The Customer Is The Product →

Published January 4, 2013  ·  All posts on Jan 4  ·  

I have yet to speak to anyone in the big blue room, (that is to say, anyone who does not work deeply within the Internet behind the magic curtain,) who has the slightest idea what is going on in general with “big data”, or specifically with “the customer is the product.” But “We Value Your Opinion” by Neven Mrgan — and that’s not a typo — is pure, sweet, ambrosia. It explains perfectly what is really going on. If you’re not paying for it, then you are the product. Have a cigar. Welcome to the machine. For more enjoyment and greater efficiency, consumption is being standardized.

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Glenfarclas →

Published November 21, 2012  ·  All posts on Nov 21

One down. Two step up to take its place. Oh, there will be much thanks giving tomorrow.

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An Audience With Neil Armstrong →

Published November 17, 2012  ·  All posts on Nov 17

apollo_11_tranquility_baseThere is a four-part interview series with Neil Armstrong from evoTV’s series, The Bottom Line. Armstrong did not give many interviews, and the show’s producers say this was the first on-camera interview Armstrong had done since 2005.

This is a very special interview series. It includes Armstrong describing, for the first time, the lunar descent side-by-side with Google Moon imagery. He also gives his thoughts on leadership and taking risks to innovate for the future, and speaks candidly on his early life The series also includes previously unseen footage of the lunar descent.

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NAACMBT – National Association for the Abolition of Christmas Music Before Thanksgiving →

Published November 14, 2012  ·  All posts on Nov 14

originalplease. PLEASE. No Christmas music before Thanksgiving!

While many people enjoy holiday music — especially people in the northern hemisphere who have warm memories of family and friends — please, PLEASE don’t play it before Thanksgiving.

Seriously. I’ve been making this “NAACMBT” joke for as long as I can remember. (to wit, Skew circa 1995.) I’m now too old for this sh*t, so, up go the web site and FB page. “Waiter, check please!”

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What shall we do with Mars? →

Published September 30, 2012  ·  All posts on Sep 30  ·  

The surface area of Mars is exactly as large as the land area of the Earth. A thorough reconnaissance will clearly occupy us for centuries. But there will be a time when Mars is all explored; a time after robot aircraft have mapped it from aloft, a time after rovers have combed the surface, a time after samples have been returned safely to Earth, a time after human beings have walked the sands of Mars. What then? What shall we do with Mars?

~ Carl Sagan

slip:4a776.

Typewriter →

Published September 29, 2012  ·  All posts on Sep 29

“all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Can’t remember the last time I used a manual typewriter. Maybe ’85?

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Flight deck of Endeavor – awesome! →

Published September 26, 2012  ·  All posts on Sep 26

endeavor_flight_deckFlight deck of Endeavor. simply. awesome.

Frog →

Published September 11, 2012  ·  All posts on Sep 11

This guy? he’s the *master* of frog-jumps!

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Rum →

Published September 7, 2012  ·  All posts on Sep 7

I can’t read it, but I know what to do with it! (rum. must. not. drink. before. noon.) Thanks E&A!

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An open letter to network and systems administrators around the Lehigh Valley →

Published September 1, 2012  ·  All posts on Sep 1

The Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas are a wonderful place to live and work. Because of the density of people, tech companies and professional opportunities, I think there is a real opportunity for a community of network and systems administrators to develop.

In hindsight, I see that I’ve now spent over 18 years doing network and systems administration. Along the way, I’ve mostly had no idea what I was doing; I simply had a desire to build things and the will to figure things out. I’ve worked with fantastic people, have accomplished much, and had an insane amount of fun along the way.

This open letter is not trumpeting a grand vision.
This is not a rallying cry.
This is not a call to organize into any sort of formal structure.

I think it would be amazing for like-minded individuals to get together, to share knowledge and experiences, to create inroads to employment for those just starting out, to create opportunities for internship and mentoring, and much more.

Interested?

Update May 2014

After more than a year of talking to people – and I mean a lot of people – I was unable to find a single person who was interested in helping me organize the group. So the only way it was going to happen was if I did all the work of finding a location, finding sponsors, coordinating meetings and speakers, etc.

…and that’s just too much for me to do alone. :^( But definitely reach out to me if you’re interested in starting something. I’m still interested.

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