If you’re trying to modify app.config files for a .Net app from a nant build script using the <xmlpoke> task, the namespace you need to use switches part-way through. If you’ve set prefix “x” as “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1″ in the namespaces, then a full path for assembly redirection may include the following:

/configuration/runtime/x:assemblyBinding/x:dependentAssembly/…

Note the lack of x’s on configuration and runtime, yet their presence on assemblyBinding (and all child nodes).

I feel both silly and outraged. Silly because I probably should’ve caught this sooner than I did. Outraged because it’s not mentioned anywhere, and the examples given for <xmlpoke> don’t go deep enough to uncover this particular xml-newbie gotcha.

*sigh*

Partially in honor of Knuth’s 70th birthday and partially because it’s on my ever-expanding list of Things I Want To Do: I’m starting my journey through The Art of Computer Programming today.

I post this not to convey useful information, but to hopefully invoke the psychology behind stating something publicly in order to alter reality. (You’re a lot more likely to stick to a decision if you’ve declared it publicly.)

One of my goals is to become fluent in Spanish to the point where I can carry on a conversation. To that end, I need to be able to type various accented characters using a Dvorak layout. Here’s the setup I’m using:

* Dvorak International Alternate layout from http://keyboards.jargon-file.org/, the one that puts everything on AltGr

* A combination of menu.altgr.reg from http://keyboards.jargon-file.org/ (toward the bottom of the page) and swap_caps_lock_control.reg from http://johnhaller.com/jh/useful_stuff/disable_caps_lock/. I’m an emacs junkie, so I need that one as well. Combining the two according to the format described at http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/input/w2kscan-map.mspx worked just fine, the result is menu-altgr-swap-caps-ctrl.reg.

Found some 22 dB noise reduction rating headphones at Lowe’s today:

AO Safety® WorkTunes® AM/FM Stereo Radio and Hearing Protector

They have an am/fm radio (obvious from the name) but I can’t pick up much down here. No big deal for me because I don’t usually listen to the radio if the Preds aren’t playing. The big win is the 1/8″ stereo in jack and included patch cable, for whatever device you want to plug in. It’s also blatantly obvious to people who want to talk to me that I can’t hear them because of the big yellow thing on my ears.

At least they know why I’m ignoring them now.