You can definately tell its a down economy when the biggest of the big gets into a lowly market like basic web page hosting to scrape a few extra dollars. Microsoft has formally entered into the web page hosting business with its Office Live product. They even offer a year free if you sign up today?
Microsoft has already entered this market on the side with their Azure Windows product line that we learned about during the 2008 PDC Conference.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Price Gouging By Sirius
Yesterday, I received a email from Sirius Satellite Radio with the subject line of:
"Immediate Action Required Regarding Your SIRIUS Service"
The email was notifying me that my satellite radio was going to cut me off of the internet streaming for my Sirius Stiletto unless I pay an extra 3 dollars a month or an extra 36 dollars a year. I am already paying 12.95 a month and don't feel I am getting the value for an additional increase.
I am very upset about this because I no longer have a competitor to switch to. The foundation of the arguement for the merger was that there would be no price increases and greater content available for the average consumer. Less than one month after the merger, I started to lose channels and now I am loosing the single greatest feature for the average office worker "to listen to sirius when I'm not in the car".
Sadly, I will be selling my radio and dropping my subscription after march 11th. Sirius defrauded me and now I am paying the price. What is on regular radio nowadays?
"Immediate Action Required Regarding Your SIRIUS Service"
The email was notifying me that my satellite radio was going to cut me off of the internet streaming for my Sirius Stiletto unless I pay an extra 3 dollars a month or an extra 36 dollars a year. I am already paying 12.95 a month and don't feel I am getting the value for an additional increase.
I am very upset about this because I no longer have a competitor to switch to. The foundation of the arguement for the merger was that there would be no price increases and greater content available for the average consumer. Less than one month after the merger, I started to lose channels and now I am loosing the single greatest feature for the average office worker "to listen to sirius when I'm not in the car".
Sadly, I will be selling my radio and dropping my subscription after march 11th. Sirius defrauded me and now I am paying the price. What is on regular radio nowadays?
Monday, January 19, 2009
The 'what' is not as important as the how
As we are nearing the close of January, I have had some time to reflect not only on my New Years resolutions; but other folks that surround me. A common thing that people do is they set a generalized goal rather than a specific. Such as: Lose weight, Drive Less, Be More Green, Smell Better.
I find that more often than not I fail at generalizations and others fail because they are just a goal, there is nothing specific to them that gives you a reachable target. For example, if my only goal is to 'lose weight'; there are dozens of ways to accomplish this and you lose target. If your goal was to smell better, this could be accomplished by bathing, using soap, changing your sheets, etc..etc...
Do we generalize for the secret wish to not achieve our goals?
I find that more often than not I fail at generalizations and others fail because they are just a goal, there is nothing specific to them that gives you a reachable target. For example, if my only goal is to 'lose weight'; there are dozens of ways to accomplish this and you lose target. If your goal was to smell better, this could be accomplished by bathing, using soap, changing your sheets, etc..etc...
Do we generalize for the secret wish to not achieve our goals?
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
To Fat To Fish
So, I just finished reading Artie Lange's new book "Too Fat To Fish". The book was an interesting read into the mindset of a self destructive person that had every reason to celebrate his success but consistently chooses to destroy himself. It's worth the read.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Meta-blog: Programming: love it or leave it.
Yes, I know Orin doesn't believe in meta-blogging, but this is a topic that is close to heart. I'm referring to Jeff Atwood's recent comments regarding programming as a career and specifically Joel Spolsky's remarks. I have to say I am in total agreement. While programming wasn't my first (or second) career choice growing up I have fallen totally in love over the last 15 years with software craftsmanship. Software programming is an 'excellent career' that will feed you daily challenges and mind puzzles to work over. How many job's out that evolve on a daily basis? I do totally commend the original authors aspirations to obtain a new degree. Personally, I think everybody should be updating their personal skill sets and knowledge core over the course of their life. I don't believe education is ever completed; regardless of life's course.
I have worked for large ISV's, micro ISV's and in house IT honing my craft and have never been bored. I have met many fellow developers that grumbled and griped and it never failed to amaze me that they don't share the same passion I do.
I agree totally Jeff: Programming: love it or leave it.
But then like Jeff, I am spending New Years Eve working on Black Freight and updating my blog.
I have worked for large ISV's, micro ISV's and in house IT honing my craft and have never been bored. I have met many fellow developers that grumbled and griped and it never failed to amaze me that they don't share the same passion I do.
I agree totally Jeff: Programming: love it or leave it.
But then like Jeff, I am spending New Years Eve working on Black Freight and updating my blog.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Another Meta-Blog, No Repect!
While reading some blog aggregation this morning (during a compilation session), I ran across this blog posting this morning.
I had an experience very similar to this one just a few short years ago (no names of course). This sort of thing seems to happen more often in small companies whenever you have developers working for non-developers that believe they are tech-savy.
The approach I took was to educate the non-developers in what I do and how I go about doing it. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn't work at all because, like anything you have to give and take.
The experience I most remember was discussing a new database design for some inventory tables. I believed in a normalized transactional design and they believed in a highly non-normalized design to support Access reports. At first I got angry because they were spoiling my 'pure' design, and the DBA was angry because he was trying desperately to create a normalized design for the database. Everybody walked away from the table angry, the developers, the dba, and the project owners because nobody budged.
After the meeting, I was reflecting on every bodies positions on the matter; and there seemed to be no way to move forward. I decided to suck up my pride and accept a badly designed database model in order to move the project forward; it's called "Compromise". The project was canceled in the end anyways, the stakeholders decided the cost was too much for their simple project.
I had an experience very similar to this one just a few short years ago (no names of course). This sort of thing seems to happen more often in small companies whenever you have developers working for non-developers that believe they are tech-savy.
The approach I took was to educate the non-developers in what I do and how I go about doing it. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn't work at all because, like anything you have to give and take.
The experience I most remember was discussing a new database design for some inventory tables. I believed in a normalized transactional design and they believed in a highly non-normalized design to support Access reports. At first I got angry because they were spoiling my 'pure' design, and the DBA was angry because he was trying desperately to create a normalized design for the database. Everybody walked away from the table angry, the developers, the dba, and the project owners because nobody budged.
After the meeting, I was reflecting on every bodies positions on the matter; and there seemed to be no way to move forward. I decided to suck up my pride and accept a badly designed database model in order to move the project forward; it's called "Compromise". The project was canceled in the end anyways, the stakeholders decided the cost was too much for their simple project.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Grieve for what you have?
I can't remember where, but I once read that people should experience grief for what they have. My thought at the time was 'That is just plain nonsensical' and moved on with my life & studies.
However, events have occurred in my life that have forced me to evaluate what is important to me and where I want to be in 3,6,9,12 months from now. So I ask this question gentle readers: Have you ever grieved for what you have?
However, events have occurred in my life that have forced me to evaluate what is important to me and where I want to be in 3,6,9,12 months from now. So I ask this question gentle readers: Have you ever grieved for what you have?
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