Prioritize practical movement →

Published November 30, 2013  ·  All posts on Nov 30  ·  

Natural human movement comprises locomotive skills such as walking, running, balancing, jumping, crawling, climbing, or swimming; manipulative skills such as lifting, carrying, throwing, and catching; and combative skills such as striking and grappling. In today’s comfortable world we are losing sight of the practicality of these skills, yet their value cannot be ignored whenever a life-threatening situation arises. You might have to run for your life, or climb, swim, fight, lift, etc. These abilities can save not only your own life, but that of strangers and loved ones as well. George Hebert said, “Be strong to be useful.” Do you want to be strong and useful? Then prioritize practical ways to move.

~ Brett McKay from, Get Fit Like a Wild Man

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New knee ligament discovered. Again. →

Published November 26, 2013  ·  All posts on Nov 26

Orthopedic surgeons in Belgium have hunted down the enigmatic structure in cadavers. And what do you know — the good Parisian doctor [who discovered it 150 years ago] was right.

There is an overlooked ligament in the knee. And it might be important for keeping your knee from twisting and turning, especially after an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL.

~ Michaeleen Doucleff from, Surgeons Discover Quirky Knee Ligament All Over Again

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That was quick →

Published November 24, 2013  ·  All posts on Nov 24

Kitchen is finished.

…that only took 18 months. :*)

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5 million tons of rubbish →

Published November 22, 2013  ·  All posts on Nov 22

Five millions tons of rubbish made up of devastated homes, boats, cars and businesses is making its way across the Pacific Ocean following the 2011 tsunami in Japan.

~ Christopher Bucktin from, Floating island of rubbish three times size of BRITAIN floating towards California

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The article’s characterization of the debris as a “floating island” is certainly hyperbole. But still, this is a HUGE amount of floating debris.

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Simplicity →

Published November 20, 2013  ·  All posts on Nov 20  ·  

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

~ Leonardo da Vinci

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What wizardry is this →

Published November 19, 2013  ·  All posts on Nov 19

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You might try mowing the lawn →

Published November 18, 2013  ·  All posts on Nov 18

Researchers in Sweden measured the health of almost 4,000 60-year-olds in the late 1990s. A dozen years later, they checked back in. The people who had been active but not “exercising” at age 60 had a 27 percent lower risk of heart attack and stroke over that time, and a 30 percent lower risk of death.

…

What kind of activity does it take to get those kind of numbers? Things like mowing the lawn, housework, fix-it projects, gardening, bicycling, and, for a nice Scandinavian touch, “gathering mushrooms or berries.”

~ Nancy Shute from, For A Longer Life, You Might Try Mowing The Lawn

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Lowell Observatory →

Published November 16, 2013  ·  All posts on Nov 16

Entrance to the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff Arizona.

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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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