October 27, 2007

The day the routers died…

October 24, 2007

Sun Responds to NetApp

Wow, I know that part of this is posturing and the standard when law suits are started (sue for everything you can think of and then work your way down) but this is going to be an interesting case to watch unfold. Either way you can bet that NetApp is going to be fielding some calls from their customers over this one.

So later this week, we’re going to use our defensive portfolio to respond to Network Appliance, filing a comprehensive reciprocal suit. As a part of this suit, we are requesting a permanent injunction to remove all of their filer products from the marketplace, and are examining the original NFS license – on which Network Appliance was started. By opting to litigate vs. innovate, they are disrupting their customers and employees across the world.

See: Jonathan Schwartz’s Weblog: ZFS Puts Net App Viability at Risk?

October 19, 2007

The Back Up

I can think of several reasons why this wouldn’t be a good idea…

October 18, 2007

Ever Play a Video Game?

Then you’ll get this:

WaMu’s Net Income Down 72%

Great quote:

“The “housing correction” is turning out to be “more dramatic and more rapid” than Kerry Killenger, WaMu’s chairman and chief executive had expected.”

October 15, 2007

5 GPM

suv_wall_1_sm_tb.jpg

When I was a Boy Scout I had the good fortune of being able to go to a National Jamboree. One of the displays put on by the Army featured the M1A1 Abrams main battle tank. One of the other kids I was with asked how many miles per gallon they got. The Staff Sargent laughed and replied that it was more like 5 Gallons per Mile.

I kinda feel that way with my new car. Even though my average fuel economy has only dropped by three miles per gallon – combined with the excess driving we do in a brand new car and I am definitely feeling it at the pump. The biggest laugh I’ve had so far is a full tank for me right now is ~$76 dollars, but the pump shuts you off at $75.

The ML550 has been absolutely amazing to drive. It offers the perfect blend of luxury, SUV size and performance. I drove the S4 home from my Office parking lot a couple nights after getting the Benz and I can safely say there is no buyers remorse – all my reasonings for wanting this car held up and each day I get in it I’m happy.

October 14, 2007

High School Reunion

I don’t know what I was expecting (or should have expected for that matter) when I went to my reunion Saturday night. I’m struck with how much was the same from High School. People’s personalities and mannerisms are very similar to what I remember. Of course the same groups hung out together – that was to be expected after all. The venue was bizarre (no complaint to the people who organized it, more an observation of the Company who is paid to put these things on) I would have enjoyed it much better if it had just been in the Auditorium of the school.

Christina did a good job trying to psyche me up leading into the event, re-enforcing that I am successful and that I look great. I imagine that for a lot of people these events can traumatic and serve to resurface old feelings of inadequacies and failures. I would be lying if I claimed to be any different. Right after High School my drive and ambition was centered around proving myself to the world. I longed for the “I told you so” moment. Thankfully I came to peace with that particular demon quickly. Fortunately my drive and ambition shifted to center around proving to myself that I can do x, y, or z.

Anyways I digress, the oddest part of the night was just seeing people that were such a part of my everyday life that I haven’t had any contact with for a decade. Would it be nice to keep in touch with some of them? Absolutely. Do I expect it? Not for a second. It sounds harsh and sad, but simply put the same part of my personality that kept me from being the social butterfly in school and keeps me from having a large group of friends today is not going to miraculously evaporate in one night.

Bottom line I was glad I went. I had fun, and it was great to see old friends. It’s a shame that there were so many people missing.
October 11, 2007

Show line numbers in vi or vim

Found here: http://www.tech-recipes.com/unix_tips402.html

While editing a document (and not inserting text), type the following to turn on line numbers:

:set number

If you tire of the line numbers, enter the following command to turn them off:

:set nonumber

October 9, 2007

Restaurants Faking Busy

See:Table at 7? L.A. begs to differ – Los Angeles Times

According to industry insiders, business has been slow lately for L.A. restaurants. With so many new restaurants opening, competition for diners is fierce, they say. Menu prices have been rising and people aren’t spending as freely. Yet when diners call and try to reserve at a time when the restaurant clearly has plenty of tables, they’re told no.

This is so annoying and so true. We used to eat at this great American style restaurant. It was completely reservation less, you would show up put your name on the list and wait for a table. Once you got to know the hosts you could call ahead and get your name on the list a little early. The place was fantastic and always packed solid (I’m talking Tuesday night flowing out the door). We ate there so much that Quicken thought it was a recurring transaction.

A couple of years ago they switched over to reservations and two things happened from my point of view. 1) It’s become a total nightmare to try and eat there because the hosts give so much attitude. I had one girl tell me if I didn’t write down the reservation number and recite it to them at the door we couldn’t get a table, and 2) the place is a shadow of it’s former self for customer traffic.

I’ve noticed that for most places if we call they are booked and we cannot have a reservation until 9pm, and when we drive over we get a table almost immediately. There’s the expression “fake it till you make it”, but at some point you are just shooting yourself in the foot.