At a party tonight, two colleagues were talking about the challenges of raising teenage kids. After swapping some stories and sharing some commiserating similarities, the inevitable question came up:
"So how many do you have?"
"Two - a boy and a girl. How many do you have?"
"We have three. With two you can handle them one-on-one...with 3 you have to play zone."
Friday, March 24, 2006
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Can we kick them out of the union?
The state of Texas is arresting people who are drunk - in bars! In an attempt to prevent disorderly conduct and drunk driving, undercover officers are going into bars and arresting anyone who is considered to be overly intoxicated. I'm all for stopping drunk drivers -- but arresting drunken people while they're in the bar???!!! What kind of sense is this?
On the news report I saw a woman who was arrested while she was partying in her hotel bar. She didn't have any intention of driving, since she'd just go upstairs to her room! A few of the folks arrested for drunk and disorderly had designated drivers with them! This is scary, and I hope these people sue the hell out of the Lone Star state. I think Texas has easily taken the lead in the dumbass state competition with this one.
On the news report I saw a woman who was arrested while she was partying in her hotel bar. She didn't have any intention of driving, since she'd just go upstairs to her room! A few of the folks arrested for drunk and disorderly had designated drivers with them! This is scary, and I hope these people sue the hell out of the Lone Star state. I think Texas has easily taken the lead in the dumbass state competition with this one.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Spring is coming, spring is coming!
Another absolutely stunning day in Snoqualmie.
Spring is definitely in the air.
Golden girl.
Walking towards Mt. Si and home.
I guess we can put up with the winter rain if we get this three seasons out of the year.
Spring is definitely in the air.
Golden girl.
Walking towards Mt. Si and home.
I guess we can put up with the winter rain if we get this three seasons out of the year.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
One simple line of code
Today's subject: a little parable about the complexities and obtuseness of our software dependent world.
Last night during our launch we encountered a problem which provoked the decision to roll back. It wasn't that the code was horribly broken, but the discovery of the issue with only 15 minutes left before the "point-of-no-return" gave us no time to try for a fix.
Ten minutes after the roll back decision was made, the dev team announced that they'd tracked down the bug and that it was a simple one line code change. After weighing the risk against the need to come back and try again the next day, the decision was made to go for it. Everything turned out well and although it took a little longer and some stomach churn, we were able to successfully deploy.
The rub is, right at the start of our night, we'd discovered that a feature that had been working in production was suddenly not working. So during the course of the launch, our talented project manager was working that problem at the same time. All of the different network elements seemed to be working, and we were having no luck tracking down why this feature had stopped working. Early in the evening we found out that one of the gateway teams had been updating some code on the load balancers, but they didn't think that it would have caused the problem. So even after we'd successfully launched our code at 4:45, the team had to stay to work on this new issue. After 6 hours of troubleshooting with an ever growing team of folks on the conference bridge, after waking folks up at 3:00 AM, and through a shift change on some teams, it was discovered that the "one line of code" implemented on the load balancers earlier was indeed the culprit.
One simple line of code...
Last night during our launch we encountered a problem which provoked the decision to roll back. It wasn't that the code was horribly broken, but the discovery of the issue with only 15 minutes left before the "point-of-no-return" gave us no time to try for a fix.
Ten minutes after the roll back decision was made, the dev team announced that they'd tracked down the bug and that it was a simple one line code change. After weighing the risk against the need to come back and try again the next day, the decision was made to go for it. Everything turned out well and although it took a little longer and some stomach churn, we were able to successfully deploy.
The rub is, right at the start of our night, we'd discovered that a feature that had been working in production was suddenly not working. So during the course of the launch, our talented project manager was working that problem at the same time. All of the different network elements seemed to be working, and we were having no luck tracking down why this feature had stopped working. Early in the evening we found out that one of the gateway teams had been updating some code on the load balancers, but they didn't think that it would have caused the problem. So even after we'd successfully launched our code at 4:45, the team had to stay to work on this new issue. After 6 hours of troubleshooting with an ever growing team of folks on the conference bridge, after waking folks up at 3:00 AM, and through a shift change on some teams, it was discovered that the "one line of code" implemented on the load balancers earlier was indeed the culprit.
One simple line of code...
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Yay...it's almost Monday!
You may think I'm crazy but I look forward to Mondays -- because '24' is on Monday nights. Helen and I are addicted to that show - we've seen every episode since the series began.
It's hard to maintain a suspense-filled series from episode to episode, much less from season to season, so I've got to tip my hat to the series' writers. This season they've written even more twists and turns into the plot - starting by killing off 2 of the main characters from previous seasons (President David Palmer and former CTU head Michele Dessler).
In the last episode, Agent Jack Bauer, played by Keifer Sutherland, had to extract information out of a former boss by threatening to shoot him in the knee. Leave it to the dudes at Television Without Pity to come up with the funniest online poll.
It's hard to maintain a suspense-filled series from episode to episode, much less from season to season, so I've got to tip my hat to the series' writers. This season they've written even more twists and turns into the plot - starting by killing off 2 of the main characters from previous seasons (President David Palmer and former CTU head Michele Dessler).
In the last episode, Agent Jack Bauer, played by Keifer Sutherland, had to extract information out of a former boss by threatening to shoot him in the knee. Leave it to the dudes at Television Without Pity to come up with the funniest online poll.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
A rant about fortune and fate
I am saddened and shocked by the news story about a 24-year-old grad student who was brutally raped and murdered in New York. A random act of unspeakable and unimaginable violence that I normally try to block out of my life and my thoughts. It is the type of story which really hits home (literally) for me, since before moving out to Washington I spent most of my life in New York City, grew up in Brooklyn where her body was discovered, and used to play volleyball and basketball at John Jay College where she was getting her masters degree in criminology.
It is the type of news event that most tugs at my feral fears and disturbs my cloak of contentment. This is the stuff that shouldn't happen here, that shouldn't exist period. But when the objective nature of my mind is forced to contemplate this, it is obvious that this heinous event is not so rare on this planet of ours. Things like this happen every day around the world - it just doesn't usually happen here. If we look for it, we can find evidence of senseless suffering in Somalia, Bosnia, Cambodia...it can go on and on...and for most of us, we could not even begin to imagine, much less stomach.
As sad and maddening as this horrible tragedy is, what saddens me more is the knowledge that so many people who are as fortunate as I seem so oblivious to how lucky they are. For instance, there's a former colleague who seems unable to come to the realization that he's not the center of the universe, the cat's meow, or the most unique and creative individual on the face of the planet. And that it's okay to be just ordinary like the rest of us. It's not that he's lacking in intellect or talent, and it's not even that he seems to be "holding out" for the clear recognition of said talent and intellect careerwise. It's that he's been holding out for 5 years, AND totally unwilling to accept perfectly fitting work. We're not talking about flipping burgers at Mickey D's, although there's certainly no shame in that if it pays the rent.
What's probably the saddest part about this friend's state is that he continues to hold the same sanctimonious attitudes about the most silly things. For example this guy
It is the type of news event that most tugs at my feral fears and disturbs my cloak of contentment. This is the stuff that shouldn't happen here, that shouldn't exist period. But when the objective nature of my mind is forced to contemplate this, it is obvious that this heinous event is not so rare on this planet of ours. Things like this happen every day around the world - it just doesn't usually happen here. If we look for it, we can find evidence of senseless suffering in Somalia, Bosnia, Cambodia...it can go on and on...and for most of us, we could not even begin to imagine, much less stomach.
As sad and maddening as this horrible tragedy is, what saddens me more is the knowledge that so many people who are as fortunate as I seem so oblivious to how lucky they are. For instance, there's a former colleague who seems unable to come to the realization that he's not the center of the universe, the cat's meow, or the most unique and creative individual on the face of the planet. And that it's okay to be just ordinary like the rest of us. It's not that he's lacking in intellect or talent, and it's not even that he seems to be "holding out" for the clear recognition of said talent and intellect careerwise. It's that he's been holding out for 5 years, AND totally unwilling to accept perfectly fitting work. We're not talking about flipping burgers at Mickey D's, although there's certainly no shame in that if it pays the rent.
What's probably the saddest part about this friend's state is that he continues to hold the same sanctimonious attitudes about the most silly things. For example this guy
- Refuses to wear anything other than jeans and sneakers, even wielding this personal preference as an excuse to avoid obligations to attend weddings and formal events
- Holds in disdain anyone who wears khakis, because in his view they are all corporate lackeys - even if they genuinely prefer this style of dress
- Thinks that if you don't live in New York City or London you can't truly be cool
- Sneers at anyone who professes a love for family and children
Monday, February 27, 2006
Looking forward to Beijing 2008
Courtesy of Getty Images
Sadly I watched the close of the Torino Games last night. Don't know why but the end of any Olympics (or other sporting culmination) always brings out the nostalgic side of me. Maybe it's just the cathartic release of spectator tension and adrenaline.
I've always been this way. I love the drama of sport: the intensity, the oscillation of emotions, the developing storylines of individual players, the pressure of winning and losing. Sport is my theater, and the Olympic Games are the top of the Broadway heap. [Sigh] Two more years to the Beijing Olympics. I'm really looking forward to the 2008 games because I recently watched a show on the Discovery Channel about the construction of the new olympic venues. They look amazing. I recorded part of the show on my DVR but forgot to save it so it got bumped when new programs were recorded. Anyone happen to have a copy of that show?
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Reasons to visit the Blogsphere - #84
I am an observer by nature. Many times at parties I'm perfectly content to sit amongst a group of interesting folks and just listen to them espouse their views. The world of blogs has opened up many thousands of these conversations for my voyeuristic enjoyment. I can happily and unintrusively "listen in" on conversations between people, and even participate if I so choose.
Just like in the real world, cyber conversations range from the trivial and moronic to the cosmic and philosophical. The great thing is that both acquaintances and complete strangers can share opinions and learn about each other, and you don't have to be in the same physical place. Nor do the conversations need to take place in real time. Best of all, for someone like me, I can be in on these exchanges as they happen or even after they happen. It's like little bits of people's minds floating in the digital galaxies that I can examine any time I want. It's the combination of a time machine, a mind reader, and a cosmic telephone.
One of the more interesting blogs I've come upon is Stella Nole. The posts are not always significant or deep (and not that they have to be mind you) - often it's just about a daily event. What I admire about Stella's writing is its honesty and intention to offer full exposure of her thoughts and feelings. Her writing is often funny, entertaining, and very much "in-the-moment." I'm also jealous of the relationship she has with her cadre of readers, who respond frequently and with like honesty in dialogue. An example is a recent entry about a topic which I'm sure we've all struggled with.
I've enjoyed listening in for the past few months, even though I don't really know Stella or any of the people who frequent her blog. Her willingness to share her mind, heart and soul makes me feel as if I know her. Stay well, Stella, and stay in touch.
Just like in the real world, cyber conversations range from the trivial and moronic to the cosmic and philosophical. The great thing is that both acquaintances and complete strangers can share opinions and learn about each other, and you don't have to be in the same physical place. Nor do the conversations need to take place in real time. Best of all, for someone like me, I can be in on these exchanges as they happen or even after they happen. It's like little bits of people's minds floating in the digital galaxies that I can examine any time I want. It's the combination of a time machine, a mind reader, and a cosmic telephone.
One of the more interesting blogs I've come upon is Stella Nole. The posts are not always significant or deep (and not that they have to be mind you) - often it's just about a daily event. What I admire about Stella's writing is its honesty and intention to offer full exposure of her thoughts and feelings. Her writing is often funny, entertaining, and very much "in-the-moment." I'm also jealous of the relationship she has with her cadre of readers, who respond frequently and with like honesty in dialogue. An example is a recent entry about a topic which I'm sure we've all struggled with.
I've enjoyed listening in for the past few months, even though I don't really know Stella or any of the people who frequent her blog. Her willingness to share her mind, heart and soul makes me feel as if I know her. Stay well, Stella, and stay in touch.
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