Monthly Archives: October 2005

Webcam issue solved!

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Four weeks ago I reported on Ubuntu Forums that my Ubuntu box freezes whenever I try to use webcam with spca5xx driver. Here is my post Breezy hangs when using webcam. So, it seems it works now. Four days ago I got a message from Alvaro Arenas with explanation how to solve this issue. Simply, I used wrong gcc version to build spca5xx driver – gcc 4.0 instead of 3.4 :-). Here you will find complete article explaining all details [HOWTO] Using spca5xx webcam driver.

My smiling face is the proof Alvaro’s solution works :-)

I'm happy my webcam works with Ubuntu

Now, I’m going to find some nice software to play with my webcam. Do you have any suggestions?

Programmer’s Toolbox

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Whatever you do, you need to know what kind of tools you need. That’s obvious rule. Certianly, you can dig a patch with a table spoon if you like :-) but in most cases you will use a specialized tool – spade.

Today, when I was reading Ubuntu Forums I came across a very nice explanation of tools in programmer’s toolbox. In my opinion, this short but condensed overview is all the truth about programming tools. So, in alphabetical order it looks like this:

  • C is a screwdriver
  • C++ is a Phillips-head screwdriver1
  • C# is a screwdriver that has a funny head2
  • Java is a bench saw
  • Python is a mitre saw3
  • Perl is a hammer

Now, I’d draw my own conclusion: best tools are precise3 and more precise1

1 precise as surgical instrument
2 first, I think tool is expected to be usefull, not funny :-)
3 another precise and accureate tool

Disclaimer: Yes, I flame on Java and C# :-)

First order on Amazon.com

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Three days ago I ordered two books on Amazon.com. In 24 hours after I placed my order I got a message from Amazon with confirmation that my credit card has been authorized. Hurray! Amazon also confirmed order has shipped. Nice, isn’t it. I said to my self: In two weeks you will smell your brand new books at home. But what’s that? Amazon inform me in their message that estimated delivery date: December 16, 2005. Hm, how could it be – let me ask. Don’t you have any aricrafts there, in USA?

Let’s see it in details. So, two clicks on the Google Map Pedometer and I have distance between the middle of the USA and the middle of Poland. The result is 8196.531 km or if you prefer miles, then it’s 5093.088 mil. OK, so how many days this trip will take? December 16 minus October 26 gives 51 days! Maybe they will ship my books on the raft, who knows :-) So, the only think I can do is to accept it. I only hope they don’t wet my books in the ocean. Huh? OK, here are a few more calculations made by Google, just for fun: 8196.531/51 = 160.716294 km per day and this gives 160.716294/24 = 6.69651225 km/hour. Not so fast :-(

Finally, I think I should say a word about the books, So here you are:

Web Mapping Illustrated Web Mapping Illustrated by Tyler Mitchell

Tyler is a geographer, enthusiast and developer of Open Source Software. He contributes to many projects. You can catch him on IRC channels #gdal i #qgis on the irc.freenode.net IRC server. I also recommend great podcast by Hobu – Interview with Tyler Mitchell.
Mapping Hacks Mapping Hacks by Schuyler Erle, Rich Gibson and Jo Walsh

To make shippment costs lower I decided to order second book. First, it was one of MapServer book but Tyler suggested me to buy this one – Mapping Hacks – for learn and fun.

By the way, Amazone.com sells Tyler’s book about 10$ cheaper than O’Reilly :-)
When I get and read those books I will write some review.

Beauty and the Beast

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When I saw this photo (below) for the first time, I had a great laugh and it reminded me well known story titled Beauty and the Beast. I think it’s clear which one is the Beauty and which one is the Beast :-). The very next moment, I had a pity on this poor boy Thomas Ulrich (on the left) that having such a pretty face, he must go and fight with iron hammers of our Tomek Adamek.

Don’t you think Thomas Ulrich fits better to cover of some magazine for women (or men, that’s matter of taste) than to the boxing ring? May be he has never took a look in the mirror, I don’t know. I would say he is like owner of a brand new Mercedes who goes to race with Monster Trucks, completely unaware. Brrr!
So, from 3rd round Tomek Adamek started giving this german a solid thrashing. Finally, the Beast from Poland smashed up the Beauty’s face ;-)

The Beauty & The Beast
Photo from TVP

Cry for Sattelite!

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BBC announced that European satellite presumed lost. What does it mean? It means European Space Agency lost their spacecraft somewehere in the space. ESA hasn’t confirmed yet it is definitely lost, but russian space gurus reported it is – crashed to the sea. It was called CryoSat and was sent into orbit to monitor ice cover and climate.

So, 135 million Euro disappeared somewhere above our heads. Let’s repeat: one hundred thirty five million Euro is gone. I think ESA officials should now rename their spacecraft to CryForSat as a short of Cry For Sattelite. But as I read from BBC article, they are not crying at all. They lost 135 millions and they are not crying? How is this possible!

Chief scientist Duncan Wingham sums it up this way:

Space is a risky business, it always has been.

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