run-one and run-this-one for Ubuntu – cron helpers

The robotic precision of cron ensures that each subsequent job runs, on time, every time.

But cron doesn’t check that the previous execution of that same job completed first — and that can cause big trouble.

This often happens to me when I’m traveling and my backup cronjob fires while I’m on a slow up-link.  It’s bad news when an hourly rsync takes longer than an hour to run, and my system heads down a nasty spiral, soon seeing 2 or 3 or 10 rsync‘s all running simultaneously.  Dang.

For this reason, I found myself putting almost all of my cronjobs in a wrapper script, managing and respecting a pid file lock according to the typical UNIX sysvinit daemon method.  Unfortunately, this led to extensively duplicated lock handling code spread across my multiple workstations and servers.

From the Canyon Edge – :-Dustin Kirkland: Introducing: run-one and run-this-one.

Make your iDevice Fingerprint-Resistant with Rain-X

Rain-X is a bottled polymer glass treatment that dramatically increases a car’s windshield visibility while driving through rain, snow, or sleet. It works by filling the tiny pores that are naturally present in any piece of glass. By doing so, the precipitation simply beads right off of the windshield instead of penetrating it fully. It’s really effective on cars, but it is also a good solution for preventing fingerprints on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. After applying Rain-X, your screen will feel extremely smooth and will be much more resistant against fingerprints and smudges. It’s not a permant solution, so you’ll need to reapply it once every few weeks or so.

via DIY: Make your iDevice Fingerprint-Resistant with Rain-X – iFans – iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch Fans.

New generation Aga: turns on in 8 minutes, by iPhone

The manufacturer, based in Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, has now made a cooker which looks exactly like a traditional Aga, in cast iron, but which can be fired up with a flick of a switch. Rather than the usual six hour delay before the machine is ready to cook, the new Aga Total Control, will be ready within 8 minutes if you want to fry an egg, or 35 minutes if you want to use the roasting oven. It goes on sale this week.

via New generation Aga: turns on in 8 minutes, by iPhone – Telegraph.

Tiny 3D Printer for home

at the Vienna University of Technology, a printing device has now been developed, which is much smaller, lighter and cheaper than ordinary 3D-printers. With this kind of printer, everyone could produce small, taylor-made 3D-objects at home, using building plans from the internet – and this could save money for expensive custom-built spare parts.

It’s also cheap to make the printer, making it a viable home unit.

via Technische Universität Wien : The World’s Smallest 3D Printer.

MiG pilot defectors during the cold war

More than 200 military pilots escaped to another country for freedom ….or gold!During the period of the Cold War more than 200 military pilots decided to make an instant change in the course of their lives by defecting with their aircraft to another country.

These pages are a research effort to tell the history of the many freedom seekers, heroes and …traitors of the Cold War and thereafter.About the MiG’s and other military aircraft they flew, the reasons for an escape, the dangers of an unexpected landing at a foreign airbase, the Cold War psywar operations bribes! and the examination and testing of defected fighters by the intelligence community.

via index.

KPN mobile wants extra money for voip and chat services

KPN: Where unlimited means limited!

I guess this is their strategy for people using whatsapp and skype services more often. It’s not a very good one, it’s like going back to the days where we paid a few cents per email… that business model didn’t last that long either.

KPN wil klanten extra laten betalen voor bepaalde mobiele internetdiensten. Daarmee lijkt de provider netneutraliteit aan de kant te willen zetten. Onder meer voor onbeperkt gebruik van voip en chat via 3g zal extra moeten worden betaald.KPNDe telecomprovider gaat bundels voor mobiele telefonie introduceren waarbij mensen tegen een meerprijs ‘extra faciliteiten’ kunnen gebruiken. Dat blijkt uit de woorden van KPN-topman Eelco Blok.Tegen Tweakers.net zei Blok dat gebruikers het onbeperkt gebruik van bepaalde diensten, bijvoorbeeld instant messaging en voip-diensten als Skype, moeten ‘afkopen’. Volgens Blok betekent dat niet meteen dat diensten worden geblokkeerd voor gebruikers die niet extra willen betalen. Dat strookt echter niet met zijn uitspraak dat onbeperkt gebruik moet worden betaald. Dat zou immers tot gevolg hebben dat mensen die niet extra betalen, de desbetreffende dienst niet onbeperkt kunnen gebruiken.

via KPN wil klanten extra laten betalen voor chat- en voip-diensten | Mobile | Tweakers.net Nieuws.

Projector keystoning software

To do this there are a few options:

Pixelwarp Edgeblend and Geometric Correction Software.

Sol7 Immersaview

Nvidia NVKeystone but it’s been discontinued since june 2 2009 🙁

VPT 5.1 video projection tool is free and very capable, but I haven’t been able to take a vga / dvi / hdmi output as a live input into it yet so it needs videos in a video directory to throw its layers on allthough this howto is a launching point.

MXWendler FXServer was designed for theatres and stages.

Oxygen system concerns prompt F-22 stand-down

The US Air Force has stopped flying all Lockheed Martin F-22s for an indefinite period over concerns about a possible glitch in the onboard oxygen generation system.The stand-down order issued on 3 May by Air Combat Command ACC chief Gen Will Fraser comes about six weeks after the F-22s were restricted to flying below 25,000ft due to the same problem.The order is in effect until “further notice”, the ACC says.

via Oxygen system concerns prompt F-22 stand-down.