Now I have https
Blog Entry on the Sunday 02nd, January, 2005
I had have a small problem getting https working. I have enabled the mod_ssl. Added a < VirtualHost *:443 >, Added Listen 443, Used openssl to make a key and self-signed certificate. Used 'apache2ctl startssl' to restart apache 2.
When testing I get an error using the command 'openssl s_client -connect localhost:443 -state -debug'
- SSL_connect:error in SSLv2/v3 read server hello A
Also in error.log
- Init: (localhost.localdomain:443) You configured HTTP(80) on the standard HTTPS(443) port
The solution is not documented directly and google did not find it, (So lets publish)
SSLEnable is for apache version 1.x
Apache2 uses:- SSLEngine on
Solution: Add this within the
< VirtualHost *:443 >
SSLEngine on
....
January 3, 2005
Blog Entry on the Monday 03rd, January, 2005
Allyson at 25 weeks
Collecting cots from friends, assembling cots, visiting Mothercare - Gulp.
Honorarium Payment, Light-GUI CD Image Infected
Blog Entry on the Wednesday 05th, January, 2005
Received 'Honorarium Payment'. Nice start to the week.
Within the new Light-GUI is some CD-Persistent code. - Alextreme hands bmsleight 'a bucket of geekpoints'.
Fscking Hard Drive
Blog Entry on the Thursday 06th, January, 2005
Fscking hard drive. Its just failed twice in less than 10 minutes. I think the hard drive is over heating. Laptop is getting quite hot, fans going at full speed, heavy download to HD.
I have a spare Hard Drive, but not sure how I can backup. Sit in the freezer with a LiveCD ? Any suggestions please email: me.spam [4t] barwap .com
Using backup Dell laptop.
Damn, dash, bother.
January 9, 2005
Blog Entry on the Sunday 09th, January, 2005
Felt a kick last night, quite gentle but a kick.
It is always good to RTFM, which I am doing at the moment :-
Looks like my Hard Drive was fine, but one of my RAM chips was fscked. Which is great - could not afford a new laptop.
Webcams - Open Access, find with Google
Blog Entry on the Sunday 09th, January, 2005
Cool slashdot story about finding open webcams. I even found some open and able to PTZ. Orginal posted here, google searches here and here. Pick a high number in the serach pages such as 5 or 12, and PTZ (SUNYMorrisville for example).
Packed ready for Neaps Wedding
Blog Entry on the Tuesday 11th, January, 2005
Off to Kolkata, India on Thursday for the wedding of Sandip and Debolina Bhattacharya.
Just like buses, you wait for one wedding and two come along at once. Unfortunately I doubt I'll get to go to Kolkata twice in one month, as Sanjoy Chattopadhyay's wedding is on the 30th January.
Well thats it, we are all married. Me, Andy, Neil, Neaps, John Mitchel, Wendy ... the list goes on ... most of my peers.
Apple does it again only Better.
Blog Entry on the Wednesday 12th, January, 2005
What can I say, buy Apple stock.
The have got the best killer device out. Mac-Mini. Apple have got everyone hooked with the iPod, then built a bigger following with the mini-iPod.
The success of the iPod was build-up, IMHO, from Mac uses recommending iPods to friends. Now based upon the bigger fan base of mac users, iPods, and mini iPods owners and using the simple noun of 'mini' to associate the product line, Apple launch macmini. The macmini is running OSX, the best (non-GNU/Linux) operating system, especially for non-geeks.
For normal users when they make their next PC purchase, they will remember their iPod with the excellent user-interface, the easy of iTunes, the recommendation of their mac owning friends (They were right last time about the iPod). Look at the applications, the small size, the cool silver case, remember the prefix mini, software and hardware designed to just work, 1920 by 1080 resolution on existing monitor, USB mouse with two buttons. Compared to a poorly designed user interface, with multiple crashes, device driver hell. Many will make the jump.
I did not even mention the iPod Shuffle.
OKolkata
Blog Entry on the Thursday 20th, January, 2005
Wow. I am on the plane on the way back from India, Kolkata. I have just spent about week in India. It was interesting, smelly. fun, polluted, tasty, lively and noisy. Not boring.
For my own records I will spin though the trip day by day, but you can just skip to the holiday photos. (More to be added once Ranj, Andy, Mathias, and Sandip email me their photos)
Wednesday / Thursday
Online check-in. Good start to the holiday - an upgrade (World Traveller Plus), not quite First-Class, but considering the last flight I took back from Canada I also got a upgrade (for all four of us) its not a bad record!
Friday
Arrived in Kolkata (Calcutta) about 3am local time. Sandip met Andy and I outside the Airport.
- Sleep -
Go to Sandip rented flat for lunch and to witness Priest praying. Priest was giving gifts to Sandips ancestors and asking for their blessing of his Wedding. Then lunch - Indian food in India - wonderful.
Pop to local market, everyone collects or selects their wedding outfit (Sherwanies). Also buy Caftan for Allyson.
Evening Drinks. Gin and Tonic's. Well I'm an English Gentleman in India old-boy, the Quinine. More Gin, small sleep at Bar table, Gin, Night Club, Hotel Bar - with Musical Band. Bed - late in whatever timezone.
Saturday
The day of Sandip and Deblina's wedding - which is why we are in Kolkata.
Alarm call at 8:00am (need sleep) then off in taxi to Sandip's flat. A short introduction to Indian driving; Beep Horn, lane marking are trivial, Beep Horn, Traffic Signs are optional, Beep Horn, wing mirrors to be snapped inwards at all times to allow car to fit though smaller gaps in traffic, Beep Horn ....
A wonderful part of the Hindu wedding is that the groom in the morning gets smeared in Turmeric paste. Everyone gets a chance to cover Sandip in basically yellow dye. (This also stains our hands) Much messy fun is had.
A quick sleep at the hotel then out to explore around the Hotel. Whilst wandering back to the Hotel with Andy and Mathias, Andy spots a tailors (Barkat Ali & Bros.). We pop in to check out the prices. Andy and I then pop back later to order a made to measure suit each. Had fun being measured for the suits.
We dress up for the wedding. Sandip and especially Deblina look very good in their new outfits. Hindu Wedding is very interesting. Two quote Mathias - A Norwegian wedding requires just two yeses. A Hindu wedding involves lots of symbolism. I was most impressed by the symbolic pouring of the barley from Deblina's relatives to Sandip, meaning that the responsibility to provide for Deblina passes to Sandip. Lots of videos and photos.
After the wedding the Indian buffet was excellent, especially the vegetarian option. Raj and I made the most of it.
Got Deblina's cousin into the Nightclub (Tantra) so she could see what inside a nigh-club. (Me, Raj, Kattia, her Mum and Dad.) Being an white Englishman - unfortunately helps to get (free) entry. Ended up in the Hotel Bar, aware how awful the live band is when fairly sober.
SundayLay-in, walked around city, did some shopping. Its depressing seeing the gulf between the poor and the rich. Beggars and slump housing mixed with 5 Star Hotels (such as the hotel I am staying at). I did not give to beggars, the aim is to try to find a missionary when back in the UK. Early night .
Monday
Hire Car from Hotel to act as a tour guide. Went to a few temples, Krishna temple and the Victoria Memorial. Photos speak louder then words.
The car driver did a excellent job. Pointing out parts of the city, highly recommend this option. We asked the driver to recommend a restaurant for dinner. He dropped us off at Shiraz, on Park Street. One of the best Indian meals I had, the fish tandoori is spectacular. Biryani also not bad. Did get a lot of staring at the white men, but this was happening all over Kolkata. Total cost of meal, including 20% tip - 300 Rupees (GBP 3.50 / 5 Euros.)
Tuesday
Another lazy day. When out did some more shopping and wondering. Andy and I, found the now traditional wedding present. It started at my wedding where I got some statues that were different - but made good peanut dispenserS. Then at Neil and Jenny's wedding we found a really tacky statue, much fun is had by faking an insult that they do not have our wedding present on show.
Rest of the day spent having a swim in a the pool, followed by a massage and the steam room. In the evening out to Shariz again - top food. Had shoes polished on way home.
Wednesday
Hire car again from Hotel. Visited the Royal Botanical Gardens. This contains a Banyan tree which is one tree with apparently hundred of different tree trunks.
We then when to a temple, supervised by a Brahmin (Hindu priest). It was noisy crowded but an interesting experience. The priest wanted 3,100 rupees for a bag of rice, the driver had already advised us the 100 rupees is fine. Coming out of the temple the Driver was already having a drink and offerED me a glass as well. Basically freshly crushed sugar cane and lime. (Ok so the glasses could have been cleaner). Very nice and refreshing drink.
Quick look at Mother Teresa house.
In the afternoon I went out with Sandip and did five forms of public transport; Bus, Metro, Rickshaw, Auto-rickshaw and tram. Lots of fun, with an auto-rickshaw I think it may be best to just close your eyes. Both the Tram and the Metro had 'Ladies Only' seating for part of the carriage to oblige you to give up a seat. Also did some haggling in the Market and brought a silk bed-spread a pashmina for Allyson.
In the evening we all went out to Oh! Calcutta restaurant. As this is classed as the best restaurant in the city. (We all eat too much)
Then to the airport and home with a few presents for Allyson.
In many ways I am lucky to be home.
January 27, 2005
Blog Entry on the Thursday 27th, January, 2005
Yesterday was a high blood pressure day. At the end of the day everything is fine and it puts in to perspective what is important and what is nice but not important.
Workin
Blog Entry on the Sunday 30th, January, 2005
A couple of busy days at work, all to 'Back the Bid'. Arrived at work yesterday at 0615. Left at 1815 - without any lunch. On the way home the Northern line was closed between Stockwell and Morden. (At had a sneaky look at the LUL system we have in the LTCC - no trains running. Eventually got home via Wimbledon at quarter to eight.
Today got woken up by a call from BT (Saturday). Back to site to allow BT access to the router. Then back to the instation matrix to see if it worked. After lots of fun and games, pinging and scratching head. I worked out that I had to press the button on the decoders to enable video output. Wow - CCTV from the new cameras is on matrix. (I actually shouted 'Yes' at this point.)
Anyway IMHO a cool new type of CCTV for TfL
New Morphix World Record - Lowest Ram (12Mb)
Blog Entry on the Sunday 30th, January, 2005
How about booting a 'Poor Mans Install' with 12Mb of RAM. No problem, use /dev/hdc1 as /ramdisk.
Working towards making Photo-ix. The aim is to turn a really-low specfication laptop into a digital photo-viewer.
