I've concluded that my favorite smtp server is postfix. I recently switched from courier-mta to postfix on my main server, and I couldn't be happier with the switch. Courier isn't actually all that bad, but it is definitely... quirky. I remember the first time I set it up it too me over a week to tweak all the 'bofh' options (i'm not making that up) and get mail flowing properly in and out. Postfix, on the other hand, is as easy as pie to configure. I had already been using postfix on my backup mail servers, so creating a config file for my main server took no longer than 15 minutes.

Posted by ra in computerish at 23:19 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

This is really awesome in an eight-year-old-girl kind of way.

http://gmodules.com/ig/creator?synd=open&...

Posted by ra in main at 21:29 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

It's not as much to do with MT itself (I actually think it's nice and easy to use), as it is my dislike of six apart and how they conduct their business. The whole free, no-longer-free, free-again licensing fiasco aside; I have to say that six apart's delivery of MT sucks, at least from an administrator's point of view.

Like any other public-facing software package (read: potential compromise point/attack vector) on my server, I keep track of updates to movable type. Although some new versions are just feature-releases, there are a fair number of important security fixes that must be addressed. For most software packages on my server, I rely heavily on announce-only mailing lists to find out about security-related releases, and to a lesser extent, on RSS feeds and webpages. When I started looking for a movable type mailing list, I came up empty handed. I eventually found one hosted at sixapart.com, and I signed up. To make a long story short, the list turned out to be defunct, even though it was still active on their website and accepted new subscriptions. I emailed the list owner about the list, who happened to be one of six apart's co-founders, but never received a reply.

Posted by ra in tech at 01:30 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

I hate it when I start typing a long query in the mysql client (mysql command-line interface) and then I realize that I'm not ready to run it yet or that I need to run a different query first. I either have to hit backspace 137 times, or I sometimes hit ctrl-c thinking I am using a bash shell; which of course kills mysqlclient, requiring me to reconnect.

Fortunately, I've finally found some shortcut key sequences to solve this problem, as well as some other useful tips. (these shortcuts also work in bash)

ctrl-w - 'cut' the word before cursor
ctrl-u 'cut' all input before cursor
ctrl-y 'paste' cut text

alt-f - move forward one word
alt-b - move backwards one word
ctrl-a - move cursor to the begining of the line
ctrl-b - move backwards one character
ctrl-e - move cursor to the end of the line
ctrl-f - move forward one character
ctrl-h - deletes one letter at a time (backspace)
ctrl-l - clear screen
ctrl-r - search previous queries

Posted by ra in tech at 00:16 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

YES, everyone knows verizon sucks, but this is JUST SAD. I am dying listening to this shit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp0HyxQv97Q&eurl=

More details/background here:

http://verizonmath.blogspot.com/

Posted by ra in rants at 03:28 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

At first I laughed off reports of injuries incurred by Nintendo Wii players or innocent bystanders, but now I must reconsider the danger surrounding wii-play. Tonight our poor dog was struck with a Wii-mote!

It was the eighth frame of Wii Sports Bowling, and I was winning. Our friend brought his arm back, and then as he flung his hand forward, determined to bowl a strike, he struck Topper in the head with the controller (she didn't realize that sitting behind him on the couch was a bad idea, apparently). She didn't make a noise when it happened, but the sound of plastic smacking against bone was unmistakable, and she sulked over and collapsed in my lap, obviously traumatized. After we determined that she wouldn't need surgery, we continued the game. The throw interrupted by her head ended up being a gutter ball, btw. As our friend prepared to make his next throw, Topple quickly evacuated the couch for safer seating. Smart doggie!

I think the real lesson here is: don't take dogs bowling with you. Lest they end up like our poor Topple-- scared for life!

Posted by ra in main at 02:01 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

That was fun! I played a Nintendo Wii for the first time this evening, and it was a blast. I tried all of the Wii Sports games and played ten minutes into the new Zelda as well. Wii Sports was my favorite, for sure. I wasn't a natural at any of the games except for boxing, nonetheless I enjoyed them all immensely. I'm sure it was the first time I've gotten so much exercise while playing a video game (nope, never got into or even tried DDR).

I can't wait to have a Wii of my own!

Posted by ra in main at 02:02 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)