September, 3, 2003 archives

the symptom: qmail isn't delivering any outgoing mail, and is processing local mail slowly, without any indication in the logs as to why.

the problem: a version of vim compiled with the python interface is sucking up all of the cpu time after the controlling terminal (an ssh session) was disconnected. this bug exists in the version of vim packaged by red hat for 7.3, at least. the bug is explained in the vim faq.

the solution: kill the out-of-control vim.

needless to say, drawing the line between the symptoms and the solution took quite a few more zigs and zags.

i watched hannibal over the weekend, and while both julianne moore and anthony hopkins were fun to watch, i thought that the movie fell rather flat. there just wasn't much tension in the movie, and ray liotta's character seemed to serve little more purpose than a red-shirted ensign on star trek.

i wonder why imdb is missing the caron over the z in željko ivanek's first name.