...probably the countdown
Nasby Jim: I have... The Knack
Aestas08: for countdowns?
Nasby Jim: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmYDgncMhXw
Aestas08: utter social ineptitude
Aestas08: explains the inability to sweet-talk a girl :P
Nasby Jim: or to know it's required :P
Aestas08: kinda defeats the purpose of "sweet talk" if you have to be told "start...NOW!"
Nasby Jim: it would certainly make it easier
Nasby Jim: eventually my brain would grow synapses that tie recognition of that phrase to the the sweet-talk generation routine
Aestas08: uh huh...takes the romance out of it when you have to ask lol
Nasby Jim: so you're saying it would be better if random() called into sweet_talk() ?
Aestas08: um...maybe...?
Aestas08: you're so cute when you start talking geek to me :)

TDE at ECR, day 2 / wrap-up

decibel@decibel.org — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:56:38 GMT

I've come to the conclusion that pushing a car to it's limits on a track requires a certain amount of faith. Not faith in God (though that might not hurt), but faith in the car, and faith that the car will actually take care of tracking the correct line without you actively watching it. The more you're looking ahead, the less you can directly see what the car is actually doing. But at ECR, looking ahead becomes pretty critical, through corners like 3 and 6, and moreso 9 and 11 where the outside of the turn has some very intimidating barriers. (track map)

But before you can have faith that the car will follow the line that you've put it on, you have to have faith that it's actually capable of what you're asking it to do. I had that on the second day of TWS; I was actually doing really well until brain-fade and fatigue started setting in in the last session. I also had it somewhat early on at this event, but then I lost it. I think things started downhill with my first spin on Saturday... the lesson I'd finally learned at TWS was that if the back of the NSX starts stepping out, you give it throttle. Of course, that's very counter-intuitive, especially if you're already a bit too hot going into a corner. And it's something I failed to do very well at this weekend (though I did save 2 spins by keeping my foot in it).

Another challenge was dealing with braking. At TWS I could get away with modulating the brakes. This makes it much easier to setup the car for the correct corner entry speed, but heats the brakes more. You do not want more heat in your brakes at ECR! So I was really forced to learn threshold braking. To top it off, ECR isn't very forgiving if you end up off-line.

Add it all up and I ended up getting slower on my second day. I'd lost confidence in the car and to some degree in my ability. Chris even took me out in the car to show me what it could actually do. Unlike at TWS, I was actually nervous at several corners for at least the first 2 laps... all I could focus on were looming hay bales. (BTW, these weren't the nice, fluffy square bales... they're the huge roles you now see in fields. My understanding is that these typically weigh over 1000 lbs) So, it was hard for me to appreciate what the car was actually capable of.

Lest anyone thing the weekend was really a bust though, I had a hell of a lot of fun and did manage to learn a lot. I think I now have a pretty good handle on threshold braking. I'm starting to work on heel-toe, but even without it I was able to pull off some OK shifting. ECR was an amazing introduction to the nuances you get from elevation changes and off-camber tracks.

In the end, I think TDE was very wise to limit this event to non-novices only, and to drop a lot of folks down a run group. I think they should probably keep that practice up. It might also be good to make sure students understand that they really need to have a good, solid feel for what their car can do before running here... that's probably the biggest thing that hurt me. (Of course, if you'd asked me if I felt I had a handle on the car after TWS, I likely would have said yes ;)

The flip-side is that it would be bad to intimidate people away from running at ECR. I suspect it probably requires more base-line skill than any of the other tracks TDE runs at, but it's also a tremendous learning environment. They've had numerous professional drivers out there, and they've all said that it's a very challenging course to learn. But that means that you get that much more fun out of it once you have learned it. I definitely plan on being back there...

BTW, I'm already registered for MSR on May 3 & 4.

You spin me right round, baby right round...

decibel@decibel.org — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 01:09:21 GMT

(no, I'm not talking about Erica, thought it's still fitting ;) )

Last month I followed Nugget and equiraptor's example and did a Driver's Edge event at Texas World Speedway. Had a blast, and made serious improvements to my driving. Good enough that my instructor didn't even join me for the last 3 sessions on Sunday, and I was recommended to move to blue for my next event.

So... I signed up for the next event that was available, which is happening right now at Eagle's Canyon. Holy cow, what a different track. This is setup to be a FIA/Formula 1 type track. Lots of straights, but more importantly, lots of *very* interesting corners, and lots of elevation change.

Most important, this course is *very* demanding! You have to be on top of your game here. Almost all the turns are off-camber (meaning that the track surface falls away) and/or have an elevation change. And the course is *very* hard on brakes. At TWS, I could get away with modulating my braking somewhat, which meant that I didn't have to be very accurate on when I started braking for a turn. Absolutely not the case here, and it's been causing me trouble all day. I spun three times today, from screwing up my braking and going into a corner too hot. That's something that an NSX won't forgive you on, especially on this track. To make things more interesting, there's several places where if you go off-track, you're almost guaranteed to hurt the car. I did manage to do just that, though luckily it's just a small paint scratch (I must have gotten a rock between the apex cone and the car...).

Also, the brakes on the NSX are just not cutting it. Apparently, this is a known problem on the "1st gen" NSXes; the front brakes are very prone to overheating. Not only am I boiling some fluid (and this is even DOT4 stuff), but I'm actually cooking some pad material onto the rotors. I'm told there's not really much that can be done for the stock setup, though perhaps I can get it on the lift and find a place for some ducting. Long-term, I'm probably going to have to upgrade, and that means new rims. And in reality, it probably means 2 sets of rims, because I don't want to take nice rims to the track. What sucks about that is if I do that, I want race tires mounted on the second set... but those aren't good for the street, and I have no good way to get them to the track, unless I start trailering the car. Ugh...

On the bright side, I definitely feel like I'm improving. My lines are decent, at least when I'm not dealing with traffic that's unpredictable (this track has a lot of people off-balance...). But I think they're better than when I was at TWS. I've definitely gotten threshold braking down; now I just need to allow myself a buffer-zone so that I won't be going into corners too hot. I also need to get better at adding throttle when the car starts to let loose. I probably could have saved at least one if not all three of the spins today had I done that.

Now I just need to convince Erica to do an autocross... :>

Oh, and Paradox and Leto need to get out here; no excuses about cars not meant for the track! There's plenty of Audi's here (including an S4), and several Lexi (including an SC400 driven on hand controls).

Some interesting factoids about the Easter and the Calendar

decibel@decibel.org — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 06:01:06 GMT

As you may know, Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20).

This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Found out a couple of things you might be interested in!

Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare.

This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here are the facts:

The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).

The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

SXSW 2008 Torrent now available

decibel@decibel.org — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:37:42 GMT

Thanks to ghewgill, there's now a torrent for all the SXSW 2008 bands. The torrent is available at http://hewgill.com/sxsw/

Just remember... I love you!

decibel@decibel.org — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:51:31 GMT

Friend, Acquaintance, or Stranger?

decibel@decibel.org — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:24:34 GMT

Online communities do a horrible job of mirroring how social interactions actually work in the real world. This causes problems in numerous ways, such as people getting upset when you "de-friend" them.

read more | digg story

It's only funny because it's true...

decibel@decibel.org — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 06:45:14 GMT

Pet rules

decibel@decibel.org — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:42:05 GMT

Stolen from kevinblanchard...

To be posted *VERY LOW* on the refrigerator door - *nose height*.

Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other
dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the
middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food
and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me
to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall
faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about
this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your
comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is
not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the
fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and
having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but
sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some
miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not
necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under
the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I
entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years -- canine or feline
attendance is not required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I
cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our
front door:

*To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:*

1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.
(That's why they call it 'fur'niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is
short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Remember: In many ways, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less.
2. Don't ask for money all the time.
3. Are easier to train.
4. Normally come when called.
5. Never ask to drive the car.
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends.
7. Don't smoke or drink.
8. Don't have to buy the latest fashions.
9. Don't want to wear your clothes.
10. Don't need a 'gazillion' dollars for college.

And finally,
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

Who needs justice?

decibel@decibel.org — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:09:33 GMT

http://whitehouser.com/news/california-supreme-court-justice-denied/

Very good read

decibel@decibel.org — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:15:12 GMT

http://lnk.nu/cracked.com/i3d.html

I'm lucky that I do have a great group of friends here in Austin, and in Chicago.

Anyone looking for some quick IT consulting?

decibel@decibel.org — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:02:52 GMT

Robert McKay is "looking for a small IT consulting firm familiar with virtualization (vmware, etc…) and power optimization. I work for CLEAResult specializing in creating energy efficient programs and we would like some technical input. Any help would be appreciated."

Uh-oh

decibel@decibel.org — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:14:40 GMT

According to several folks at the DZ today, there are plans to put in a new park in Cedar Park, apparently near Lakeline. The park will have a water park, a BMX/skateboarding park... AND A WIND TUNNEL! And this is an honest-to-god SkyVentures wind tunnel, not some POS tourist trap.

I might as well just start signing over paychecks now... because my ass is going to be living in that thing!

Rumor has it they're looking at opening in about 2 years; apparently they already have the land.

BTW, this means all you pussies that won't jump out of a plane with me will be in the tunnel when it opens. :>

And they say that Muslims are a problem...

decibel@decibel.org — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:12:59 GMT

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=3977702

Meow

decibel@decibel.org — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:44:47 GMT

http://maniacworld.com/too-many-cats.html

Humor...

decibel@decibel.org — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 07:29:09 GMT

During one of her daily classes, a teacher trying to teach good manners, asked her students the following question: "Michael, if you were on a date having dinner with a nice young lady, how would you tell her that
you have to go to the bathroom?" Michael said, "Just a minute I have to go pee." The teacher responded by saying, "That would be rude and impolite."

"What about you Sherman, how would you say it?" Sherman said, "I am sorry, but I really need to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back."

"That's better, but it's still not very nice to say the word bathroom at the dinner table."

"And you, little Johnny, can you use your brain for once and show us your good manners?" "I would say: Darling, may I please be excused for amoment? I have to shake hands with a very dear friend of mine, whom I
hope to introduce you to after dinner."

The teacher fainted...

Our slog on drugs...

decibel@decibel.org — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:51:25 GMT

"The drug war, in the end, has been undone in no small part by the sweeping and inflexible nature of its own metaphor. At the beginning, in the days of Escobar, the campaign was a war as seen from the situation room, a complicated assault that spanned multiple fronts, but one which had identifiable enemies and a goal. Today, the government's anti-drug effort resembles a war as seen from the trenches, an eternal slog, where victory seems not only unattainable but somehow beside the point. For the drug agents and veterans who busted Escobar, the last decade and a half have been a slow, agonizing history of defeat after defeat, the enemy shifting but never retreating. "You get frustrated," Joe Toft, a former DEA country attache in Colombia, tells me. "We've never had a true effort where the U.S. as a whole says, 'We're never going to crack this problem without a real demand-reduction program.' That's something that's just never happened.""

http://lnk.nu/rollingstone.com/h29

Tacos!

decibel@decibel.org — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:02:59 GMT

Tomorrow, 7:30PM, cowhaus.

Be there, or I send fluffy after you!

Writer's Block: Google Me

decibel@decibel.org — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:31:40 GMT

Have you ever Googled your own name? How do you feel about the results?

View other answers

I'm disappointed I didn't use Decibel! instead...

I win!

decibel@decibel.org — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 03:21:46 GMT

One of the joys of owning the party bus is that I get to play chauffeur when there's a large group going somewhere. Like tonight.

Pulled up behind equiraptor at a light right before getting on 183 after leaving Threadgills tonight. We raced. She won. And then nugget passed me not long after.

But that's ok, I did get the high score at something tonight...

Different management at Austin Java on Barton Springs?

decibel@decibel.org — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:28:01 GMT

I've been a frequent patron of Austin Java on Barton Springs, and I've always been very happy. Went out of town for a month, and it seems to have gone down-hill... out of chai (for 2 days!), tables not getting bussed... and the staff seems a bit unhappy, which I've never seen here before.

Does anyone know if there's new management here?

Could you live on $2 a day?

decibel@decibel.org — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 13:54:46 GMT

Apparently, half the world does just that. Stand up, Speak out is trying to change that, so you might want to spread the word.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzz

decibel@decibel.org — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 17:04:36 GMT

Software - How Software Companies Die

By Orson Scott Card

The environment that nutures creative programmers kills management and marketing types - and vice versa. Programming is the Great Game. It consumes you, body and soul. When you're caught up in it, nothing else matters. When you emerge into daylight, you might well discover that you're a hundred pounds overweight, your underwear is older than the average first grader, and judging from the number of pizza boxes lying around, it must be spring already. But you don't care, because your program runs, and the code is fast and clever and tight. You won. You're aware that some people think you're a nerd. So what? They're not players. They've never jousted with Windows or gone hand to hand with DOS. To them C++ is a decent grade, almost a B - not a language. They barely exist. Like soldiers or artists, you don't care about the opinions of civilians. You're building something intricate and fine. They'll never understand it.

BEEKEEPING

Here's the secret that every successful software company is based on: You can domesticate programmers the way beekeepers tame bees. You can't exactly communicate with them, but you can get them to swarm in one place and when they're not looking, you can carry off the honey. You keep these bees from stinging by paying them money. More money than they know what to do with. But that's less than you might think. You see, all these programmers keep hearing their parents' voices in their heads saying "When are you going to join the real world?" All you have to pay them is enough money that they can answer (also in their heads) "Geez, Dad, I'm making more than you." On average, this is cheap. And you get them to stay in the hive by giving them other coders to swarm with. The only person whose praise matters is another programmer. Less-talented programmers will idolize them; evenly matched ones will challenge and goad one another; and if you want to get a good swarm, you make sure that you have at least one certified genius coder that they can all look up to, even if he glances at other people's code only long enough to sneer at it. He's a Player, thinks the junior programmer. He looked at my code. That is enough. If a software company provides such a hive, the coders will give up sleep, love, health, and clean laundry, while the company keeps the bulk of the money.

OUT OF CONTROL

Here's the problem that ends up killing company after company. All successful software companies had, as their dominant personality, a leader who nurtured programmers. But no company can keep such a leader forever. Either he cashes out, or he brings in management types who end up driving him out, or he changes and becomes a management type himself. One way or another, marketers get control. But...control of what? Instead of finding assembly lines of productive workers, they quickly discover that their product is produced by utterly unpredictable, uncooperative, disobedient, and worst of all, unattractive people who resist all attempts at management. Put them on a time clock, dress them in suits, and they become sullen and start sabotaging the product. Worst of all, you can sense that they are making fun of you with every word they say.

SMOKED OUT

The shock is greater for the coder, though. He suddenly finds that alien creatures control his life. Meetings, Schedules, Reports. And now someone demands that he PLAN all his programming and then stick to the plan, never improving, never tweaking, and never, never touching some other team's code. The lousy young programmer who once worshiped him is now his tyrannical boss, a position he got because he played golf with some sphincter in a suit. The hive has been ruined. The best coders leave. And the marketers, comfortable now because they're surrounded by power neckties and they have things under control, are baffled that each new iteration of their software loses market share as the code bloats and the bugs proliferate. Got to get some better packaging. Yeah, that's it.

Ha! I knew they were aliens!!

decibel@decibel.org — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 03:24:19 GMT

For a long time I've suspected that cats are actually aliens, but now I have proof!