use Perl

When using DBD::mysql, if you specify the host to connect to as localhost, the driver attempts to connect via the UNIX socket by default rather than the localhost TCP connection - This is annoying because it created an error which I had to fix during a code rollout. If I wanted to connect via the UNIX socket, I would have specified it by way of the mysql_socket directive in the DSN.

Feeling much better now ...

Hooray for sanity!

We all have clients like this - They only call once or twice a year and generally their computer problems are relatively straight-forward and can be solved in under an hour with a bit of determination.

Last night, I went out to help one such client - The client was a lovely couple who needed an updated version of their anti-virus software installed. Over the last few years of looking after this couple's computer system, I have come to view these people as friends and have always found it hard to justify charging them for my visits, in spite of the work performed. Yet this has always been a sticking point between us - They always insist on paying me for these visits, despite the friendship which has grown between us over this time.

I did however last night come up with a nice solution for this in passe which may be of interest to others with such clients - I again refused payment for the computer work carried out, but suggested that if they feel so compelled, the couple should make a donation to the local children's hospital.

This suggestion was warmly welcomed and thus everyone wins.

Does anyone know of any reference other than the documentation supplied with the package which covers this library of utilities in detail?

Whilst I can appreciate the importance of agriculture to Australian exporters, I must say that I do hold some concerns as to what rights relating to intellectual property will be traded by the Australian government in order to secure an advantageous position relating to agricultural trade - Over the past decades, too much of the research and development work carried out in Australia has been sold outright to overseas interests, unable to acquire commercialisation support locally. This situation has however been changing and there is a quite vibrant intellectual community in Australia coming up with some quite ingenious products. Australia may be a great agricultural exporter, but it has great potential to offer so much more - I would hate to see this segment of the Australia business and academic community loosing out or being hampered in their development effects as a result of this free trade agreement.