Posts by Bruce Ordway 445 publicly visible posts • joined 22 Apr 2007
"People didn't switch to cloud to save..." (and/or SaaS) ?
Yeah, if a client asks, I find myself recommending cloud solutions (even though I've never really liked the cloud).
A business "rolling there own" may start out OK but....I assume that eventually they'll encounter issues in acquiring/retaining staff.
I remember powering up a VFD on the shop floor when I saw a red LED light up. Hmmm...that had never happened before so I briefly leaned my head over to investigate. Not seeing the problem right away I turned to disconnect the power. Then I heard a huge bang and saw a cloud of smoke... right where my head had been seconds earlier.
Turned out that someone had re-stocked a 220V VFD in a box labeled 440V and... I hadn't bothered to look at the label on the VFD.
So... one of the 3 (big) capacitors blew when powered with 440.
Learned my lesson... now I check everything twice... before powering up.
>>> Loading time is quite a bit longer,
I liked LO but as stated, the initial load time seemed pretty bad... turned out the problem was that LO was waiting for a network printer to wake up.
After changing the Windows default to a local PDF printer... now LO loads quickly.
BTW.... I finally switched from Office 2003 to LO earlier in the year.
This article reminds me how much I used to like Compuserve dial-up.
CServes content was limited but... organized, so much easier (for me) to deal with.
I have to admit, the internet overtaking dial-up services opened up a lot of new destinations.
But... it introduced so much chaos, disorganization, etc... too.
I personally prefer premodern coffee shops... when you can still find them.
I especially have fond memories of a coffee shop in Denver in the late 70's.
Originally named "The Bare Tit" but due to "feedback" from local women the name was eventually changed to "Free Weavers" .
Obviously no computers or phones back then but... it was a great place to hang out, study, etc..
Usually nice & quiet except for a few special events, e.g. local musicians, performances.
Yeah, I can easily see how "AI" will be used to reduce task "drudgery", generating concepts, etc...
I just hope I'll be capable of identifying AI generated results and then verifying they are reasonable.
Similar to the way I use Wikipedia now. While It is a nice site for a quick lookup and I do use it all the time...
I know it is not authoritative and includes inaccuracies.
>>21kg - under the male recommended limit, over the female recommended limit.
FWIW... the USPS (postal) delivery person serving my neighborhood is a woman.
Last fall I saw her delivering a big package & later asked what the limit is for USPS workers.
She informed me the limit is 70 pounds (approx 31.75 KG ) which surprised me... if I remember, typical warehouse jobs in my area only require ability to lift 50 LBs.
As for my attitude, I've been approx. 80% pro when working with or being supervised by a woman.
20% con nothing to do with gender... I just couldn't stand a couple individuals.
(and they couldn't stand me either).
Since (as far as I know), nobody gets along with everyone.
So in that respect I will consider myself "average" until proven otherwise.
It is common in the US for businesses to ask for your social security number.
I always refuse to provide my SSN a real requirement is verified.
I find 9 times out of 10 they are "just asking" and for no legitimate reason.
EXCEPT in my state it is now required by the Motor Vehicle Department (in my state at least).
I'm not sure when this became state law. I only know the last time I renewed my drivers license I did finally have to give them my SSN.
Yes, in addition, all the air raid towers in my neighborhood are tested at noon, every first Wednesday of each month.
"Ear-splitting" is not an exaggeration, so I've learned to avoid my local park during those times.
Even though annoying, alert systems still make sense, especially for those of us who live in the "tornado alley".
Reminds me of a guy I worked beside in the late 80's, when there were still things like "singles" sections in papers with contact numbers.
He said he'd always try to get at least one big laugh when speaking with a potential date.
Depending on how a persons laugh sounds, he believed he could tell how thin.. or not they were.
If he's alive today, I'm guessing he's still single.
Rather than a cubicle and weekly movement, we did this to an open area and reduced the clearances daily.
( space similar to Les Nessman's "office" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Nessman )
Eventually the occupant stood and angrily uttered "this f***ing thing has to go" and started re-expanding.
The rest of us couldn't contain ourselves, broke out laughing... so did the target after a slight pause.
Later on, another joker would wind that persons phone cord around one of the legs of the desk.
i.e. the person suddenly could no longer reach nearby reference materials while on the phone.
Maybe this explains why I noticed an increase in robo-calls this past year.
I signed on to the national "do not call" list several years ago & that used to help... not anymore I guess.
These days I don't carry the phone and the ringtone is disabled.
I mainly check voicemail and return calls every few days.
So it is rare that I'd actually answer an incoming robo-call.
I moved into my 100 year old house in the spring.
Once winter came and I turned on the heater, located in the basement, I noticed some squirrel cage vibration.
Vibration went away as soon as I opened the heater access panel...hmmmn.
Eventually tracked it back to a vent in the floor of the main level had been covered with new flooring.
Once I cut an opening and put the floor vent grate back in place.. all good.
Of course, if the vent gets covered by misc junk, vibrations return.
>> insane aircon in the comms room. You need a jacket
Reminds me of a server room at one site that installed a nice Mitsubishi AC unit right next to the main rack.
Worked fine all thru summer and fall but when winter came... it was running all the time, became VERY cold by the rack.
I finally noticed there was a heating duct in the ceiling a bout six feet away from the AC, constantly blowing hot air at the AC unit.
OF course the heat was controlled by a thermostat in a different office space with a lot of windows would eventually require a contractor to resolve.
Temporary workaround by IT... block the heat duct with towels.
I don't mind two factor auth but...
A lot of sites/apps default to text, don't offer an email option...can be a royal pain for me, since I use PC's.
On a positive note, the GVoice number I set up years ago has finally become of some use.
Discovered that text to that number also shows up in my gmail!
I do have a phone, I just rarely use/answer it.
On a related note...
My local city council (USA) recently passed a moratorium on issuing new rental licenses.
As I understand it, this was reaction to companies that were buying a LOT of single family residences and converting them into rentals. This is exacerbating the already, short supply of low and middle income housing.
Home prices and property taxes are rising... starting to pinch many of the local retirees.
Construction companies are building homes for or large apartment blocks.. for upper incomes.
Young adults just sarting out.. good luck.
Yes. my instructions are almost always ignored.
To be fair I document compulsively and few want to wade thru the details
and I'm just as bad as any other end user...
Many times I read just the first few lines of instructions before jumping right into a process.. only to have to back up and reread entirely anyway.
>>> Windows since 7... several steps backwards in terms of usability.
I blame the current mess on those who have been compelling developers to leverage an OS for desktops, tablets and smartphones.
I say forget other devices, I just want an OS working on a DESKTOP.
Phones and tablets may be great for some things but...
I believe getting any real work done will require a desktop?
...Quake, oh yeah, I remember concerns about a slowing network sometime in the 90's.
The sites hardware was pretty simple, two hubs and one bridge.
When I checked the equipment room I noticed several ports indicating constant activity?
A quick walk around the building revealed that the entire customer support department had discovered Quake.
Multiple staff meetings ensued, new company policies and finally upgraded from hubs to switches.
Shortly after I believe the internet was "discovered" by the same dept. and spawned a similar wave of policy changes.
Reminds me of a site and user complaints after NetBeui was eventually replaced by TCP.
TCP was required when upgrading from dumb terminals (coax/bnc) to PC's & terminal emulation (cat5/rj45).
Complaints because of the noticeable increase in file transfer time on the local network after NetBeui was removed.
Viewing form the U.S. I find myself want to blame the people who have enabled Boris ( much like "The Donald" here ).
I've had mixed emotions about Boris as a person though.
He does seem like he might actually be an amusing drinking partner to hang around with on the weekend?
However I can't imagine why anyone would EVER rely on him to manage anything responsibly?
This reminded me of the Johnson administration and the Viet-Nam peace plan
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/address-johns-hopkins-university-peace-without-conquest
Different times back then for sure but... as old foes of the U.S. moderated seems like the world did experience a long period of "peace without conquest"?
But.. TBD how long peaceful relationships can really be maintained?
If a country like Russia ( and maybe China ) will blow things up - prioritize ideology over economy?
Until there are smartphones capable of replacing the desktop... I'll be happy with flip-phones.
My opinion, smart phones of today are really only good at a few things and the interface sucks
(and got developers to ruin the interfaces for a lot of software that primarily runs on PC's).
I've always had this fantasy that we'll eventually get mobiles that are compatible with Linux / Windows and all related applications. e.g. docking system for power, keyboard, multiple monitors, etc...
I would think there would be a market.. if ever became practical to manufacture?
>> if Excel accepted.....
Yes, I already spend too much time dealing with MS "helpful" features.
Excel for example - I often find it easier to format an entire worksheet as text during data entry.
After my data is in place, I'll change column/cell formats so that calculations can function.
A REAL pain in the neck but... trusting the default formatting can be worse..er.
ed?
That reminds me I still have an old tri-fold instruction card "HP-UX system administration handbook and toolkit vi". I keep it near the staircase, tucked between baseboard and sheet-rock. Approx 20 years since I've used vi but... as I walk by it, every day and I'm just sure I still need it.
I've experienced straightforward software expiration and offer no complaints (even though it can be irritating when it happens).
On the other hand I have never had anything delete itself & my feelings are mixed.
Personally I use a lot of "stuff" and try to keep legal and compensate authors but... I know I'm nowhere near 100% on this.
Even if someone were clearly in violation of terms and deletion was a known consequence... automatic deletion seems a little extreme to me.
One thing I'm sure of, I'd avoid software if I knew ahead of time it had the ability to delete itself.
Maybe not in this specific instance but... I can imagine scenarios where deletions would result in unforeseen, collateral damage.
Wonder how term and conditions would hold up in such cases?
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