NTP with LinuxPPS

I have been testing NTP with the LinuxPPS implementation since two weeks!. The setup consists of Accord's GPS Clock (NAV2300) and a Linux box running 2.6.23 kernel patched with corresponding LinuxPPS and latest NTP development version(ntp-dev-4.2.5p@135). Here are the some of the graphs. *Please view them in full scale by clicking each one of them!*

Offset:

Jitter:

Noise:

Frequency:

Stability:

Observations

• The HZ values is default to 100 Hz
• The initial offset which is in the order of few milliseconds (-5 ms) takes about few hours to settle down to few microseconds.
• Same is the case/trend with rest of the parameters that include frequency, jitter and stability which gradually stabilize after few hours.
  

The little black dog...

Recently we shifted to a new house. Almost two days we were busy getting things out of our old home, where we stayed for almost 30 years. While getting the things down to the new house, I saw a little black dog limping towards our gate. She had a wound on the left leg and was unable to walk. She stayed for a while and went off. I didn't notice her for much time as we were busy unloading things and arranging them. At the end of the day we were left with very little energy. Tired and with body pains all of us fell on the floor like scattered pieces of paper and slept.

The next day we started putting things in the shelfs and laying beds and stuff like that. I couldn't imagine what it takes to shift a house. So many things: little, big and tiny. So many books, so many garments, so much of furniture...my GOD ! I wonder how they existed in the old house. I felt as if the old house was a magical box from which you can take out things and you'll never get a chance to empty it and your hands are always full :-). After a while I saw this dog at the gate. She stared for a while and then slept near the gate. Went near the gate to see the wound. She was really terrible. She had a portion of skin peeled off on her leg. It was too big for this little one. I didn't know what to do.

Then I got busy with work and time turned quickly and the sun went down. It was about 8:00 at night when we were having dinner. The dog was at the gate again after she disappeared for a while. Now she started barking in hunger. I could feel the helplessness in her bark. I wish these creatures could speak like us and we could understand them better. We didn't chase her off and allowed her to lie down at the gate. I asked Mother if we could allow her to sleep inside the gate. But she said that it would be better if the dog stayed outside. That whole night I slept thinking of the dog and doing some help. When I got up in the morning my Father mentioned that it rained heavily last night. And immediately I asked Mother about the dog. She said that when my brother came last night while it was raining, he saw the dog crying. He then allowed it inside to sleep under a cloth. I felt relieved and then slowly went out to see her, which was sleeping quietly under the steps like a black snake, fully folded.

She slept for quite a while and got up late in the morning. She was limping and trying to run around us. I felt she wanted to play with us and make friends. My mother who is already sick with our pet dog, Tuffy, insisted to keep her away. Our pet dog Tuffy is a very sweet, friendly and good-looking Pomeranian. He did make some sounds after looking at this new intruder. The black dog was kept outside the gate again and she continued to stay there. I thought of taking the dog to hospital , but then I asked my Father whether we can call Blue-Cross and ask them to take this dog who can treat her well and take care of her. Finally I made a call and they said it will be taken tomorrow. By that time we decided to make first-aid to her. Searched for the medical-kit we had and finally got it like a pearl from the dust. My youngest brother and I caught the dog and somehow managed to plaster the wound. I suppose she was not comfortable and the dog started taking it off. After shouting for a while she seemed to understand and slept near the gate. Once in a while she shouted as if she was craving for love and care with hunger. When she was having ,food I could feel what she was going through. And the whole day she stayed near the gate and once in a while shouted when scared by few street dogs.

The next day I was at office. I knew they (Blue-Cross) would come and call me, but forgot the phone at the desk and went to the bank. Saw almost 8 missed calls after I returned. They asked for the address with details and some landmarks. I called up my father to confirm whether she is at home. She seemed to be missing and told them to come tomorrow. After a while I got a call from Blue-Cross if she was available. Again called Father and it seems she returned to home. At last they came to home and took her away. I was somewhat disturbed the whole day unhappy and sad about her. I wish I could keep and took care of her. I don't know if I had did right by giving it to Blue-Cross. I inquired them about what would be done with her. They said that she will be treated first, then neutered and left at some place where food is available. I presumed that they would keep her with them in a kennel. So the truth is that she will be relocated somewhere in the city outskirts. I don't think that things will be different for her. I couldn't forget her and kept discussing about her with my colleagues.

I can only pray and hope that she is fine wherever she is and hope people treat animals with love and care if not like their pets. In fact whenever I see a dog it suddenly reminds me of my lovely pet "Tuffy". I feel love has its many forms and one lies in humanity and treating others as if you treat yourself.

Lost

Has it ever happened to you that you were very sure of something and yet you were so wrong. That day I started early from office to give few things to my friend, which he forgot at my home. I was sure that I'll be able to catch that one rare bus which goes directly to his home. Almost after waiting for an hour in the bus stop I called to my friend. He suggested to take another bus to a place from where I'll be able to catch the more frequent buses. So my immediate destination was to reach that place. But then it was already 8:30 pm. Took a bus and reached that place and started waiting for the bus. Legs were paining like hell with my stomach sounding like an empty bucket. I was already tired. I couldn't imagine my condition without that fruit salad that I had just before I left the office. After another 20 minutes I got that bus. Was not sure how much time it would take and was just standing like the "Leaning Tower of Pisa". Got the seat...hah great relief. Just then after 10 minutes reached the place.

Its not over still. From there I had to walk may be about 2 km. It was already dark. I was walking slowly and slowly with whatever little energy my Liver had. The route was slightly different with lots of new houses and complexes around. It was a perfect situation for me to get lost. And I was lost and reached a dead end. After inquiring one land mark I was able to come on the right track. So here I reach my friends home. With difficulty removed my shoes and got in. It was great relief after seeing that smile on his usual bright face. Felt that it was all worth that smile. Chatted for a while and filled my belly with all that he gave. Then gave him his forgotten things and asked him not to forget them again.

Started back to my home now. He gave me company till the bus stop. It was about 10 pm. Got the bus and reached my landing point. From here I had to walk about 4 km to reach my home. This route was the most familiar to me. I walked it 'N' number of times. On the way a railway crossing comes where lot of work is in progress for building a flyover. After crossing that station I have to take a left turn in to a lane near the temple. So I was walking down that lane peacefully looking at things around with dogs and etc.

After 10 min I find my self in some strange place. I couldn't believe and I didn't know where I was. I was almost scared. Can't even call my parents because I cannot tell them where I was. So...what to do now. It was about 10:40. I wondered how could I get here while walking on the path which I was so sure would take me to my home. Something was wrong. Nothing now, but I started walking by taking the busy lanes with lights around. After 5 min reached a known place and it was one bus stop away from my home. Seemed strange to me that how could I go off by one bus stop away from home. After another 20 min reached home. Had dinner and slept !

Even now I don't believe that I missed by way back home. How did it happen ? What went wrong ? Totally clueless. May be I should try once more taking that same path :-)

Background Emotions

Yeah...its background emotions, the term that stuck to me last week. There are certain things about which we tend to think all the time. It just happens. Its always in the background of our thoughts. It could be about someone or something. Irrespective of what we are doing we happen to think in parallel. May be its like a screen saver for the mind. Only when we are free from our routine tasks, that these thoughts surface. Like after the days work, while you are traveling in the bus you happen to think about it seriously. Something you wanted to do since long time, but couldn't find time. But you happen to plan, visualize it while you are doing other works and while sleeping too !. And when you find time you have it all in your mind and you do it. I don't know whether human emotions have dimensions or could me mathematically modeled, but sure we have more than one thing running in our mind and we happen to process them at the same time. Like while writing this blog, I was thinking about my next post I wanted to write and also about a friend I am trying to reach since morning just to wish happy birthday and also about something else...

NTP

Currently doing experiment with NTP and GPS. Its always fun to play with Linux And its even more interesting interfacing it with the rest of the world. Since last two days was tweaking Linux and NTP to interface with GPS. At last it is done. Viola, now we have a Linux BOX synced to GPS time and ready to serve as stratum 1 :-)