Break

Even though the Holiday Break was only a few weeks ago... I feel it was an eternity. I look forward to this long weekend...

 

One down... 29 more to go!

Linux Lite

It has been a while since I tested Linux Lite the last time... I am very pleased with the newest version Linux Lite 1.0.8 'Amethyst' 

If you would like to give Linux a try, this would certainly be a good distro

to give a run.

The review below touches on the improvements to this release.

Kudos to the development team.

70 Degrees

From a few days ago when the temp was well below zero...

to this

not to mention the rain that is making the 5 inches of ice totally treacherous to get around on. ;P

Another Go At Mandriva

A few years back... (well, ok... more than a few years back) when I first jumped into learning Linux, Mandriva was the system that caught my attention. I ran Mandriva along side WindowsXP for a year or so before booting into Ubuntu (Hardy) and never looked back (at either... Windows or Mandriva).  I had realized that I much prefered the Debian systems ways of doing things, RPM it seemed to bee too "klunky" for my taste.

The recent release of OpenMandriva has sparked my interest again and I have once more installed this system on one of the PC's in my shop where I am giving it a run through. 

Still doubtful that I care much for the RPM packaging, I am finding the KDE desktop to be a favourable departure from Ubuntu's Unity. Being someone who likes a lot of "eye candy" however, I still believe that I prefer Gnome over either one, and will install Gnome into this system as time permits to give it a real spin.

A Fruitful Day

The pay for these drivers was worth it to the company wasn't it?

So, lets look at the line of events here, shall we?

 -    Everyone has been off for the last two weeks for holidays.

 -    The temps outside for the last few days have been well below zero.

 -    Still 4 to 5 inches of Ice from two weekends ago covering everything.

 -    98% of the buses in the terminal have not been started in two weeks.

 -    75% of those will not start because of dead batteries.

 -    50% of the ones that have been started are still frozen into place.

 -    The only one that was kept inside... has no thermostat... thus throws no heat!

 -    Company decides that it is critical to get another bus for the coming Monday.

 -    Company sends two drivers out in sub zero weather in said bus that has no heat on a trip of around 700 miles to bring back another bus.

 -    With the only hope of having any heat being to drive bus without the overdrive on (which drivers had been told to do to get heat if needed), the two set out with the diesel engine screaming at a sustained 4,000 rpm at highway speeds.

 -    About 4 hours into the trip said bus looses transmission.

 -   Terminal now has to scramble another bus and driver to pick drivers up and bring them home.

 -   Towing is now required for bus that broke down and they are now short two buses for Monday morning.

NOW, the kicker of the saga...  Company has 8 (EIGHT) brand new buses that were received more than two months ago buried under the ice at the terminal that they have not gotten DOT inspected and put into service.

Must be nice for a transportation company to have soooo much money to be able to spend on NEW vehicles just to sit around and make NO money.

Am I the only one that finds this a bit moronic?

Can anyone else point out what should have been done... many weeks ago?

LOL

Sub Zero

As if the below 0 temps aren't enough...

Now that there is a wind directly out of the north it sets the wind chill at -31 degF. :/

How Low

Well... there are calling for temps over the next two days not to break above 0 degF... at 4pm here at the shop it just hit the - side of 0

How Low will it Go?