Another link-o-licious post:
Work
The developers didn't like FreeBSD 4.1 (after all, it demonstrated fairly handily how fragile their build system, codebase, and resulting product were), so they had management order it reloaded with 4.2. Reloaded. Did I mention that their code fails with the FreeBSD-bundled version of GCC (2.95.2, with local modifications; stock 2.95.2 appears to build their stuff just fine...and don't even talk about getting them going with 2.95.3)? I can't wait until GCC 3.0 hits the wire, and all their template abuse no longer passes muster.
As a result, I missed the meeting with the Oracle consultant, since I was back at the office rebuilding that machine. Luckily, the Oracle installation on that inherited box was so fried, they spent the entire day just trying to get tnslsnr up and running (translation: he'll be back tomorrow when I go out there). Ye ghods, what a clusterfuck things are becoming.
Maintaining something like rblcheck means your ears perk up when you hear something telling you that there's one less RBL-style system out there. It's unfortunate that we're not hearing anything about a continuation of the service by someone (since he took it over from Alan Hodgson originally, and it's filled with referrals fed to it by thousands of sources from around the net), or at least the availability of the pieces that drove it so that someone could continue it, either in the current form or a modified vision of it (much like AB adjusted how it operated after taking it over). Ah well, I can't fault Alan for not wanting to hear anything about ORBS-related issues for a little while, what with the sale of his ISP and the ORBS-related court actions.
Gaming
Spent $20, bought a copy of Serious Sam. Cool game engine. In fact, the entire product feels like a technology demo being presented to a game design firm, rather than something meant for consumers; the engine has some very cool stuff, from the procedural effects (damn, the water refractions are cool) to the overall performance for what is primarily an outdoor game, but the gameplay leaves quite a bit to be desired. It just feels slapped together and shoved out the door. Definitely has mod potential (haven't had a chance to pull down any yet to see how they fare), and multiplayer goes well (the cooperative mode reminded me of playing co-op Doom many moons ago), so it's not a bad buy if you find it on sale somewhere; makes a nice fast-paced distraction from Black & White. ;-)
Life
My car is currently unstartable, because the little chip in the key appears to no longer be telling the car what it wants to hear. Argh, who thought this would make my car less prone to theft, anyway? Gack. The fellow at the service center said to give it a try tonight, since apparently giving it some time gives it a chance to "reset" (his words). Yeesh. I don't know what's worse, having a car with a security system that isn't, or dealing with a service center that can't.
Enough ranting for one day, methinks.