Jim Plumb

I needed something to read and a relative had just given us a bag of books, so I spotted Good Faith by Jane Smiley. This novel takes place during the 80s in what appears to be a fictional town on Long Island somewhere, inhabited by some very interesting and likeable characters. The main character is Joe Stratford, a realtor and popular guy about town. In one of his real estate deals Joe gets mixed up with an ex-IRS agent, who you know is just going to screw him over. Joe, divorced, also gets involved with Felicity, married woman in a dead-end marriage, truly a desperate housewife if there ever was one. In any case, the story rolled right along and I enjoyed the read.

If you’re trying to install Fedora Core on an HP zt3000 laptop, your monitor resolution won’t be setup properly. It sets it up at 800×600 when it should be 1280×800. I found a solution to this at

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/archive/25/2005/01/2/267142

Here’s the fix:

Its pretty simple, simply editing 2 lines of text in a configuration file (/etc/X11/xorg.conf):

1. Just in case, make a backup copy of the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf (cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf ).

2. Add the following single line:

ModeLine “1280×800″ 98.9 1280 1352 1488 1696 800 801 804 833 -hsync +vsync

in the following section of the xorg.conf file.

Note: I had to copy the xorg.conf file out of the /X11/ directory useing superuser status via the cmd prompt because the file privleges. I simply moved the edited file back in to /etc/X11/ folder when finished (again using the superuser commands)

Section “Monitor”
Identifier “Monitor0″
VendorName “Monitor Vendor”
ModelName “LCD Panel 1280×800″
HorizSync 31.5 - 90.0
VertRefresh 60.0 - 60.0
Option “dpms”
HERE=> ModeLine “1280×800″ 98.9 1280 1352 1488 1696 800 801 804 833 -hsync +vsync
EndSection

3. Insert the following text: “1280×800″ in the following section of the xorg.conf file.

Section “Screen”
Identifier “Screen0″
Device “Videocard0″
Monitor “Monitor0″
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection “Display”
Viewport 0 0
Depth 16
Modes “800×600″ “640×480″
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
HERE=> Modes “1280×800″ “1024×768″ “800×600″ “640×480″
EndSubSection
EndSection

4. Save the modified xorg.conf file in the /etc/X11/ using cmd prompt and superuser access.

5. Log out. (I noticed the res change immediately on the log in screen, but you might not see the changes so soon)

6. Log back in.

Now I just need to figure out the wireless issue.

Got something interesting in the mail the other day, a recall notice for my Civic Hybrid. It seems the car may be running a little lean. Is that how I’m able to get such good gas mileage?

Text of the notice:

July 2005
Product Update: 2003-05 Civic Hybrid

Dear Civic Owner:

This letter is to notify you of a potential problem with your Civic Hybrid and what you should do to resolve it.

What is the problem?
The engine control module (ECM) software in certain 2003-05 Civic Hybrids is improperly programmed, making the engine run slightly lean. Eventually, this can cause the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on the instrument panel to come on and lead to failure of an important part of the vehicle’s emission system, the catalytic converter. Also the ECM could misinterpret normal oil pressure rise during the first engine start after an oil change.

Additionally, we will update your IMA battery management system to meet the current specifications.

What should you do?
Call your Honda dealer and make an appointment to have your vehicle updated. The dealer will update the software in the ECM to protect the catalytic converter and the IMA battery from damage. This work will be done free of charge. Please plan to leave your vehicle at the dealer for half a day to allow them flexibility in scheduling.

California Residents
After doing the repair, your dealer will give you a Proof of Correction certificate. Keep this certificate for your records as proof that the product update was complete. Submit this certificate to the DMV only if they request it.

NOTE: This free product update offer expires July 31, 2006

What to do if you feel this notice is in error.
Our records show that you are the current owner or lessee of a 2003-05 Civic Hybrid involved in this product update. If this is not the case, or the name/address information is incorrect, please fill out and return the enclosed, postage-paid Information Change Card. We will then update our records.

If you have questions.
If you have any questions about this notice, or need assistance with contacting a Honda Dealer, please call Honda Automotive Customer Service at (800) 999-1009.

We apologize for any inconvenience this update may cause you.

Sincerely,
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda Automobile Division

Seeing that gas is now running around $2.20 or so, the civic hybrid sure looks like a great buy. We’re still getting 50 or so mles per gallon in the summer. It’s been less in the winter, 47-48, probably because of the heater/defroster might be on a lot and also, one of the great gas-saving features, auto-stop, doesn’t kick in.

Here’s something interesting that happened recently, and another good reason to get a hybrid. Besides the great mileage, we found a feature in our civic hybrid we weren’t aware of until recently. We were getting very good mileage on the current tankful, something like 53 or 54 and we had 640 miles on the tank. I knew we were getting close to empty, but I wanted to get home and take a picture of the dash to show the mileage. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it home because I ran out of gas…but I didn’t need to call AAA or whatever to come and give me gas, because I was able to drive on the electric part of the engine! I drove the 1/2 mile to the nearest gas station on that electric engine at a snail’s pace of 10 mph. I ended up with 642 miles on that tankful of gas.