Function disfunction
The Old New Thing, a great development site BTW, has an article on IA64 development. While that may not be of interest to most folks, what is neat is the illustration of improper calling syntax. In this case, Win32 CreateThread and all of the grievously screwed up examples that have spread all over the web. And even MSDN is one of the offenders!
"This is hardly the only web page that supplies buggy sample code. Here's sample code from a course at Old Dominion University that makes the same mistake, and sample code from Long Island University, It's like shooting fish in a barrel. Just google for CreateThread LPTHREAD_START_ROUTINE and pretty much all the hits are people calling CreateThread incorrectly. Even sample code in MSDN gets this wrong. Here's a whitepaper that misdeclares both the return value and the input parameter in a manner that will crash on Win64... And it's all fun until somebody gets hurt."
Desynchrony
Looks like Asynchrony shut down a few days ago. This was a community development site that, IMO, didn't offer enough to developers to make it worthwhile. I looked at it originally for BadBlue and SwiftTouch, but didn't think it was worth pursuing.
Tweaking MySQL
Kuro5hin has a much-needed article on Tweaking MySQL which has invariably attracted the hordes of units who insist that only Postgres, Oracle, text-files, or magnetic coils are right for the job. Bottom line is that some sites grew up with MySQL and - with a bit of parameter-tuning - they might live a little longer. Or at least until they can upgrade to DataBoy 2000 or whatever technology is needed.
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Monday, January 19, 2004
Wow...
Picture taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA’s Mars Express orbiter on 14 January 2004 under the responsibility of the Principal Investigator Prof. Gerhard Neukum. It was processed by the Institute for Planetary Research of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), also involved in the development of the camera, and by the Institute of Geosciences of the Freie Universität Berlin.
It shows a portion of a 1700 km long and 65 km wide swath which was taken in south-north direction across the Grand Canyon of Mars (Valles Marineris) from two perspectives. It is the first image of this size that shows the surface of Mars in high resolution (12 metres per pixel), in colour and in 3D.

Mars: Valles Marineris
ESA - Mars Express - Europe's eye on Mars: first spectacular results from Mars Express
Jenkins Tribute
My favorite player to watch in the NFL playoffs this year is not a QB, not a half-back, not even a hard-hitting safety ("Oh my goodness, Chris, I think Manning's head has actually been separated from his body by Milloy's hit!").
No... instead, I'm enjoying watching Panther's defensive tackle Kris Jenkins crush, kill and destroy every gimmicky blocking scheme that offensive coordinators and line coaches have thrown up against him.
It was awesome watching him against the Rams. There were literally occasions where he was being triple-teamed (guard, tackle and tight-end) and he was pushing all three of them back! What does the opposing coach do when that happens ("maybe we could throw the center and pull a guard at him, too")? Mr. Jenkins is insanely powerful and just doesn't seem to take a down off. Seriously, just watch for #77 in the Super Bowl (he usually lines up around the left offensive guard). Then wait for the pain to begin.
Since Patriots' QB Tom Brady had virtually no pressure applied to him by the Colts D-line, it will be very interesting to see what Bellichek decides to do against a much more dangerous and powerful front.
Sunday, January 18, 2004
Power Brick Rant
Philo from JOS: "Another peripheral, another freaking power brick. Why do I have fifteen different transformers under my desk?
...USB was supposed to carry power for peripherals, but I guess it was too hard. Well now that USB2 and Firewire are established you guys can go back and put power back on the pins. I also want daisy-chaining put back in the spec...
...And if nobody can bother doing that, then I want a standard low-voltage power established with a standard connector. Everyone can use 15v or 7.5v..."
JOS - Power brick rant
WWII Aerial Photos...
From the Guardian (credit to Slashdot for the link): "Unique aerial photographs of the some of the key events of the Second World War are to be made available for the first time over the internet... The entire archive of more than five million aerial reconnaissance photographs, shot by the RAF over Western Europe during the conflict, is going online from Monday.
They include American troops landing on the Normandy beaches on D-Day, the seizure of the Pegasus bridge by British paratroops, the aftermath of the first 1,000 bomber raid on Cologne, and the German battleship Bismarck as the Royal Navy hunted her down...
The Aerial Reconnaissance Archives (TARA)
Star Wars Honda Del Sol
I guess I'm not as much of a loser as I thought...

Star Wars Civic Project
Saturday, January 17, 2004
More Google Hacking
From ResearchBuzz comes this interesting Google syntax for date-based searching:
The syntax is daterange:xx-xx , where each xx is a date. Here's the kicker, though; the dates must be in Julian format. I hear you yelling, "What the heck is Julian format?" Julian dates are a continuous count of days since noon UTC on January 1, 4713 BC. April 21, 2002, at about 5am UTC is 2452385.70608 in Julian date format (hereafter referred to as JD.) Skip the decimals; Google doesn't like 'em...
dogs daterange:2452384-2452384
You'd get about 400 results, vs about 6,770,000 for a full Google search of the word dogs. Now, can you mix this with other syntaxes? Yes, to a certain extent. It works fine with intitle:
intitle:dog daterange:2452384-2452384
It also works okay with inurl, even when you mix the syntaxes together.
intitle:dog inurl:dog daterange:2452384-2452384
NBOR Review
The pre-release marketing hype has faded and left NBOR with the reality of developing a usable software product. The first reviews are in and are decidedly, well, you make the call.
"My opinion is that NBOR's Blackspace could be a great university/phD project or a research project. But not a product. It is currently very limited (few basic functions to derive from) to be used in real offices (for $299 retail price no less), it does not interoperate with existing office documents, its interface is terrible and can even be time consuming creating some of the tools from scratch for functions that they are just a click away on existing Office or graphics applications...
...Maybe when they have a complete SDK to give away, they refine their interface, clean up the crashing bugs of the player, be more compatible with office ... then maybe NBOR would have a chance. But if that take them 10 more years to complete I don't want to even imagine their investor's mood by then."
Advice to NBOR and other would-be software designers working on leading-edge user interfaces: hire the best (e.g., Gerry at MindStorm) and let them work their magic. I have a suspicion that the guys at NBOR have never shipped a mainstream product before and, if that's the case, their investors did everyone a disservice by not insisting upon a seasoned team to assist.
From ResearchBuzz comes this interesting Google syntax for date-based searching:
The syntax is daterange:xx-xx , where each xx is a date. Here's the kicker, though; the dates must be in Julian format. I hear you yelling, "What the heck is Julian format?" Julian dates are a continuous count of days since noon UTC on January 1, 4713 BC. April 21, 2002, at about 5am UTC is 2452385.70608 in Julian date format (hereafter referred to as JD.) Skip the decimals; Google doesn't like 'em...
dogs daterange:2452384-2452384
You'd get about 400 results, vs about 6,770,000 for a full Google search of the word dogs. Now, can you mix this with other syntaxes? Yes, to a certain extent. It works fine with intitle:
intitle:dog daterange:2452384-2452384
It also works okay with inurl, even when you mix the syntaxes together.
intitle:dog inurl:dog daterange:2452384-2452384
NBOR Review
The pre-release marketing hype has faded and left NBOR with the reality of developing a usable software product. The first reviews are in and are decidedly, well, you make the call.
"My opinion is that NBOR's Blackspace could be a great university/phD project or a research project. But not a product. It is currently very limited (few basic functions to derive from) to be used in real offices (for $299 retail price no less), it does not interoperate with existing office documents, its interface is terrible and can even be time consuming creating some of the tools from scratch for functions that they are just a click away on existing Office or graphics applications...
...Maybe when they have a complete SDK to give away, they refine their interface, clean up the crashing bugs of the player, be more compatible with office ... then maybe NBOR would have a chance. But if that take them 10 more years to complete I don't want to even imagine their investor's mood by then."
Advice to NBOR and other would-be software designers working on leading-edge user interfaces: hire the best (e.g., Gerry at MindStorm) and let them work their magic. I have a suspicion that the guys at NBOR have never shipped a mainstream product before and, if that's the case, their investors did everyone a disservice by not insisting upon a seasoned team to assist.
Friday, January 16, 2004
Grille Frenzy
Okay, let me state up front that I love Nissan and Infiniti products. My family has had a variety of these automobiles over the years and I've owned both the '03 and '04 Infiniti G35 Coupe and Sedan. My Dad and brother have both owned multiple Maximas, and for many years I drove my wife's beater '84 Nissan 200SX (which apparently stood for "Styling suX"). So... what I don't understand is what Nissan is attempting with the "steel plate" grille.

2004 Nissan Maxima
I'm trying to figure out the designers' thought process here. "Let's slap a giant, square steel plate in the center of an otherwise good-looking grille! It'll fit really well with our new branding, given that the new Murano and Altima don't have these steel plates!"
The plates - which don't match the exterior color of the car nor the grille finish itself - stick out like a sore thumb. Nissan - are you listening? The grille, by itself with the simple, compact Nissan logo, would be much, much, much more attractive. For a company that has made few tactical errors in the last few years, this styling gaffe sticks out like a sore thumb. Or perhaps a steel thumb.
Names
In the Clever names department, I present Exhibit A: the Mazda "Truck".
Great Styling Work #107
Wonderful job by Volvo's designers with the new S40 exterior. Strong, flowing lines that borrow from the S80. Attention to detail in the corners. Just a very, very nice design.

2004.5 Volvo S40
XLR
Although I haven't seen in person yet, I get the distinct impression that this unit looks markedly different than its rendering in a 2D photo. I'm not a big fan of the "Stealth Fighter" school of design that has become the Cadillac branding vehicle. Stealth fighters are angular for a reason. Cadillacs are angular for no particular reason, except perhaps a skewed sense of aesthetics. And the interior... oh my. Cadillac: please beg, borrow or steal a BMW interior guy and get into the 21st century. We really don't need a dashboard that harkens back to a mid-80's Cimarron, at best.

Cadillac XLR
Joe Isuzu
Anyone know if Isuzu is still in business?
Brother, can you spare $440,381?
Holy shnikes, this car looks tight: the Porsche Carerra GT. And if you have to ask how much it costs - like me - you have no shot at buying one.

Porsche Carerra GT
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Nice Reference!
I'd never heard of NBOR or Blackspace before reading this JOS thread. But one particular comment caught my eye in one of the linked articles:
"Blackspace is a fundamental change in how we learn, work, play, and communicate," says John Seely Brown, former Chief Scientist of Xerox Corporation and director of its Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), "as great as the advent of motion pictures. It is not just a new software paradigm, but a new, active, and interactive [medium]."
That's a great reference!
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
Googlemania
Google's powerful search technology has spawned a host of imitators and even a fan site. Check out this listing of Google-related sites that revolves around Everything Google.
Perfect storm for Google AdSense?
On the less rosy side of Google's business, Hans Riemer points out that pay-per-click (PPC) advertising systems like AdSense are threatened by scams that recruit random users to artificially drive up search engine revenues. The potential downside is the dilution of the PPC model, at best, and its demise, at worst. I like AdSense, but always wondered what some bad guys with Linux boxes and some IPtables hacks could do to the entire business model.
Not to pick on Microsoft, but...
Look, I'll be the first to admit that developing secure, system-level software is damn tough. Damn tough. There are always holes where you least expect them, no matter how carefully you've reviewed your code. News.com reports that Microsoft and Cisco have several major flaws in their implementations of Voice-over-IP using H323, to wit:
"...The security problems can cause a product that supports H.323 to crash. For example, in Cisco telecommunications products running its IOS operating system, the vulnerability could be used to cause the devices to freeze or reboot. However, on Microsoft's Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000, which is included with Small Business Server 2000 and 2003 editions, the vulnerability could allow an attacker to take control of the system... Ironically, in Microsoft's case, the Internet Security and Acceleration Server is designed to help protect companies' networks from online attacks. Specifically, a filter used in the server that secures VoIP communications is vulnerable to the flaw..."
Flaws threaten VoIP networks
Google's powerful search technology has spawned a host of imitators and even a fan site. Check out this listing of Google-related sites that revolves around Everything Google.
Perfect storm for Google AdSense?
On the less rosy side of Google's business, Hans Riemer points out that pay-per-click (PPC) advertising systems like AdSense are threatened by scams that recruit random users to artificially drive up search engine revenues. The potential downside is the dilution of the PPC model, at best, and its demise, at worst. I like AdSense, but always wondered what some bad guys with Linux boxes and some IPtables hacks could do to the entire business model.
Not to pick on Microsoft, but...
Look, I'll be the first to admit that developing secure, system-level software is damn tough. Damn tough. There are always holes where you least expect them, no matter how carefully you've reviewed your code. News.com reports that Microsoft and Cisco have several major flaws in their implementations of Voice-over-IP using H323, to wit:
"...The security problems can cause a product that supports H.323 to crash. For example, in Cisco telecommunications products running its IOS operating system, the vulnerability could be used to cause the devices to freeze or reboot. However, on Microsoft's Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000, which is included with Small Business Server 2000 and 2003 editions, the vulnerability could allow an attacker to take control of the system... Ironically, in Microsoft's case, the Internet Security and Acceleration Server is designed to help protect companies' networks from online attacks. Specifically, a filter used in the server that secures VoIP communications is vulnerable to the flaw..."
Flaws threaten VoIP networks
Sunday, January 11, 2004
Adobe helping fight counterfeiters
"Adobe Systems Inc. acknowledged Friday it quietly added technology to the world's best-known graphics software at the request of government regulators and international bankers to prevent consumers from making copies of the world's major currencies... The unusual concession has angered scores of customers... Adobe, the world's leading vendor for graphics software, said the secretive technology 'would have minimal impact on honest customers.' It generates a warning message when someone tries to make digital copies of some currencies..."
Adobe helps fight counterfeiting
Fresh fears over cellphones
Uhmm... I don't think I'm gonna be usin' my cellphone quite as much. Check out the brainscan photos. And short Verizon.
Superbowl Predictions
On Wildcard Sunday, the crew made the following predictions for the Superbowl:
Person Pick Tot
Tudy PHI over NE 58
Rick GB over NE 62
Marc CAR over IND 57
Lew PHI over TN 48
Doug CAR over IND 47
Winner gets treated to dinner by the losers.
Survivor Notes
Speaking of the NFL, All-Star Survivor starts on Superbowl Sunday 2004. 18 of the most popular players - including Rupert, Richard, and Tina - are divided into three tribes with a minimum of $25,000 per player (up from the regular Survivor minimum pay of $2,500). There is some indication that Johnny Fairplay is not in the game, although a recent interview (which is an entertaining read) implied he might be participating.
Chickenhead
The anonymous blogger named Chickenhead apparently feels that HP's Carly Fiorina is "under-qualified". Caution: nasty language, adults only please.
And still more from NAIS

Pontiac Solstice
If (a big if) Pontiac can build a high-quality convertible like the Solstice and keep it under $20K (as promised), they might really have a winner.

Chevy Nomad Concept
This attractive, potential Mini Cooper competitor seats four and is built on the same Kappa platform as the Solstice.

BMW 645ci Convertible
This, new premium Beemer drop-top rates a 9 of 10 on the aesthetic scale.

Mercury Aviator Concept
Appealing crossover combo builds on momentum established by the Infiniti FX and the Chrysler Pacifica.

Land Rover Range Stormer Concept
Land Rover's Range Stormer shows off a far sportier direction for the staid manufacturer, a la Cayenne and FX.
Friday, January 09, 2004
More from NAIS

Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible
Another wonderful job by Chrysler - rip the top off the PT Cruiser and provide a motoring experience unlike any other (with the possible exception of the VW Beetle ragtop). An inexpensive, four seater convertible. I guarantee this vehicle will sell like hotcakes for years to come.

Jiexun Concept
Here's something creative: an asymmetrical (left-to-right) front-end. Certainly not pleasing to the eye, perhaps this approach will work in the future. And certainly a completely new idea in an industry seemingly lacking radical approaches.

Lincoln Mark X Roadster
Wonderful job by Lincoln's designers: a droptop with charisma, panache and aesthetic appeal. If it's priced less than $40K, it will truly be a world-beater.

Mercedes-Benz GST
Two words: ugh and lee. Ugly. If M-B is going for a target-market of people who like stunted, undersized station wagons laden with nonsensical curves, then they've got a winner. This model has no chance of surviving in its current form.

Volvo S40
The new S40 is not a bad-looking vehicle at all. Borrowing heavily from the S60 and S80 before it, the 40 is a marked improvement over its predecessor. I believe it will slightly overachieve its sales goals if it is marketed appropriately: age 21-35 professionals living in or near large metro areas.
Thursday, January 08, 2004
Very interesting article regarding when (and when not) to outsource the software development function, from one of the leading business simulation firms: The Pitfalls of Outsourcing Programmers - Forio Business Simulations.
Looks like Governor Taft signed HB12 into law, which means Ohio will become the 46th state to pass a concealed-carry law. No state has ever repealed such a law and every rigorous academic study (University of Chicago, Florida State, etc.) has demonstrated reductions in violent crime. Congratulations to Jeff Garvas and Ohioans for Concealed Carry for their fine work in organizing the movement for a sensible CCW law in Ohio.
At NAIS 2004, some interesting product introductions:

Mitsubishi Eclipse Concept
If well-received, this concept vehicle could be close to a production '06-'07 Eclipse model. The Eclipse body suffered greatly in its most recent incarnation as the prior version is still better looking.

Hyundai Tiburon Concept?
The Tiburon is a damn appealing car. This might be a next-gen version and, if so, will continue the roll Hyundai has been on in the states. They're writing the modern-day Honda blueprint for success as we speak.

Jeep Rescue
Need proof that the Hummer H2 is dramatically impacting the entire SUV market? We present the Jeep Rescue, an overwrought Hummer wannabe.

Mazda Concept
Evidence that the Mini-Cooper has changed expectations in the micro-car realm.

Chrysler Crossfire Convertible
Chrysler has done some very nice work pulling the top off the Crossfire coupe. One hopes that the body has been stiffened and the suspension tightened to make it a "true convertible".
Looks like Governor Taft signed HB12 into law, which means Ohio will become the 46th state to pass a concealed-carry law. No state has ever repealed such a law and every rigorous academic study (University of Chicago, Florida State, etc.) has demonstrated reductions in violent crime. Congratulations to Jeff Garvas and Ohioans for Concealed Carry for their fine work in organizing the movement for a sensible CCW law in Ohio.
At NAIS 2004, some interesting product introductions:

Mitsubishi Eclipse Concept
If well-received, this concept vehicle could be close to a production '06-'07 Eclipse model. The Eclipse body suffered greatly in its most recent incarnation as the prior version is still better looking.

Hyundai Tiburon Concept?
The Tiburon is a damn appealing car. This might be a next-gen version and, if so, will continue the roll Hyundai has been on in the states. They're writing the modern-day Honda blueprint for success as we speak.

Jeep Rescue
Need proof that the Hummer H2 is dramatically impacting the entire SUV market? We present the Jeep Rescue, an overwrought Hummer wannabe.

Mazda Concept
Evidence that the Mini-Cooper has changed expectations in the micro-car realm.

Chrysler Crossfire Convertible
Chrysler has done some very nice work pulling the top off the Crossfire coupe. One hopes that the body has been stiffened and the suspension tightened to make it a "true convertible".
Monday, January 05, 2004
Looking to start a business, but need that critical (and fundable) idea to begin? Find out which companies are getting funded. Credit for this link goes to a JOS Thread.
Sunday, January 04, 2004
Paul Graham on Java
This Paul Graham column certainly needs revisiting (it was originally written in April of '01), but it is entertaining: Java's Cover.
This Paul Graham column certainly needs revisiting (it was originally written in April of '01), but it is entertaining: Java's Cover.
Saturday, January 03, 2004
Getting your MFC app to run on Linux
"Still maintaining that legacy Windows application built using Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), but now you have clients requesting a Linux version? You may have highly skilled MFC developers on your team, but how do you come up to speed with Linux development? Don't panic; this article is for you..."
IBM's Developerworks discusses how to port MFC applications to Linux.
Game Development
From JOS: Which Game SDK is better?
Visualization
The importance of representing data visually: The Challenger: An Information Disaster.
World's Strongest Man
Amy made the interesting observation that all of the competitors in the World's Strongest Man competition were bald or losing their hair. "None of them have a full head of hair," she exclaimed, "but I really like that Mariusz Pudzianowki!".
"Still maintaining that legacy Windows application built using Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), but now you have clients requesting a Linux version? You may have highly skilled MFC developers on your team, but how do you come up to speed with Linux development? Don't panic; this article is for you..."
IBM's Developerworks discusses how to port MFC applications to Linux.
Game Development
From JOS: Which Game SDK is better?
Visualization
The importance of representing data visually: The Challenger: An Information Disaster.
World's Strongest Man
Amy made the interesting observation that all of the competitors in the World's Strongest Man competition were bald or losing their hair. "None of them have a full head of hair," she exclaimed, "but I really like that Mariusz Pudzianowki!".
Hot Topics Around Various Auto Forums
Mercedes forum: My wife is divorcing me and trying to take the house. How do a kill her and keep my Doctors license?
Monte Carlo forums: Why do I keep getting pulled over, it ain't stolen yo.
Civic forums: Just added some more decals (5hp gain)
Lamborghini forum: Wind noise around 210MPH
SUV forum: Are gas prices going down any time soon?
Pontiac Fiero forum: Just bought a new flame retardant suit (pics)
Buick Forum: Is Medicare and Medicaid right for me?
Hummer forum: Had a fender bender today 24 hurt, 10 killed. Is black touchup paint available through the dealer?
Cadillac Eldorado forum: Is there a way to relocate the spare to get more bodies in the trunk?
Hot topics around the other forums.
Mercedes forum: My wife is divorcing me and trying to take the house. How do a kill her and keep my Doctors license?
Monte Carlo forums: Why do I keep getting pulled over, it ain't stolen yo.
Civic forums: Just added some more decals (5hp gain)
Lamborghini forum: Wind noise around 210MPH
SUV forum: Are gas prices going down any time soon?
Pontiac Fiero forum: Just bought a new flame retardant suit (pics)
Buick Forum: Is Medicare and Medicaid right for me?
Hummer forum: Had a fender bender today 24 hurt, 10 killed. Is black touchup paint available through the dealer?
Cadillac Eldorado forum: Is there a way to relocate the spare to get more bodies in the trunk?
Hot topics around the other forums.
Thursday, January 01, 2004
Horsepower Wars
I wanted to briefly revisit my "automotive prediction #1" for 2004: For better or worse, the automotive horsepower race will continue unabated. To see how far we've come, I herein contrast the horsepower and performance of my mid-tier sedan ('04 Infiniti G35) with luxury and performance models from 15 years ago (note: If you have any quibbles about my figures, please contact the editors of Performance Car magazine regarding the accuracy of their November, 1987 issue).
Year Make/Model 0-60 HP
2004 Infiniti G35 Coupe 5.5 280 <==
1988 Porsche 911 Turbo 5.6 300
2004 Infiniti G35 Sedan 5.7 260 <==
1988 Ferrari Testarossa 6.0 390
1988 Porsche 911 Targa 6.1 231
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo 6.5 220
1988 Ferrari 328 GTB 6.8 270
1988 Nissan 300ZX Turbo 7.0 228
1988 BMW 325i 7.2 171
1988 Mercedes 500 SEC 7.3 245
1988 BMW 735i 7.6 220
1988 Toyota Supra 7.7 201
1988 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 8.0 185
1988 BMW 528i 8.3 183
1988 Saab 900 Turbo 16V 8.5 175
1988 Mazda RX-7 8.5 150
1988 Honda Accord 2.0 8.6 137
1988 Acura Legend 9.5 172
A few caveats: the 1988 figures are from Euro-spec cars, which are generally quicker and possess more HP than equivalent, US-bound models. If we compared US vehicles to the '04 Infiniti, the performance disparity would be even greater!
Now... can you imagine what 2018 will bring? 400 HP sports sedans? 600 HP sports cars? 0-60 in 2.9 seconds? My neck is hurting just thinking about it.
Wednesday, December 31, 2003
Master and Commander of the Family
Scene: A father, not unlike Clark W. Griswold, is driving his wife and two sons cross-country to Los Angeles from Chicago in a large, wood-paneled station wagon. Having recently seen (and very much enjoyed) the motion picture Master and Commander, the father has decided to be Master and Commander of the the Family.
Cast: The father, Herbert, is wearing thick black glasses, the product of too many years as an associate in a medium-sized accounting firm. His wife, Madge, is a part-time real-estate agent who aspires to join the $1,000,000 club. His twin boys, Brad and Brent, are 14, their eyes obscured by mops of sandy-brown shocks of hair.
Herbert: Mr. Midshipmen, hands to the braces! Port your helm. Jump to it - and brail up the mains'l!
Madge: Herbert, will you please stop with that silly yelling? It's been over a week since you saw that movie! You're making no sense!
Herbert: Madge,under penalty of a charge of insubordination, ye'll address me as Cap'n and by no other appellation. Discipline in this man's navy is the watchword. Failure to abide by this rule will mean I muster ye out at the next port-o-call.
Madge: Seriously? Is that an option?
Herbert: Lieutenant Madge, I'll not warn you again, I'll brook no insubordination -
Brent: Dad, there's one of those new Porsche Cayennes coming up fast in the passing lane!
Herbert: [Shouting] Master of the watch, I'd be pleased if ye'd run up with a glass and tell me if ye see any of the enemy about!
Brent: What's that mean, Dad? [Whispering to Brad] What's he mean?
Brad: I think he wants to go faster so he can get a better look at the Porsche as it passes us. See if there's any cops around.
Herbert: Look smart, Mr. Midshipmen... have you sighted a privateer or a frog on the horeezon?
Brent: Uhmm, no...
Herbert: That's no way to speak to your commanding officer! Boy, you'll run up to the mizzen watch this instant or be clapped in irons!
Brad: Dad, I think he meant there aren't any cops around.
Herbert: Another bloody insubordinate? Both of you will taste the lash before this day is done!
[Continued on page 3]
Scene: A father, not unlike Clark W. Griswold, is driving his wife and two sons cross-country to Los Angeles from Chicago in a large, wood-paneled station wagon. Having recently seen (and very much enjoyed) the motion picture Master and Commander, the father has decided to be Master and Commander of the the Family.
Cast: The father, Herbert, is wearing thick black glasses, the product of too many years as an associate in a medium-sized accounting firm. His wife, Madge, is a part-time real-estate agent who aspires to join the $1,000,000 club. His twin boys, Brad and Brent, are 14, their eyes obscured by mops of sandy-brown shocks of hair.
Herbert: Mr. Midshipmen, hands to the braces! Port your helm. Jump to it - and brail up the mains'l!
Madge: Herbert, will you please stop with that silly yelling? It's been over a week since you saw that movie! You're making no sense!
Herbert: Madge,under penalty of a charge of insubordination, ye'll address me as Cap'n and by no other appellation. Discipline in this man's navy is the watchword. Failure to abide by this rule will mean I muster ye out at the next port-o-call.
Madge: Seriously? Is that an option?
Herbert: Lieutenant Madge, I'll not warn you again, I'll brook no insubordination -
Brent: Dad, there's one of those new Porsche Cayennes coming up fast in the passing lane!
Herbert: [Shouting] Master of the watch, I'd be pleased if ye'd run up with a glass and tell me if ye see any of the enemy about!
Brent: What's that mean, Dad? [Whispering to Brad] What's he mean?
Brad: I think he wants to go faster so he can get a better look at the Porsche as it passes us. See if there's any cops around.
Herbert: Look smart, Mr. Midshipmen... have you sighted a privateer or a frog on the horeezon?
Brent: Uhmm, no...
Herbert: That's no way to speak to your commanding officer! Boy, you'll run up to the mizzen watch this instant or be clapped in irons!
Brad: Dad, I think he meant there aren't any cops around.
Herbert: Another bloody insubordinate? Both of you will taste the lash before this day is done!
[Continued on page 3]
Monday, December 29, 2003
Doug's Automotive Predicteration for 2004
#1) For better or worse, the automotive horsepower race will continue unabated. Nissan's groundbreaking success in appealing to lead-footed instincts will breed a host of copycats. Witness Acura's 2004 TL, boasting 270 horsepower versus the G35's 260. Look for 300 horsepower sports sedans, in the under $40K category, coming soon to showrooms near you.
#2) Mazda will continue its struggles. Its margins must be truly appalling and I suspect its volumes are disappointing overall. Witness the RX-8, which has been priced to undercut the G35 Coupe. Or the Mazda 6 Sports Sedan, which has some appeal, but is fighting against premium brands that have introduced low-end competitors (e.g., Acura's TSX). The Miata needs more horsepower... significantly more. In short, not a pretty picture.
#3) As I've written previously, VW's Phaeton will be an unmitigated sales disaster.
#4) Porsche will be forced to find a partner as it struggles to survive. At nearly every level, Porsche has been met with major challenges: Infiniti's FX versus the Cayenne, the G35 Coupe versus the Porsche Coupe, the Honda S2000 versus the Boxster. Porsche has to modify its model if it is to stay in the game... since this won't happen, its only other choice is to find a sugar daddy.
#5) Grille-challenged autos will suffer in the marketplace. Those models with bizarrely shaped grilles, presumably to establish uniqueness or brand awareness, will underperform equivalent models with conventionally shaped grilles. In the bizarre grille category: Acura and Mazda.
#6) Another safe bet: GM will continue to lose marketshare outside of Cadillac (which will perform a bit ahead of plan) and its Pontiac division, which will hold its ground - barely.
#7) Ford will take major heat for revelations that the Ford Foundation funded Palestinian and other interests not aligned with mainstream America. Expect Ford, Mercury, Jaguar and Volvo all to suffer as a result.
#8) The first manufacturer to produce an eco-friendly SUV (e.g., hybrid powerplant) for a reasonable price will perform astonishingly well in the marketplace.
#9) Hummer's forthcoming H3T will be a big hit among professional athletes, musicians and other playahs.
#10) Ford's new F150 will meet sales projections, but only by a hair.
Top Ten Fixes After HB12 is Law
From GlockTalk: "Top Ten Problems with HB 12 as passed by the General Assembly...
#3. Sec. 2923.16 creates a nearly unworkable framework for licensees to carry a firearm in an automobile, requiring that it be in a holster "in plain sight on the person's person" or locked up. Will this lead to a new market for chest holsters? What are women supposed to do who carry in their purses? What if your car's glove box doesn't lock? "
Read more: Top Ten Fixes for HB12.
Sunday, December 28, 2003
The Software Biz: Make More Mistakes
From MSDN, shockingly, comes an insightful article on small software businesses: Make More Mistakes.
Saturday, December 27, 2003
A very personal Automotive History ;-)
G35C on Ice
In California, a G35 Coupe gets iced.
Relationships
All you need to know about male/female relationships is easily explained with the Ladder Theory. Excerpt:
"A common question men ask of women is "Tell me what you want in a man?", which is ... an invitation to be lied to. Because she'll almost invariably answer with some combination of: sense of humor, intelligence, sensitivity, emotional stability. As far as I can tell this is mostly rubbish. But in an effort to be fair I have included this, since there seem to be a few rare cases of this. Just none that I have ever seen. Another thing to watch out for is the code words women use. Here is a translation guide for dealing with women.
Says: I want a man who is motivated and has goals.
Means: I want a rich man
Says: I want a man who knows how to treat a woman.
Means: I want a rich man
Says: He's from a really good family.
Means: He's from a really rich family.
I'm sure you get the point..."
Ladder Theory
I love this game!
The wit and wisdom of Rasheed Wallace, who earns approximately $17 million per year as a forward for the NBA's Portland Trailblazers: "'I ain't no dumb-ass [racial epithet deleted] out here. I'm not like a whole bunch of these young boys out here who get caught up and captivated into the league... No. I see behind the lines. I see behind the false screens. I know what this business is all about. I know the commissioner of this league makes more than three-quarters of the players in this league.
There's a whole lot of crunching numbers that, quote-unquote, me as an athlete and me as an NBA player should know. In my opinion, they just want to draft [racial epithet deleted] who are dumb and dumber -- straight out of high school. That's why they're drafting all these high school cats, because they come into the league and they don't know no better. They don't know no better, and they don't know the real business, and they don't see behind the charade."
Raw 'Sheed
![]() 1982 Honda Prelude - It was my senior year in college when I first spotted the gen-I Honda Prelude. I was smitten. Sports-car? I don't know, but I loved the lines, the sun/moon-roof (this, when the only way to get such a roof in a GM car was to use a blowtorch), the five-speed. When my '77 Nova was finally paid off (thanks, Dad!), I went to Joy Stillpass at the old Stillpass Honda and bought a stripped, burgundy Prelude. | ![]() 1985 Saab 900 Turbo - My Dad introduced me to Saabs: they were certainly very rare in the Midwest. He had a beautiful company car: blue 900S four door. When I was close to paying off the Prelude, I decided to switch. I bought a black 900 Turbo 16-Valve (woo-hoo, 16 valves!) with the factory whale-tail spoiler. I also had a company car, so I could leave my baby in the garage for long stretches. At the time, these cars were so uncommon that I pulled into a McDonald's drivethrough once, only tohave the guy at the window ask me, "is that a masserrattee?". | ![]() 1991 Mazda Miata - With a young child, my wife sent me to get a sedan in October of '91. I came back with a Miata. An Indian Summer test drive left me captivated with ragtop driving. Rear-wheel drive, manual transmission, with no limited-slip - in snowy Boston - truly teaches you how to drive. My first attempted fast-lane pass in the snow resulted in me doing 360's on Route 128. Over the years, I spun the Miata out three times. Each time, the car touched nothing. Yes, I was lucky - not good. |
![]() 1994 Cadillac Eldorado - My brother-in-law Marc introduced me to the comfort of Cadillacs, taking me to Thomson-McConnnell. After about a six-hour negotiating session - after which both Marc and the salesman ("G") were near tears, I drove away in the Eldo. The seats were the most comfortable I'd ever felt. The 275 horsepower Northstar engine was a delight: torquey, responsive and turbine-like. The downsides? Handling (non-existent) and the 'sploded fuel-pump that left me stranded partway to Indianapolis. After a few years of spotty reliability, I'd had enough. | ![]() 1999 Volvo S70 T5 - My Dad had a T5 five-speed, which I thought was very cool ("it looks like a Nazi staff car"). I'd never thought of springing for one until Tommy (again, from Stillpass) called with a deal I couldn't refuse. They would take the Eldo in trade (strangely enough, no other dealership seemed to want to take Cadillacs!) and cut me an end-of-the-month deal on a T5 that had been on the lot awhile. Powerful and luxurious, without any ostentatiousness, the T5 did have some downsides: it was plagued with a variety of electrical problems including starting, burned out bulbs and the dreaded "check-engine light". | ![]() 2003 Infiniti G35 Coupe - What can you say about the G35C that hasn't been said by the automotive press? I compare it to a Porsche 911 Coupe for a fraction of the cost. 280 HP, tremendous handling and grip, back seats that are actually usable - at least by my kids - and the most 'looks' per mile I've ever experienced while driving. A black coupe with 18" rims is simply a moving piece of art. I'm going to be an Infiniti driver from this point forward. At least until a fuel pump 'splodes. |
G35C on Ice
In California, a G35 Coupe gets iced.
Relationships
All you need to know about male/female relationships is easily explained with the Ladder Theory. Excerpt:
"A common question men ask of women is "Tell me what you want in a man?", which is ... an invitation to be lied to. Because she'll almost invariably answer with some combination of: sense of humor, intelligence, sensitivity, emotional stability. As far as I can tell this is mostly rubbish. But in an effort to be fair I have included this, since there seem to be a few rare cases of this. Just none that I have ever seen. Another thing to watch out for is the code words women use. Here is a translation guide for dealing with women.
Says: I want a man who is motivated and has goals.
Means: I want a rich man
Says: I want a man who knows how to treat a woman.
Means: I want a rich man
Says: He's from a really good family.
Means: He's from a really rich family.
I'm sure you get the point..."
Ladder Theory
I love this game!
The wit and wisdom of Rasheed Wallace, who earns approximately $17 million per year as a forward for the NBA's Portland Trailblazers: "'I ain't no dumb-ass [racial epithet deleted] out here. I'm not like a whole bunch of these young boys out here who get caught up and captivated into the league... No. I see behind the lines. I see behind the false screens. I know what this business is all about. I know the commissioner of this league makes more than three-quarters of the players in this league.
There's a whole lot of crunching numbers that, quote-unquote, me as an athlete and me as an NBA player should know. In my opinion, they just want to draft [racial epithet deleted] who are dumb and dumber -- straight out of high school. That's why they're drafting all these high school cats, because they come into the league and they don't know no better. They don't know no better, and they don't know the real business, and they don't see behind the charade."
Raw 'Sheed
Friday, December 26, 2003
More Outsourcing Fodder
My reply in the most recent JOS outsourcing thread... "Outsourcing should be especially terrifying to financial services/insurance organizations. Given the fact that their lifeblood is truly a set of business processes (i.e., moving bits around)... handing this domain knowledge off to a group in India, Romania, etc. could very well breed a new global competitor.
A bank or insurance company that farms out IT may, in fact, be building and training their own competition... ten, fifteen or twenty years from now.
Of course, I suspect some CEOs and boards are starting to get it. Bank One, I believe, stopped outsourcing and brought everything back in house. Still, I wonder how many institutions really understand the danger that outsourcing represents."
JOS - outsourcing thread
My reply in the most recent JOS outsourcing thread... "Outsourcing should be especially terrifying to financial services/insurance organizations. Given the fact that their lifeblood is truly a set of business processes (i.e., moving bits around)... handing this domain knowledge off to a group in India, Romania, etc. could very well breed a new global competitor.
A bank or insurance company that farms out IT may, in fact, be building and training their own competition... ten, fifteen or twenty years from now.
Of course, I suspect some CEOs and boards are starting to get it. Bank One, I believe, stopped outsourcing and brought everything back in house. Still, I wonder how many institutions really understand the danger that outsourcing represents."
JOS - outsourcing thread
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