Month: October 2005
Restoring Essential Infrastructure
Ernie observes that some essential infrastructure is being restored in New Orleans. I have a strong sense that the one piece of infrastructure that the politici...
Take Out the Papers and the Trash
The following procedure requires administrative privileges. The instructions are specific to NTFS filesystems; Windows operating systems using the FAT filesyste...
Trespassers Will Be Shot
I’m turning off comments and trackbacks for the moment. My apologies for the inconvenience to those of you who want to add your pithy thoughts to my brill...
Uptime Interrupted
Power failed in Yorktown over the weekend. Among other side-effects, it hurt my uptime. # last reboot reboot system boot 2.2.15-4mdksecur Sun Oct 16 14:41 (2+01...
Nothing Constituting a Government
With a lot of talk on NPR recently about the proposed Iraqi Constitution, I figured I should have a look at it to see where they failed. At least it isn’t...
Red Sox and Yankees Fans Agree
Thanks, Rick, for pointing to Erik Heel’s astute observation. It followed to this impassioned plea to FOX Sports to just tell Tim McCarver to shut up. I...
Six Hours out of 13 Channels
Forgetting for the moment about the tiny screen and low resolutions even on the desktop, it seems somewhat crazy and counter-intuitive to give up several dozen ...
He’s Right!
Gillen pointed out that everything sounds like Coldplay now. Then I heard the review of Laura Viers on All Things Considered last night, and damn if he‘s ...
Happy 60th Birthday, IBM Research
Today’s the 60th anniversary of IBM Research. Fred Brooks and other luminaries are over at the T. J. Watson Research Center here in Yorktown. IBM Research...
Proximity Pricing
Have you noticed that DisneyWorld‘s resorts are priced on their proximity to (non-bus) mass transit, to the parks, and to after-hours entertainment? Check...
No Switching Cost
The cost of switching between Web services is very low, almost miniscule, so providers of Web applications must be constantly on their toes, and provide an exce...
Since When Were the ’90s Retro?
Hey there, reference librariansHey there, rare book antiquariansHey there, octogenarians, answers, pleaseWhat will I do with these flowers and gems?To whom will...
Another Fine Quote
War may be Hell, but it sure is good for business. — The Association of Merchants, Manufacturers, and Morticians
Neat Stuff
There’s a lot of neat stuff going out there in the wide, wide world. Some just makes you go, “Wow.” And then envy sets in. For your envious en...
apt-get install Ubuntu
I’ve installed Ubuntu Breezy Badger on my desk. From a GUI perspective it’s just another GNOME. From a system administration perspective, it’s...
Additional Sources
I’ve noticed over the past few days that traditional media outlets, such as Ziff-Davis c|net and other fine purveyors of re-written press releases, have b...
A Note to Management
Your capital goes home at night and looks for another job because it is no fun to be a cog in the machine.