Vermyndax vermyndax

It just occurred to me while I was visiting the Thinking Chamber earlier today:

If the big three tech companies were characters in Back to the Future, they would be…

Microsoft == Biff

Apple == Marty McFly

Google == Doc Brown

Not much to blog about today. It’s been a very busy day. Fortunately I was productive during most of that time despite spending so much of it on the phone. I did have to devote 2.5 hours of my home life to the day job this evening but I dulled that pain with wine.

I also mailed my resume off to someone who asked for it. That was nice. It’s always nice to be wanted.

Tonight the Christmas tree was finally put back in the shed. While the wife and I were shifting the dining room table back into place, I muttered, “Another Christmas come and gone.” Quite a cheesy, cliche line if I do say so myself. Obviously I am becoming an old fart.

It suddenly occurred to me that 2010 had flown past. I know I was getting all pensive about this earlier, but the other day I was looking over this blog and I noticed that I made ONE WHOLE POST in the entire year of 2010. That one whole post was in June, where I ran across this website (like it was some foreign thing) and noticed that I really should post more often. The problem is that I remember writing that post and I SWEAR TO @DEITY there is NO WAY IN HELL that I wrote that post in June. I wrote it in November or December. There’s no way I wrote that in June.

On a Windows machine, the Steam application allows you to relocate the “SteamApps” folder to a different drive. This allows you to effectively shift your content around anywhere you like. When you install a new game, it’ll even ask you where you want to install it.

For some bizarre reason they did not afford the same convenience to Mac users. Initially when Steam was released for the Mac they even forced you to keep the SteamApps folder in your Documents folder. This made it really painful to use a portable home directory. Valve relented after a huge user outcry and relocated the folder to ~/Library/Application Support/Steam, which is probably where it belonged anyway.

It’s 2011. It’s probably time for some New Year’s Resolutions, so here’s the obligatory post.

First, let me speak a bit about 2010. 2010 was an interesting year. I label it a year of transition because there was quite a bit of that. If 2010 had an overall theme, it was definitely “transition.” I transitioned in many areas:

• Professionally, in deciding that if I had my way about it, I’ll never work with Windows again.
• Personally, in discovering that I’ve been doing a terrible job at taking care of myself.
• Spiritually, but not in the classical sense. By this I mean learning more about myself and others.

This is a personal blog and so therefore I’m only covering areas that are personal. Those of you who know me know that there have been multiple transitions in the family as well, albeit standard. (“My how the kids have grown!” “Wow, will that two year old ever stop talking!?”)

It sure is quiet in here. I should fix that.

For some bizarre reason, the thought at the top of my head last night at bedtime was… “I wonder if sometimes… open source developers deliberately code bugs or withhold fixes for financial gain?”

If you don’t follow what I mean, here’s where I was: often times, large corporations or benefactors will offer a code fix bounty or developmental funding for an open source project they have come to rely upon.  What if an open source developer were to deliberately code a bug into an open source project or withhold a fix so they might extract some financial support with this method?

Apple‘s Snow Leopard Server product is one lovely implementation of UNIX.  I’ve thoroughly enjoyed using it for the power and simplicity that it offers.  I’ve loved using Apple’s operating systems thanks to the combination of UNIX power and elegant design.  Snow Leopard server is no exception to this rule.

The barrier to entry with Snow Leopard server was lowered when Apple reduced the price of the product to $499 USD and offered an unlimited client version only.  It was even more palatable when the Mac Mini server version was introduced at $999.  Previously, you could build your own Mac Mini server for about $1300 USD, but this new model allows small developers and workshops to get into the product at a very low price point.

I am one of the aspiring new media yahoos that bought into the fever gripping folks everywhere – the Drobo (a play on words for “data robotics.”)  Leo Laporte, Scott Bourne and all of those folks loudly proclaimed about what a fantastic device the Drobo is.

I’m here to tell you it sucks.

For those of you who follow my adventures here, but not necessarily my adventures over there, you should be aware that we’ve posted NO CARRIER Episode #11.  This episode is very special to my heart because it’s the first show we did in our new studio (Whitey is still over Skype though).  I think the audio quality is MUCH better.  Of course, we’ll be tweaking as things move on, but the new studio and the new processes we’re using to lay down the audio sound damn fine if I do say so myself.