Repercussions →

Published November 12, 2013  ·  All posts on Nov 12

If I were in government right now, I would be leery of starting another big software project. I’d also know that big software projects are going to be necessary as our civilization gets more and more complex. So, if I were in government right now, I’d be thinking about laws to regulate the Software Industry. I’d be thinking about what languages and processes we should force them to use, what auditing should be done, what schooling is necessary, etc. etc. I’d be thinking about passing laws to get this unruly and chaotic industry under some kind of control.

If I were the President right now, I might even be thinking about creating a new Czar or Cabinet position: The Secretary of Software Quality. Someone who could regulate this misbehaving industry upon which so much of our future depends.

Maybe that thought hasn’t occurred to them yet. Maybe. But how many more healthcare.gov debacles will it take before it does?

~ Bob Martin from, «http://blog.8thlight.com/uncle-bob/2013/11/12/Healthcare-gov.html»

Most people I’ve talked to, (who write software or do systems and network administration,) are in the “I have work to do” camp. They’ve no time to think about professionalization, or standardization, of their field. To which I say:

That’s cool; I understand. No worries! The government will eventually get around to ramming standardization and licensing down your throat. I’m sure that will work out well for us.

If you work in these fields, you should be paying attention. If you wok in network and systems administration, you should be paying attention to LOPSA and Usenix/LISA.

Update:

Feb 2014: Senate Steps Into the Data Breach Controversy

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A man must know his destiny →

Published November 12, 2013  ·  All posts on Nov 12  ·  

A man must know his destiny… if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder… if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it.

~ George S. Patton

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Pool table pocket drops →

Published November 10, 2013  ·  All posts on Nov 10

Ever wonder how they shaped the bed of the pool table where the balls fall into the pockets? Neither did I.

…until I restored a pool table from 1938-or-so. The slate playing surface has very basic geometric cuts. The four corner pockets have a very wide, two-sided notch, and the side pockets  have a more narrow notch. Wooden inserts are shaped to fit into the notch, and when you cover the bed in felt, the balls roll from the slate, onto these wooden “pocket drop” shapes and fall into the pockets.

It turns out there’s a lot of discussion involved in how large are the radius of the hole — the big round part cut out of the wood that the ball falls into, as well as what the radius the balls rolls over as it falls off the cliff.

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You are probably wrong most of the time →

Published November 8, 2013  ·  All posts on Nov 8  ·  

Q. Can you prove that I’m wrong?

Yes, but, you’ll have to agree in advance what proof looks like, otherwise you could just move the goalposts after the game.

Q. How come I have so much evidence that I’m right?

That’s confirmation bias. Your brain carefully files away all the reasons you might be right, and disregards all the reasons you might be wrong.

~ “Proper discord” from, You’re Wrong: an F.A.Q. | Proper Discord

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Do not go gently into that good night →

Published November 6, 2013  ·  All posts on Nov 6

We may not all achieve a high level of technical mastery enabling us to ward off the attacks of a skilled and aggressive opponent, even after many years of training. But, at the very least, we should be able to maintain a healthy life-style and keep our bodies flexible and well-conditioned even into advanced age. This is within the capacity of everyone and does not require any special genetic predisposition or extraordinary athletic skills. When many of us reach instructor level after a certain period of training, we gradually turn into passive supervisors rather than vigorous participants.

~ Stan Pranin from, «http://members.aikidojournal.com/public/the-body-is-the-temple-of-the-spirit/»

That link takes you into the “members only” area of the Aikido Journal web site. If you are an Aikido student, you should immediately join — the fee is minimal and supports Stan’s great work. If you are not an Aikido student, but really want to read this, let me know… I can make you a copy from the Aikido Journal issue.

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Walk the path →

Published November 4, 2013  ·  All posts on Nov 4  ·  ,

To follow the path:
look to the master,
follow the master,
walk with the master,
see through the master,
become the master.

~ unknown

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Hoist that mainsail! →

Published November 2, 2013  ·  All posts on Nov 2

Two salty dudes hoisting a mainsail during a sailing trip in 2001 to St. Martin. That would be my great friend Mike on the winch and yours-truly coaxing the luff rope into the mast track.

Also, but not shown, you can buy Cuban cigars in St. Martin. Just sayin’.

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Territorial →

Published October 31, 2013  ·  All posts on Oct 31  ·  ,

It has to be territorial, not hierarchical. Meaning real success comes from the inside out, not the outside in. Real success is the process, not the product. It’s what we would do if there were nobody else in the world, yet it depends in the end on everyone else in the world. The essential expression of our art is that of a gift. We draw from that which is most ourselves–and then offer that essence to our fellow travelers on this planet, to help them, entertain them, show them they’re not alone … asking nothing in return (well, maybe enough to pay the rent, we hope.)

~ Steven Pressfield

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Mercy →

Published October 31, 2013  ·  All posts on Oct 31  ·  

Mercy is refraining from ridiculing or abusing the young men who lost 91-0. Mercy is complimenting them for their effort. Mercy is treating them like athletes and competitors after such a loss. Mercy is applauding when they return to the line time after time against hopeless odds, and when they return to practice again the next day. Mercy might be sitting down with them and telling them about times you lost badly and how you felt and how you got up again. Mercy is pointing out to other kids the character it takes to keep trying under such circumstances, and challenging them to have character like that. Mercy is teaching kids how to deal with the adversity they will certainly face in their life.

It is not merciful to teach them they have a right not to lose badly.

~ Ken White from, «http://www.popehat.com/2013/10/23/what-does-mercy-look-like/»

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Be an ordinary, motivated, chap. →

Published October 27, 2013  ·  All posts on Oct 27  ·  ,

You don’t have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things – to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals.

~ Edmund Hillary

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