1. June 12, 2008

      Always the simple things…

      So for the last hour, I’ve been trying to get Microsoft Messenger:mac working with the Office Communications Server. I try using my credentials, and the only error I was getting back was “sign in to Microsoft Messenger failed because the service is not available”.

      So I busted open WireShark and had a look. It was constantly getting a 200 (OK) back, right before Messenger threw the error. I tried turning off my firewall (10.5 has it’s issues…), and it still won’t work. I try manually setting the server settings, nothing. So I head over to the Microsoft page, to see if I had an outdated version. And that’s where I saw it…

      Turns out, Microsoft Messenger:mac won’t work with Office Communications Server 2005, only 2007. WTF!?!?! C’mon Microsoft, why won’t you let your client connect to your own server, just because it’s a little outdated!!!! Anyway, the moral of the story: If you get this error, just downgrade to version 6. It works as expected

    2. June 9, 2008

      Another one bites the dust.

      Alrighty, so another uni semester is almost done and gone. Two more exams, neither of which I’m looking forward to, and i’m done. Looking back, it was one really great semester.

      So, in lieu of a Nerdery post this week, here is a list of things I’ll be up to during the break “break” (if you can really call it that)

      • Beverley. Gotta start with the best item, of course.
      • xLAN; Gotta keep fine-tuning the port-blockings!
      • A totally awesome but totally disturbing Nexus article. Just wait.
      • Alca-Lu; Gotta build me some server system now.
      • Codename Zapper; Secret plan to get students collaborating.
      • Codename f0rce; Don’t you just hate not having a decent notes-taker for PocketPC?
      • Coming up with proper names for these codenames.
      • My site’s photo gallery. Yes, it’s coming. Yes, it’ll be AAJAX. The extra A is for Awesome.
      • And last but not least, the person who I most want to spend time with, Beverley.

      And on that bombshell, I’ll leave you with a quote about my idea for an ordered linked-list for the final 203 project (of which 1/11 test cases had to deal with 100,000 nodes). Yes, still got an A+ on it.

      Given the horrible performance on big sets (yours was slowest of all submissions!) some more justification required as to why a Linked List is still a good choice (as opposed to another option)

      Woohoo, I’m #1!

    3. June 5, 2008

      The Nerdery: s02e11: On parking

      So sorry for the delay, completely forgot I was supposed to post these here and NOT just on my local development site x.x

      I’m sure this rant has been done 100 times before 100 times better than I’m about to do it, but I don’t care. I hate the uni’s parking. Which is why I take the bus, unless;

      1. I’m coming to uni after 1800
      2. I’ve decided I can’t sleep and come to uni at 0430 (true story)
      3. I’ve got to go get a parcel from CourierPost’s HQ in middle-of-nowhere-land before trudging to a lab.

      And unfortunately, its the latter option that had lead to this rant.

      While most people should be able to take the bus, or bike, or walk, it seems that the ever increasing costs will never meet the threshold at which uni students won’t drive to uni. I say ‘most’ as I do know of exceptions to the rule; those with disabilities, families of uni-goers, etc. And of course there are the few who occasionally need to use that curbside paperweight. But there’s the undeniable fact that a lot of the cars that frequent the uni aren’t really needed. But, unlike most rants, I have a plan of action for this problem.

      It’s called a barrier arm and card reader. Just like the ones that Wintec currently uses. Before being granted entry into the student parking lots, you have to swipe your student ID card. If this is after a certain time of the night, or if this is the first time you’ve ‘swiped in’ this week, no problem, free entry. If this is the second visit this week, a small, but reasonable fee of $0.75 or so is deducted from your unicash account.

      It’s enough of a deterrent for uni students to seriously consider leaving their cars at home, after all, look at the small amount of student parking Wintec students have. Not to mention it’s a much more appropriate way of paying for the parking security, then just charging all students. And, as entry (and obviously exit) is controlled by barriers, we know how many cars are in a given lot, so imagine being able to find out where a park is available by sending a text message. Or, better yet, reserving a park for another small fee. Wouldn’t it be worth 40 cents to know you’re going to get a park once you show up, without circling around?

      So, what are your thoughts? Would you support such an idea? Post me a comment before I go crazy and bring this before some of the committees I sit on.