Good to know that the President and his administration are going to explain to us why exactly we’re in Iraq, and what their plan is. This only six months too late. And here’s an interesting quote:
Bush promised a “campaign style” drive to bolster public support in which “we’re going to say exactly why we’re in Iraq,” the aide said.
Better late than never, right?
Posted on 4 September 2003
SCO, in yet another incredible move in their claims about intellectual property in the Linux kernel, will be sending invoices to companies currently using any flavour of Linux. SCO’s claim is, of course, that since they believe the Linux kernel contains their
This is, in fact, illegal. You cannot invoice a company for something that you did not directly provide to them. Note that this sort of thing is actually listed on the national fraud alert website.
Will they never learn?
Posted on 3 September 2003
The World Rally Championship heads to the other side of the world this weekend for the Rally Australia. Another popular rally with the drivers, Australia features narrow, tree-lined roads covered with ball bearing-like gravel that makes running early a distinct disadvantage. The rally happens a bit earlier this season (during the Australian winter rather than spring), so the roads could be a bit wetter than usual, which could negate the disadvantage of running first.
Much has happened since Finland as far as how the top tier teams will look for next season. Richard Burns has signed with Subaru (again), and he hopes to end his time at Peugeot with a driver’s championship. The strangest bit of news from the Peugeot camp is the signing of Harri Rovanpera as the second driver for next year. Rovanpera has never had a full factory drive with Peugeot, but he’s won a few rallies, making him impossible to keep as a third driver. But Peugeot decided not wait to see what Colin McRae or Carlos Sainz would be doing next season and signed Rovanpera. To me, this sounds like Marcus Gronholm doesn’t like sharing the team with another championship contender (like Burns), so perhaps he demanded that Peugeot sign Rovanpera, a driver who can be counted on for manufacturers points, but who won’t challenge for the driver’s championship. Peugeot will be Gronholm’s team next year.
Here’s the team-by-team breakdown for the event:
Peugeot
Gronholm has won the last three rallies in Australia, and he’ll be gunning for another this year. This could be his last chance to take a bit out of Richard Burns’ lead in the driver’s championship, as three tarmac rallies follow. Burns will be pushing as well, trying to extend his lead, though he’ll be hampered by starting first on Friday, sweeping the road for the rest of the field. I expect that one of them won’t make it to the end of rally — the stakes are high, and they’ll both be pushing.
Subaru
Little known fact: Petter Solberg has been the hottest driver since the spring. He’s scored 25 points since Greece, better than Burns, Gronholm, and Markko Martin. If he drives well here, he could be in the hunt for the championship by the time the Rally GB rolls around in November. I expect Solberg with give another measured, quick drive for Subaru, and he should compete for at least a spot on the podium. Tommi Makinen is hanging up his helmet at the end of the season, but he’ll be looking go out on a positive note. The Impreza hasn’t been kind to Tommi in his two years with Subaru, but when it is, Tommi is still as quick as everyone else. If all goes well, Makinen should compete for a top 5 finish.
Ford
The Focus has been the fastest car in the championship since the spring. Expect that trend to continue. Markko Martin, the second best driver since Greece (with 24 points) should be a force in Australia, even with his limited experience with the event. Francois Duval’s only goal is to finish the rally. After breaking team orders, taking a few risks in Finland, and crashing out, Duval has been in hot water with Ford management. He’s got to get his Focus to finishing ramp on Sunday, or else he may be looking for a new drive next year.
Citroen
Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz are fighting for the second Xsara for next season. Who will it be? McRae needs a good result, just to spark interest for next season. Sainz should be ready to pick up the pieces should Gronholm or Burns falter this weekend, and improve his standing in the championship. Seb Loeb should be quick as well, and Citroen should take the lead in the manufacturer’s championship.
Skoda
This rally was almost a wash for Skoda — Didier Auriol had shoulder surgery, and Toni Gardenmeister was injured in a hockey (?) accident. But the good news both drivers will be fit to start the rally. It’s critical that at least one of the new Fabias reach the finish ramp, just for the experience. I do expect the Fabia to set at least one top ten stage time though, even if both cars retire.
Hyundai
Freddy Loix got some good news this month, signing with Peugeot to drive their third car next season. The Accent has suffered from a lack of testing this season, and Loix and Armin Schwarz have struggled. I’d expect both cars to finish, and perhaps Loix could finish in the manufacturers points.
My Picks
1. Markko Martin
2. Petter Solberg
3. Richard Burns
4. Carlos Sainz
5. Tommi Makinen
Posted on 2 September 2003
Maintaining a CVS repository on a Linux machine? Here’s a helpful hint to be sure that newly added files maintain the proper group permissions in the repository (so users can checkout and commit files without error). Once you’ve set yp your repository:
[brianj@brianj /usr/local/cvsroot]$ chmod g+s .
Posted on 2 September 2003
Rotten wet weather. Looks like we missed our window of bouldering opportunity today, and tomorrow’s plan will be nixed thanks to a forecast of heavy rains tonight and tomorrow. It’s been awhile since we’ve last touched rock, and we’re psyched to go with out Seb since we just bought him a little pup tent to take naps in.
On a different note, here’s an interesting article about the ramifications of life resembling the Jetsons. I guess we really never thought about the whole “people replaced by robots” aspects to this contemporary industrial revolution. Interesting stuff….
Posted on 31 August 2003
Peugeot has decided that Harri Rovanpera is their man, and has signed the Finn to be their second driver for the 2004 season. This is Rovanpera’s first chance a full campaign for Peugeot. Peugeot also signed current Hyundai driver Freddy Loix to drive their third car next season, though Loix may only see a limited campaign.
This means that either Carlos Sainz or Colin McRae will be driving for a second-tier team next season, with the rosters of three of the top four manufacturers set. Remember, however, that Citroen this is Citroen’s first full season, and few would have suggested that they would be competing for the maker’s championship at this point. McRae or Sainz could turn a program like Hyundai into a winner very quickly.
Posted on 29 August 2003
Gregg Easterbrook, better known these days as ESPN‘s Tuesday Morning Quarterback, had this to say about the ten commandments flap in Alabama:
As a church-going Christian — TMQ was in this church on Sunday — I find it deeply embarrassing when Christianity is associated, in the public eye, with hucksters like Moore. I find it embarrassing, too, when Christians supporting Moore’s hunk of stone suggest that a big object in a public square is what matters, rather than the power of God’s message itself. Anyone who needs to look at a big object in order to believe, doesn’t really believe.
Amen, brother.
Posted on 26 August 2003
Anybody want to buy a car?
Basic specs:
All wheel drive
5 speed manual transmission
165 bhp engine
Premium stereo system
Color: Blue Ridge Pearl
It’s had all the major Subaru-recommended service done on time (complete fluid change, plugs, etc), and the oil has been changed every 3000 miles as recommended.
It comes with a complete set of winter wheels as well: Bridgestone Bilzzaks mounted on 15″ steel rims. The Blizzaks have at least one more season in them.
The summer tyres are Kumho Ecstas. These will have to be replaced by the end of the year.
Anyone interested?
Posted on 26 August 2003
Jen and I have begun talking about selling the Subaru and buying something a bit more, *ahem*, family-oriented. Now before you saw “they’re buying a minivan” let me say we are NOT looking for a minivan. If all goes well, we won’t even have a station wagon. But something with four doors would be really nice. Ideally, we’d get a WRX, but it’s kinda nice not having any car payments, so I’m currently researching Volvo 750s and 850s. Nice, quick, safe 4 door sedans. Time will tell though, and we’re going to be very picky if we do buy something, since we’re not under the gun with lease termination or whatnot.
Rally News
As expected, Gilles Panizzi has signed a contract with Mitsubishi for next season. This is the sort of opportunity Panizzi has been looking for (and what Peugeot wouldn’t give him) — a full season of driving in a WRC-spec car. While the Lancer may not be the fastest car on the road next year, Panizzi’s input should really move the team forward quickly.
Here’s a quick rundown on the big names that don’t have drives secured for next year:
* Colin McRae
* Carlos Sainz
* Harri Rovanpera
* Freddy Loix
* Alister McRae
More and likely, Sainz or Colin McRae will land at Peugeot, and the other will stay at Citroen. It’s really quite odd that Peugeot wouldn’t just go with Rovanpera, as he’s had success in the 206 in the past. He really hasn’t gotten a fair shake this season, being limited to a handful of rallies and suffering numerous technical issues. He’s never been a real time driver for Peugeot either. It seems Peugeot has lost faith in Rovanpera, and if he can’t secure a ride with Hyundai or Mitsubishi, he may be watching next season from the pub. Loix has the ability to be a fine third driver with a team like Peugeot or Citroen (or Subaru or Ford, if they have a third car next season) as he is fast and could provide top ten manufacturers point in a quick car.
Posted on 25 August 2003
Why is this even happening? The argument is “the laws of our nation are based on the ten commandments.” Really? Let’s have a look at one through three:
1. I AM THE LORD THY GOD, THOU SHALT NOT HAVE strange gods BEFORE ME.
2. THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN.
3. REMEMBER THOU KEEP HOLY THE SABBATH DAY.
Now, I don’t really see anywhere in the local, state, or federal laws of this country that uphold these commandments. Also, keep in mind that these laws (for the Old Testament Jews) weren’t suggestions — they were the law. Punishable, in many circumstances, by death.
The founding fathers of this country were deists. That much is in the history books. Perhaps the law is loosely based around commandments 4-10, but that’s it. Pressing this any further begins to blur the line between the church and state, and even the Puritans, religious zealots that they were, were trying to avoid to this very thing when they left Britain for the colonies.
Posted on 23 August 2003