KernelPanic's New Writeups

swirl for a logo (idea)

2001-08-06T20:10:54Z

Lucent. www.lucent.com
And I don't know about corporate logos, but the icons for Optika's Acorde Imaging System and TrackIt! both have swirls. Along with my shortcut to Lucent Centervu (a phone system management app) and my desktop looks like a trio of toilet bowls.

There was a Dilbert comic (years ago) where Dogbert had to come up with a logo for a huge corporation. All the cronies lined the conference room table in great anticipation while Dogbert did the thinking for this monumental, key decision.

He set his coffee mug on a piece of paper and picked it up, leaving a coffee stain swirl-thing that looked a helluva lot like the Lucent logo. This was the new logo, insignia of a monolith, and all the suits rejoiced.

winat (thing)

2001-08-06T16:04:42Z

Winat is a GUI frontend for Windows NT's schedule service, which handles automating jobs (comparable to cron for unix). It makes scheduling jobs a bit easier, since you just type in what you want to happen and when. Whereas with only schedule you use the "at" command to submit jobs to the schedule service. And since schedule is indeed a service, the machine (usually) doesn't need to have a user logged in to perform the job.

Like Bitsurfer said, it's in the NT Resource Kit.

While it is a bit simpler then just AT, make sure to test your jobs. Various jobs I've Winat'd have gone awry, or not gone at all. There are better and newer equivelents of this program, most of which are free.

We read your mail so you don't have to (idea)

2001-07-23T02:22:41Z

Every now and then I get mail that is severely mangled. Bills, letters, Discover magazine, etc. Usually items like bills and letters will show up in a sealed plastic bag with the USPS logo on it, and an explanation which can be viewed here.

That didn't bother me much. I've watched how mail is sorted on TLC, and it's no simple affair. Until one time my bank statement showed up in a USPS body bag. The actual statement was torn in half, my checks were all shredded, etc. Then I realized that if any postal worker wanted to read anything, all they have to do is:

Rip it open
Read/copy/etc the contents
Tear up contents/envelope a little, to get that 'machine munched' effect
Run the whole mess over with a cart a few times to further aforementioned effect
Put it in a USPS body bag and send it on its way
Don't get caught

Not that I'm saying USPS or any of its workers is guilty of or even remotely…

felony forest (thing)

2001-07-04T16:48:44Z

Law enforcement slang for a huge cache of pine tree air fresheners in a vehicle. Drug runners supposedly employ these in hopes that the emitted smell will foul up police dogs sniffing for drugs.
According to the source, this does not work.

Source:an episode of "Cops"

Why cats are better than dogs (idea)

2001-06-27T03:16:08Z

I've lived with several cats and a few dogs over the years. Don't get me wrong, I love cats. One of my favorite pets, Fidget, was a cat. But here's how I view the list:

1. I've had cats fall asleep on my head, sit down in magazines I'm reading, hop on the kitchen counter for a sniff at dinner, etc etc. If personal space includes automobiles, I've had cats (mine and otherwise) leave footprints all over them, and one that even crawled into the engine and got it's fur beaten off by the fan when someone started the car.
2. ...unless they are upset with you for any of a multitude of reasons. Then the catbox becomes optional, and they will poo in a spot where you are as unlikely to see it as you are likely to step in it. Plus I don't think vomiting falls under potty training, since they never vomit into the the catbox. And that's worse to clean up then poo.
3. I had a cat who would yowl in my window from outside at night because he'd climb onto…

GMC Topkick (thing)

2001-06-22T19:39:30Z

The TopKick is GMC's adaptable heavy diesel utility truck platform. The closest comparison I have is the Ford Econoline, although Topkicks are much larger a truck.
Typically sold with stock options or as a chassis for custom additions. Some of the cooler things I've seen Topkicks turned into:
Large panel truck with crane
Tow truck for pulling semis or full size busses
Cable laying truck (holding a few 10 foot diameter cable spools)
Tanker truck (fuel, water, septic, etc)

Nevada Power makes an impressive auger truck for drilling holes in the ground, complete with stabilizing feet and a huge crane, which holds and spins what looks like a 13 foot long drill bit.