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Reinstalling ‘grub’ boot loader
OK. Documenting this here for the next time I have to do this. I’m working on setting up a computer that dual-boots into Linux and XP. Rule 1: Always put Windows on the first primary partition on the drive. Linux can go pretty much anywhere else. Rule 2: Always install Windows first, then Linux, so…
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The hidden cost of bill payment services
I signed up for a bill payment service yesterday. While I was reading through all the legalese in the “bill payment agreement,” it occurred to me that although the service is advertised as being free, it’s really not. There’s a very sneaky cost to it built in, which must be weighed when determining whether using…
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Lots of fun stuff
A smorgasbord of various topics today. I biked in for the first time since 6/21 today. A week of bad weather at the end of June, followed by a 5-day Independence Day weekend, then more unsettled weather the following week, all combined to keep me off the bike for awhile. Our boiler job starts tomorrow,…
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Mortar for pool coping stones
I swung by Lowes today to see what kind of mortar (and mortar ingredients) they carry. Neither they nor Home Depot seem to carry white Portland cement, so unless I go through a supplier or lumber yard, it looks like my only choice is gray mortar. However, I’m not sure that’s such a bad thing.…
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Honeywell VisionPro 8000 t-stat
I just installed one of these to replace our existing Honeywell t-stat, which was a T8600 series (badged as a “Chronotherm IV Plus”). As part of our big boiler job, we’re splitting our main floor into two heating zones, and I’ll use the old stat for the new zone. The new VisionPro 8000 has a…
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Pool coping project underway
Today I officially got the pool project underway, after 6 weeks or so of procrastination. After a week of foul weather, I finally got a decent day, so I took off work and rented the concrete saw. It did the job quite nicely, and quickly enough that I only needed a 4-hour rental. It took…
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The paradox of pool solar covers
We have a solar cover for our pool. It’s essentially a big, plastic sheet of bubble-wrap that sits on the pool surface. To remove it, we crank it onto a big reel — it’s pretty much a necessity to have a reel for these things, particularly with a large pool like ours. After 5 seasons…
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Revisiting legacy myUMBC session management
Now that we’ve entered the brave new world of SSN remediation, it’s time to think about taking another step with myUMBC: We should stop using HP-ID as the primary key for legacy session management, and use UMBC Campus ID instead. Here’s why… All of our web proxy channels which use the old portal as a…
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Oracle SQL Developer
I’ve just discovered Oracle SQL Developer, and it looks like it’s going to really make my life easier. I’ve been using an old, crusty version of SQL Navigator for my SQL visualization needs, and it’s always worked, but I’ve never been crazy about it. For one, the UI is very klunky — the mouse wheel…
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myUMBC redesign coming along
What’s this… a rare work-related entry on a weekend?? Well, it is the weekend, but I’m hacking on the portal anyhow, to get ready for our relaunch this August. It’s coming along marvelously, thanks mainly to Collier, but I’ve been busy with it too. The relaunch will include: A complete redesign of the front end…