Douglas' Blog

Welcome to Typo. After three or so years using Roller as my blogging server software, I’ve decided to move to something a little more lightweight and RESTful. And in keeping with my terrible habit of basing choices on the language I prefer to use, I’ve landed on Typo. I don’t remember where I read it, but there was a great article on why you shouldn’t choose a piece of software based on anything but it’s functionality. This is mostly true. But that said, when you are administering a server, you tend to want to consolidate the pieces that you look after. So, if possible you choose software that can run on your database, middleware, web server and platform of choice. So for me, that means if I can find a blog system that runs on Linux using Ruby, Apache and PostgreSQL, and it has most of the features I want then it’s the software for me. And Type fits all those criteria.

I’m still going to have to administer an Apache Tomcat system for the remaining Java Servlet-based applications I run, but I expect Typo to be much less of a hassle to maintain and update so in this case I don’t mind that the apps aren’t consolidated. As it turns out, Typo has way more features and themes than Roller does and the Typo community seems much more active too so overall it’s a good move.

For anyone who regularly reads this blog or subscribes to the feed, you will want to update your bookmarks. In the meantime (and probably forever), I’ve set up my webserver to forward any incoming requests as best as it can. I’ve also managed to import all my old posts reasonably well, complete with comments.

I went down to the new Alberta Court House building in Calgary on 5 Street SW this afternoon to pay an overdue parking ticket (don’t get me started on parking tickets – it wasn’t mine). The building is very modern looking on the outside and is even more so on the inside. But the big surprise was that in order to get past the lobby, you needed to go through a security check similar to those found in airports.

Before I continue let me note that I fully support additional security where the powers that be feel it is warranted. Is it warranted at a Provincial Court House? I don’t have an answer for that and I wouldn’t presume to know the answer but it is worth noting that the old court house, in use up until only just recently, had nothing more than a Commissionaire sitting at an open information booth.

The new court building is a different matter. There is an x-ray machine, which you have to put your coat and electronics through as well as a metal detector, which failed to pick up my belt (though perhaps that’s because it’s newer and more sensitive than the detectors found at airports. You can read a few more details about the building on Wikipedia. Despite all the security it seems that if you have some sort of electronic pass, you can put the pass into a turnstile-type machine and bypass the security check. I would have assumed that this bypass would be for law enforcement personal, since removing their firearm and such would be a pain, but interestingly enough I saw a short, plain clothes women use it which makes me wonder about the security process. But like I said, I wouldn’t presume to know about the security setup – just found it odd. In any case, when paying your parking ticket, make sure you leave your firearm at home.

The last 24 hours for me have been an emotional roller coaster, for a variety of reasons – some work, some personal, and some very personal. But the reasons that relate to this post are a result of my time in the Army. Yesterday afternoon I received a large package from National Defense Headquarters (NDHQ) containing a letter and certificate thanking me for my 14 years of service in the Canadian Forces. I was excited to have finally completed the clear out process from the Army, as a gradual shift in priorities (in combination with an aging body) made remaining in the Army no longer feasible. At the same time I felt torn as I had met a lot of great people, most of whom I still call friends, and as a result have nothing but good memories of my time.

And then it was great sadness that I read about the death of Cpl Nathan Hornburg, a soldier from the King’s Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC), the Army regiment I spent most of my time with. The death of any Canadian soldier is tragic, more so when it is someone from your own regiment. For me it is extra hurtful as Nathan was assigned to my troop when he first joined the Regiment and was a part of my tank crew.

My thoughts go out to Nathan’s family. And to the other members of Regiment who remain overseas, keep safe and carry on what Nathan started.

The blog server is back. Actually, the server was never really gone, it’s just that the DNS entry for ‘blogs’ got missed when I migrated the master DNS for my domains. Joy. Anyway, it’s all good again.

I find myself in Charleston, SC today where I am attending the ATG Insight Live 2007 conference. It’s been years since I attended a tech-related conference so I’m not entirely sure what to expect, other than what the agenda says. But if the Charleston hospitality is any indicator the next four days are bound to be a good.

I actually arrived last night, about an hour late. I flew via Chicago, where we had an incredibly hard landing (not this hard though) in a CRJ700 with a little sideways skidding thrown in for good luck. It was definitely a landing that would make any student pilot proud – nice to know even the professionals have some bad days. After last minute gate change, combined with a last minute plane change, it was in to a CRJ200 for the hop to Charleston and into the Doubletree Guest Suites.

Today I woke up late, had some breakfast and did a solo walk around the historic district of Charleston courtesy. My tour was basically guided, courtesy of National Geographic who have a Walks of a Lifetime podcast, which are available on their website or via iTunes. It’s a brilliant podcast which basically leads you along a circular route within the city, pointing out historic and interesting landmarks and giving you background information. And for my walk today the weather was perfect, making it a great afternoon. Now, time for some refreshing beer courtesy of ATG.

Once again there has been a huge gap between postings. I’ve started a few postings here and there but haven’t had time to either finish them or to polish them. So this week I’m going to make a conscious effort to catch up and have a good week of postings. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself I’m going to do.

I read Aviatrix’s entry on Badgering Badger, in which she ended with a link to the Badger Badger Badger website. Be warned, the Badger website is another one of those useless websites that’s made it’s way around the Internet because it’s so unbelievably annoying that you can’t help but send it around to all your friends. Which is exactly what I did at work (along with a link to Zombo.com).

But of course, no one here at Critical Mass can let an email like that go so replies were sent out with links to the Hampster Dance and a Badger vs Banana remix. So yes, the Internet is annoying.

Sometimes life hits you with a few raw packets (sorry for the geek metaphor) at the most unexpected times. I took a half an hour to walk from my workplace this afternoon to go pay a City of Calgary (or should I say Corporation) parking ticket. That in itself is worth a post, since the fines are outrageous and especially since it wasn’t even me who got the ticket. But I digress.

As I was returning from City Hall, I was nearly accosted by a magpie. It basically flew right in front of me for no apparent reason. Normally a low flying bird is not a big deal except that he landed beside a city trash can and proceed to scamper around the can. The whole thing seemed rather peculiar. That is until I saw that he was chasing a small mouse around and around the can. And then the magpie caught the mouse in it’s beak; right in front on my eyes. Life doesn’t get much more raw than that.

I was reading ’slight paranoia’ this morning and was reminded again that you can legally board a commercially aircraft without showing ID. Personally, I think that is wrong; the airport authorities and airlines should have every right to know who is using their facilities and boarding their planes. And so what if they know who I am, where I was going and when? And even if they report all that to the government, big deal. Though perhaps I don’t care because I’m not a criminal and have no intent of doing anything wrong. But even so, can someone please explain how my privacy is invaded by asking to see my ID? ‘Cause I just don’t get it.

Want to rent a car? You’ll need ID for that. Want to pick up a package from a courier? You need ID for that. In fact you need ID for a lot of things. It’s the way life is. Do I feel my privacy is invaded? No, not in the least.

But the more I think about it, the more I feel that by insisting that people be able to maintain their so called privacy, the more the safety of everyone else is compromised. So if some traveler feels slighted because they have to show ID but the overall result is greater safety for all, then I choose the good of the many over the feelings of the few.

Since my intent with this blog is to publish my thoughts and opinions on various things of interest, I don’t normally like to post entries that consist solely of links to other sites. But this mini movie, titled ’Tony vs. Paul’ is probably the best stop motion movie I’ve seen to date. Very clever.