Monday, July 22, 2002
The 9:10 AM bus didn't show up this morning, so I got to work around 10:00 AM instead of 9:30. Plugged in the new Linux server to the network. No firewall, but I'm using tcpwrappers and I've already turned off all services except sshd. When it's on the network, I'll finish installing qmail, procmail, and double-check all security points. Removed a hard drive from one of the computers we're going to surplus. The computer is a Pentium II Compaq EN Series 6350. The hard drive is only 6 GB, so if we can't use it then I plan to have it somehow physically destroyed so that data cannot be retrieved from it. People have suggested dipping it in acid, but I haven't seen such services offered commercially, so I guess it's a "do at home in the garage" sort of thing. It sounds dangerous, and since we don't have a garage, I'll just keep it locked in my desk drawer for now. Cleared out some space in my office which had a bunch of old computers and an extra monitor. Four more days of work and then I'm on vacation. Found a security problem with the beta student database project that the SAA team was working on. Their Web database would let people in if they left the login and password empty, exposing social security numbers, addresses, and fee data to anyone who figured this out. I reported it, and they promptly took the database down to recode. Requested from ITS a listserv to be set up for the School of Pharmacy web developers. Completed my self-appraisal document for Cindy. Lunch at Nan King Road Bistro: vegetarian black bean chow fun. Patrick has finished corrections for chapter 14 and is now on chapter 15. He says section 3 should go the quickest. Restored Chris's e-mail from the old rebus box. He now has the ability to view and print his old e-mail, but since qmail isn't yet set up on the new machine he doesn't have full e-mail functionality. I also showed him how to handle attachments. MUNI hell on the way home: I left work at 7:15 PM. I walked 6 blocks to 9th and Judah, got there at 7:25 PM. At this point, I could have waited 5 minutes for a bus which might or might not have shown up. (See July 2.) Since I've been burned once already by having to wait for an hour on the corner of 9th and Judah, I hopped the 43 bus to Forest Hill where I discovered the next L-Taraval train was in 22 minutes. I waited. And I waited. And I waited. The train came, and I got on and got off at 30th Avenue. I walked home and just as I got to the gate, the 66 bus passed by, which means that I took the long way home and beat the 7:30 PM bus. MUNI is so miserable now, that if I get a decent raise I'm gonna plunk down money for a rented garage near work and just drive. Screw the environment and screw this city for having a practically worthless transit system. Dinner at home with Patrick: bowties with shrimp and lima beans. We were planning to go to The Gap after dinner, but since MUNI was way late, the mall would have just about closed by the time we got there and so we didn't want to chance the trip so we didn't go. Patrick writes while I answer e-mail and write in my journal. Patrick makes a cold pasta salad for me to take to the potluck at work tomorrow while I fold laundry.