Category: Revelation

Today’s Java puzzlement

Does anybody know why my CentOS 4.4 desktop system shows Korean fonts in both native apps (like gvim) and our Java application, but our CentOS 5.0 Theatre Management Systems (TMS) will only display Korean fonts in native apps. Obviously the fact that the TMS displays Korean fonts in gvim proves that the fonts are installed. And the fact that my CentOS 4.4 desktop shows the Korean fonts in our application proves that Java 1.5_011 can do Korean. Although the rpm names have changed, as far as I can tell the same Korean fonts are installed.

Anybody have any clues?

Bleargh

Last night I attempted to do an IPC with the instructor (Lenny) who I did my instrument rating with.

I’d booked our club’s Dakota because we’d just upgraded our GPS from the 530 to the 530W and I wanted to try a LNAV+VNAV approach in it to see how it compares to an ILS.

Because I’m the sort of geek that I am, the first thing I did was download the new 530W manual and the 530W simulator, and read through the manual and try a couple of approaches in the simulator. The new upgrade gives the 530 significantly more information, especially guidance through approach holds and procedure turns, and turn anticipation, which is pretty cool. One thing I couldn’t find was information about doing ad-hoc holds, like at an en-route VOR. Unfortunately, the simulator simulates an HSI which our plane doesn’t have, so I wasn’t sure if the method I worked out to do them on the sim was going to work with the Dakota.
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A tale of two flying clubs

Greater Rochester International Airport (KROC) has two flying clubs, which through historical accident have a lot of overlap in our respective fleets, but huge differences in our operating philosophies. Both clubs are also suffering from the down turn in flying caused by the lousy economy, high fuel costs, ridiculous security theatre, stupid liability law climate, etc. Our costs are going up, which causes members to leave, which causes costs per member to go up further, which causes more members to leave, etc. It’s a bad spiral to be in. So naturally both clubs are wondering if we could combine forces to weather this down turn.
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The nagging-est highway

I-79 between Pittsburgh and Eire has a stretch where every few minutes you encounter large signs with black letters on a bright yellow background. They’re full of advice, mostly about wearing your seat belts (the best one was “Seat belts required, next million miles”), but also slogans like “Slow down and save lives”, “Stay alert”, etc. After a while it feels like they’re nagging you. Vicki and I spent some time coming up with suggestions for future signs:

STOP SLOUCHING, SIT UP STRAIGHT!

ARE YOU REALLY GOING OUT DRESSED LIKE THAT?

DON’T MAKE THAT FACE WHEN I’M TALKING TO YOU – I’M TELLING YOU THIS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!