Poofy Goof Rant-O-Matic

I never did find out what exactly failed with my DLTs, and lost data from the backup server itself. luckily nothing lost was critical, and I was able to rebuild my previous amanda configuration. backups are successfully running again.

when my backup server died a couple weeks ago, I figured I could replace the motherboard and continue on my way. I did just that, and replaced the VIA C3 with a Pentium Pro and continued on. the change in setup seemed OK, backups appeared to continue running, and it wasn't until attempting to recover from a root drive failure a week later on the backup machine that I found out the hard way that anything was wrong.

looks like my 800MHz VIA C3 machine has finally bit the dust. I must have a dmesg around here somewhere. perhaps not. if I could just get it going long enough to store off a dmesg to a USB stick or even floppy I could get a bit more... closure? it was Ben's machine, after all.

http://v1kram.posterous.com/liu-bolinthe-invisible-man

Al Krug lays it down at http://www.alkrug.vcn.com/rrfacts/rrfacts.htm . braking, calculating traction, how to read signals, how not to break couplers, etc.

UUCP, Unix-to-Unix CoPy, is a store-and-forward protocol used primarily for mail, news, and copying files. the loose newsgroup network known as USENET was implemented largely on UUCP. since the advent of accessible packet-switched networking (AKA the internet), UUCP is now only used in rare cases. I still wax fondly over it.

the WES DMUs are controlled by custom-programmed PLCs, specifically, those from KW software: http://www.kw-software.com/com/index1024.html . during testing, the DMUs had debug builds of the PLC controls, which allowed for tuning of parameters. once the parameters settled down, a release version was built, which has less tweakable knobs. I assume the IP and code for this went to US Railcar after Colorado Railcar went into liquidation.

A decaying shipyard in Australia: http://patrickboland.com.au/project/index.html "As a photographer, I'd be like a kid in a candy store in this place," says Bob.

as stdio studios moves its location from the main floor to the newly remodeled attic of chez poofygoof, I have been contemplating what work I will soon be able to accomplish. getting creative juices flowing again is not something that can be forced, but having a regular reason for being in the studio and working the controls can help things along.

"The Railway Applications Section (RAS) provides a forum to bring together practitioners, consultants, and academics interested in applying operations research and management science (OR and MS) techniques to the railroad industry."

they're running a contest: http://informs-ras.org/Problem.htm the problem is to find an optimal fueling system for a provided rail network. the trains can't run out of fuel between yards, and the railroad wants to minimize cost. find the cheapest solution!