Author: Kirk

I Sense … Something Libre …..

As an advocate for Open Source software it is always nice to see headlines around how Open Source software is beginning to see some inroads into the corporate computing space.  I think that arena is where the real battle royale will be held, and Linux and other Open Source projects are just starting to sink their toes into the chilly waters.

As Michael Geist nicely summarizes:

FACIL, a Quebec-based open source software advocacy group, has filed a lawsuit against the Quebec government for failing to consider open source software alternatives.  FACIL argues in its filing [unofficial English translation] that the government spends millions on proprietary software without objectively evaluating open source alternatives that could enhance the local economy and provincial technology companies.  It cites legal regulation that require contracts be placed for tender, yet notes many Microsoft contracts that were never subject to the process.  The group also notes that it has tried to develop a dialog with government officials without success and therefore resorted to the lawsuit.

Here’s a link to the story on the CBC, with additional entertaining commentary.

Sony’s Playstation 3 – Luck or Strategy?

Now that we have an official “playroom” downstairs, the question of a second TV has come up.  Frankly I’m not really keen on having a TV out of ear and eye shot – call me old fashioned (or paranoid).

Anyhow, the thought occurred to me that we could set up a dumb terminal downstairs that would allow someone to watch DVDs and recorded shows from the DVR upstairs, but not have access to plain old cable.

I have started looking around for a small, quiet computer to put downstairs then – one that can connect to my DVR and play movies, DVDs, and music.  One that takes up almost no room, very little power, and doesn’t do much else unless you know what you’re doing.

I started looking at building one, but found that the components are just too big if I want to keep it affordable.  I couldn’t get a small form factor without paying through the nose.  Then I came across this new ASUS computer that looked like a great candidate.  Until I confirmed that it has no optical (DVD) drive.  Nuts, it looked good too.

Then I came across Sony’s little troumph – the Playstation 3.  Sure, sure, it is a game console.  But it can also serve as a high definition video and audio player.  It comes with a Blu-Ray DVD player (which retails for around $150.00 right now).  Sony was also smart enough to permit and encourage others to install alternate operating systems on the system.   So along comes PSUbuntu which will allow me to run Ubuntu on the PS3, which means I can run MythTV, which would give me access to my DVR shows.  So it has a DVD player, I can get my DVR shows, and I can control it completely like any other computer on my network as it will be running Ubuntu.  And it retails for slightly more than that ASUS PC I was thinking about.  Oh, and it plays games I guess.

So, where do I get one?

Sony’s decision to include an expensive home theatre drive in its game console was a great strategic move.  It has brought me to their table immediately, even though I am not a game console buyer.  It was either a great strategic move on their part, or they are just lucky.  The fact that Microsoft went with a similar idea but different DVD format makes me think it was strategic.  But I remember the uproar at the time as the Blu-Ray drive brought the price of the console way, way higher than most people were wanting to pay for a console.  Little did they know that Sony actually had a different vision for their little gaming system … one that involves my playroom.

It’s Quiet … A Little Too Quiet

So the last month and a half has been an interesting month at Goggs Avenue.  You may have noticed that my post frequency dropped, and we had a couple of days of complete blackout for theBside this last week.  OK, you may not have noticed it – I won’t hold it against you.

We’ve claimed ownership of our entire house!

Our tenant officially moved out July 31st, and since then we’ve been busy giving the downstairs a mini-makeover.  We’ve moved the den downstairs, including the electronics (which was why theBside dropped off the Internet for 3 days or so).  We’ve just tonight applied the first coat of paint to the old den, which will soon become Marley’s new room.  We’ve started making the large room downstairs into a playroom … the list goes on (and on and on).

In the meantime we’ve secured a coveted place at Peace Arch Hospital’s maternity ward for September 8th, so that will be our new baby’s birthday (unless the baby decides to come earlier than that).  The countdown begins!

So forgive my relative silence (if you felt you needed an apology).  There are many more things “to-do” before the baby arrives and I assure you there will be pictures to follow.

P.S. If you are ever in need of help understanding the tenancy rules and how to forcibly remove a tenant, I can now say that I might be able to give you some advice, unfortuntely, or at the very least some insight into the formal processes that can take place around it all.

The True North Strong and Free?

Amidst the hubbub that is the Olympics the Canadian Conservative government announced that it has cancelled the PromArt programme.  The programme has been seen as both a “gravy train” as well as a vital means for exposing Canadian music, art and talent to the world stage.

It’s great to hear the spokesperson for the minister of foreign affairs say things like

I don’t even want to say [their name] on the phone,” she said. “Holy F – that was one that was flagged.

Seriously?  A band’s name is so important, so key to the Canadian image, that it can help cancel an entire programme that has been an important launchpad for many Canadian talents over the years?

If the government is so keen on taking “a more disciplined approach” to managing spending, perhaps looking at the criteria used to select projects would be a better start?  But why waste the time, we don’t really have much to say as Canadians, eh, so let’s just throw that baby out with that bathwater.

Design By Committee

As a designer I think big business and committees are the way to go for design decisions.  How can you really get to the right product if you don’t talk to your stakeholders and solidly capture their needs in the product?  How many users?  Well, all of them!  Can we tweak it a little more, just add one little thing to make it more “usable”?  But let the committee make these decisions, its a recipe for success!  The designer, well, they’re too artistic and aren’t in touch with the real users.

I love the “briefing”.  50% are women, 50% are men.  We’re not targetting all drivers, just women.  Men are being targetted “secondarily”.

A Good Yarn Improves With Age

In reading my daily dumb quotes calendar this morning I came across a brief story of Engineer Charles Steinmetz.  I’ll quote another site that has done a write up:

Here’s an interesting anecdote, as told by Charles M. Vest, President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, during commencement on June 4th, 1999. “In the early years of this century, Steinmetz was brought to General Electric’s facilities in Schenectady, New York. GE had encountered a performance problem with one of their huge electrical generators and had been absolutely unable to correct it. Steinmetz, a genius in his understanding of electromagnetic phenomena, was brought in as a consultant – not a very common occurrence in those days, as it would be now. Steinmetz also found the problem difficult to diagnose, but for some days he closeted himself with the generator, its engineering drawings, paper and pencil. At the end of this period, he emerged, confident that he knew how to correct the problem. After he departed, GE’s engineers found a large “X” marked with chalk on the side of the generator casing. There also was a note instructing them to cut the casing open at that location and remove so many turns of wire from the stator. The generator would then function properly. And indeed it did. Steinmetz was asked what his fee would be. Having no idea in the world what was appropriate, he replied with the absolutely unheard of answer that his fee was $1000. Stunned, the GE bureaucracy then required him to submit a formally itemized invoice. They soon received it. It included two items: 1. Marking chalk “X” on side of generator: $1. 2. Knowing where to mark chalk “X”: $999.”

Now other sites have him asking for $10,000, while others have him simply pacing around the machines for a few moments and figuring it out.  I prefer the quoted version because it feels the most real to me.

A nice little story about the value of knowledge.  Note that he lived from 1865 to 1923.

Tom Waits Press Conference

Do you know Tom Waits? Great musician – a real artist – or is that artiste? What you might call an eclectic fellow, which some consider to be part of his genius.

Well, he’s starting a new tour and held an interesting press conference to make the announcement.

If you really feel like digging into his craft, NPR has a free streamed recording of a recent concert.  Well worth the 2.5 hours – seriously.  This one’s for you Kurt.

Dr. Horrible – New Media Experience?

Today I stumbled across a mini-movie that was right up my alley – “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog“.  It is a 3 part movie made by the fellow behind Firefly/Serenity, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Toy Story and others – Joss Whedon.

It’s a super-hero story from the villain’s perspective.  It contains his usual sense of humour and some great performances by fairly well-known actors.  Oh, and it is a musical, kinda.  Oh, and it is being made free on a website until, well, I don’t know when.  The site says it is until tomorrow, July 20th, midnight.

In any event, it is quite entertaining.

It is also an interesting foray into a new way of delivering media online.  The little FAQ seems to indicate that he wants to “create more with less.”  I’m behind this all the way!

Enjoy!

When Is A Rant Just Good Feedback?

I think there’s a place in everyone’s life for a good rant. Be it something you receive or deliver, there are times when rants are valuable.  Let a little steam off.  Practice throwing your weight around.  Push imaginary opponents around as you vent your frustrations.

One of the most successful business people today seems to think they’re good feedback to his employees.

When SeattlePI asked Bill Gates about this particular email last week, he chuckled. “There’s not a day that I don’t send a piece of e-mail… like that piece of e-mail. That’s my job.”

I find Bill Gates’ email interesting for a few reasons:

  • He’s right
  • He’s describing a workflow using very little system terminology – a skill that I know many business analysts find challenging
  • He’s essentially done an informal heuristic evaluation for his teams
  • His complaints have not resulted in any changes even after 5 years
  • His job allows him time to fiddle with computers like that (or did he make up the scenarios?)

Full Text: an Epic Bill Gates e-Mail Rant