blog.ecorrado.us

Ramblings about library technology, open source software, and other adventures!

 

Price Scanner Accuracy 2005 October 11

Filed under: general,technology — ecorrado @ 19:10:07

Lately it seems that the accuracy of checkout scanners around here have gone down the hill. I don’t believe that it is so much that the scanners themselves aren’t accurate, but instead the data behind them is out of date. I’ve noticed this at many different stores and so has the Philadelphia Inquirer (free registration required). I did a little searching and the latest federal government research I could find on this topic is a 1998 report entitled Price check II in which they found only 43 % of price scanners showed 100% accuracy during inspections. My guess is this overall number may actually be lower now. (more…)

 
 

ARDC Midget poll 2005 October 10

Filed under: racing — ecorrado @ 18:10:38

ARDC is asking for people to cast their vote for which tracks they would like to see the ARDC midgets at next year. They are asking for people to also cast their vote weather they want to see winged or wingless racing. If you want to fill out the survey follow the link above. Just make sure that whatever track you choose, to make sure you vote for wingless! Remember, silly rabbit, wings are for airplanes! FWIW: I voted for Accord Speedway although I’d also really would like to see them at Albany-Saratoga (NY), Devils Bowl (VT), and maybe even Path Valley (PA).

 
 

Listproc vs. hypermail 2005 October 7

Filed under: technology — ecorrado @ 16:10:00

Earlier this week I was attempting to make web-based archives out of archive log files out of listproc. Yes, I said listproc. Even though listproc is pretty old and really hasn’t been update in years, I maintain a few mailing lists that operate on it. Since I don’t run the mailing list software or the server, I can’t migrate it to something more modern. Besides, even though it is old and not full-featured, it works rather well. (more…)

 
 

USAC Announces Ford Focus Mid-Atlantic Region To Begin Competition in 2006 2005 October 6

Filed under: racing — ecorrado @ 12:10:22

In a press release on their website, USAC announced that the Ford Focus Mid-Atlantic Region [will] Begin Competition in 2006. There was a Focus midget series called the USAC Ford Focus Posse that ran a few exhibition races in 2005. I was never really sure how closely affiliated with USAC they were, but it appears that the same person, Bill Tinsman, who was behind the Focus Posse series will be the Mid-Atlantic Series coordinator. According to the press release they will race in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware. I’m looking forward to seeing the schedule. The more non-wing midget events in the area the better. This is going to be running in the same region as most of the ARDC events, but I’m not really sure that the two will be in direct competation. In fact, I think in the learn term it may help ARDC as racers can move up from the Focus midgets into ARDC. Now if we can only get some topless sprint car racers, I’d be a happy camper.

 
 

SquirrelMail Header Issue Solved

Filed under: technology — ecorrado @ 11:10:46

This morning I had a few messages that I sent via SquirrelMail rejected by a mailing list because the mailing list though the e-mail came from apache@domain.org instead of username@domain.com. The mailing list software thought this because that was what the Sender info in the header said. (more…)

 
 

Ace High Speedway, October 2, 2005 2005 October 4

Filed under: racing — ecorrado @ 16:10:08

On Sunday, October 2, 2005 I decided to take a ride to what was scheduled to be an early afternoon show at Ace High Speedway. I decided to go to Ace High over the other race I was considering- the dirt modifieds on asphalt at Mahoning Valley – mainly because I never been to Ace High before and they closed down during the season last year and apparently only ran a few shows this year. I figured I better get this track while I can in case they don’t open again. At a 4 hour and 13 minute predicted ride according to Yahoo! maps, this track was probably the closest big car track that I have n’ seen a race on, which was another reason to try to go to it. Also, the main feature was a 100 lap dirt late model race which is one of my favorite divisions – and one I don’t get to see often. This track did something I didn’t think was possible it made me wish I was watching the races at Mountain Speedway again! Yes, it was that bad. I should have gone elsewhere or just stayed home. (more…)

 
 

Mandriva LE 2005 2005 October 3

Filed under: technology — ecorrado @ 16:10:11

A little over a week ago I installed Mandriva Linux Limited Edition 2005 on my home desktop. I installed the download edition and it went rather smoothly on my 1.7 GHz Pentium 4 with 1 GB of RAM. The only problem I had was something scratched my disk 2 of 3, which caused me to have to burn it a second time. The install was really easy and I really like the command line urpmi package management program a lot. (more…)

 
 

Bridgeport Speedway, October 1, 2005

Filed under: racing — ecorrado @ 09:10:16

On Saturday, October 1, 2005 I went to Bridgeport Speedway for the second time this year. The first time was for the World of Outlaw Late Model race. This time I went for the ARDC midgets along with a show of street (outlaw) stocks, super stocks, Jasper Sprints, and sportsman dirt modifieds. The ARDC midgets were running two races, a wingless event on the big 5/8 mile track and a winged event on the 1/4 mile inner oval. While I’ve seen racing on the 1/4 mile before, this was the first time this season I saw the 1/4 mile. The first event was scheduled to start at 4 PM and was the midgets on the big track. It started right on time. Yea right, if you believe that I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn and I can get you a good deal on Ocean front property in Utah. There was absolutely no reason to not start on time besides lousy management. Why is so hard for promoters to start a race on time? If you have no plan to start the race until 5 PM. Advertise a 5 PM starting time. I could have used that other hour to mow the lawn or something. Once again a short track promoter robbed me of another hour of my life unnecessary. (more…)