Stuff Michael Meeks is doing

Interested to see the C++ in gcc discussions going on; having done a little hacking on gcc as someone unfamiliar with the code-base; it took a large amount of time to get into. This was seemed un-related to the language choice, and instead to the habit of re-using generic types for everything - presumably (in part) because the garbage collector can walk them without extra effort. If changing the language helps focus people on improving readability, that's all to the best. Of course, C++ has some hideous readability problems built-in: operator overloading, hidden references void non_obvious_mutator (int &x); and so on.
Mail, and admin, sync call with JP. Nice to see the MeeGo blog entries from Thomas (on zones), and Travis on Telepathy/Empathy. Nice Ars Technica review too with a lot of shots (a shame WiFi didn't work for them though).
Lunch, quick advisory board call.
Having heard about the Israeli helicopter raid on the (difficult-to-board) boat, and given that my sentiments are generally with the oppressed, state-deprived Palestinians - who apparently also get regularly attacked by illegal Israeli settlers, I was suitably unsympathetic to the (apparently obvious propoganda) of the Israeli military about how they were beaten by pipe wielding crazies, and so on; and much more convinced by the apparent peace-nicks: "not going to pose any violent resistance" line. On the other hand, I hate being fooled by the radio. For how long will an armed man under attack watch his colleagues get beaten before he authorises a disproportionate response ? Perhaps that is not news. Then again looking for the blamelessly virtuous in the cycle of violence and suffering in the Middle East seems a pretty fruitless quest; sigh.
Just to exacerbate my strategy of offending everyone concurrently (divide and conquer) - I have some sympathy for Foxconn whose no doubt appallingly normal (for China) working conditions might be only the grit in the oyster of their problem. Could this be a Micronesian Teen suicide type epidemic.
Pleased and amused to see (finally) some closure on the unusual backwards I/O patterns that iogrind showed at startup, more juciy details from Taras.
Dinner, Lydia & Janice came over. Plugged away at the repstrap - mounted the bulk fillament somewhat lamely on the ceiling above the machine, really needs a proper spindle & bearing. Calibrated both sides of the Z axis nicely, re-made the Y and X opto end-stops using biscuit tin lid. rather than beer can: for a more durable action, tightened everything - finally got a reasonable print of the bottom few layers of a cube, though eventually (due to a raised lump in the middle) the thermistor became detached; well pleased with progress; and with a very tough square of plastic.

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In case it's not painfully obvious: the reflections reflected here are my own; mine, all mine ! and don't reflect the views of Collabora, SUSE, Novell, The Document Foundation, Spaghetti Hurlers (International), or anyone else. It's also important to realise that I'm not in on the Swedish Conspiracy. Occasionally people ask for formal photos for conferences or fun.

Stuff Michael Meeks is doing

2010-06-01: Tuesday.