Diary of a Network Geek

Now, here’s a good use for a Beowulf cluster….

Researchers are using low-cost “super computing” ala Linux to figure out how species differentiate, according to this article on Wired News. They’re also investigating the relationship all these sub-species have to each other currently. It sounds so simple that I think it’s deceptive. They’re inputing tonnes of data, including habitat, diet, and reproduction statistics. Then, they’re analyzing all that for subtle relationships that might not be obvious to human researchers.
But, what’s cool is that they’re doing it on a budget using an Open Source operating system! Truly, we are all standing on the shoulders of giants as we march into this new century of high-technology. And, that, as far as I am concerned, is very, very cool.

Faster, better hand-helds?

Well, maybe, but I’m waiting to see the actually products. See, according to this article on Wired News, there’s a new kind of memory coming that doesn’t get emptied when it looses power. So, the upside is, allegedly, faster startups and better hand-held devices. The down side, to me, is that when you want to clear memory, it’s going to be more complicated than just killing the power. Still, it’s being backed by Motorola, and I’ve always enjoyed their technology. Of course, it helps that my older brother works in Motorola’s R&D department, but, still, they are innovators.
Well, maybe it will help invigorate the IT industry. Now, you’ll have to be an expert to reboot your machine!

I get hits from the craziest searches.

I was looking at my logs over the weekend and saw really strange stuff in there. For instance, I got a bunch of hits from Google on “Strom Thurman”. I guess, because I wrote a little piece about his passing in my blog. But, then, too, I’ve gotten hits from some nut-job who was looking for “cannibal erotica pictures”, who apparently got to me via a misspelling in my blog entry “Corporate Canibalism”. In fact, out of amusement, I haven’t changed the title. I guess I should mention Novell and networking in my blog more often. Maybe I should talk about my resume and higher salaries, too.
So, hey, if any of you recruiters out there find my site and resume, I’m always up for a higher-paying Novell administration gig. Did I mention I have supervisory experience?

Why do I have a hard time sympathizing?

Okay, look, the smut peddlers are protected by the First Amendment, but when they get harrassed by an e-extortionist, it’s hard for me to feel too much sympathy. Not even when their websites get crippled, as is apparently happening, according to this Wired News story.
After all, these sleeze-bags are behind the most offensive and pervasive spam I recieve. I have an 11-year-old daughter who might be accidentally exposed to this filth, just because some wormy slime-ball needs to make money in a dirty, disgusting business. So, they’re getting black-mailed by some hacker/cracker/script-kiddie and they don’t like having to explain to the FBI what their business is. Hmm, seems like it’s time to get out of the business, eh?
Of course, they have their rights as American citizens, including the right to Free Speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment, but I just don’t put pornography in the same class as political dissent. Go figure. I just hope this guy puts enough pressure on these “business people” to close some of them down.

so, why can’t we?

Take our jobs back, that is. According to this article on Australia IT, a call center was brought back to Australia from India due to public outcry. Apparently, the Australians were outraged that a company would set up a call center in a foreign country and have people there pretend to be Australian, to allegedly provide “better service”. So, because of public opinion, the company brought the call center back to Melbourne.
Hmm, so, now, are they all racists there? Or, are they just nationalists that want to see their own citizens get, and keep, jobs? And, if they can do it, why don’t we? Wake up, America!! It’s time we fixed our own economy!!

Well, here’s a place to get them!

National Geographic. Yes, that’s right, good old National Geographic has a photo archive on-line that’s just filled with interesting subjects for wallpapers.

Check it out!

Now, that’s a news flash!

I work with a guy who just doesn’t see why privacy, especially from a government’s prying eyes, is important. Luckily, there are a lot of folks who get it. And, apparently, they can make their voices heard.
According to this article on Wired News, the DOD has altered the parameters of a proposed tracking and information system in response to concerns over privacy. Also, according to this story on Wired News, the Total Information Awareness program is not going to get funeded. Not even changing the name to the Terrorist Information Awareness program could put enough shine on that rotten apple to sell it. And a good thing, too. If the Patriot Act got a little dicey with our personal liberties, this would have been an out-right invasion of privacy.
But, now that the war on Iraq is won, though not over, cooler heads seem to be prevailing in Washington. About time. Remember what Ben Franklin said… “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. “

Is it possible?

Well, I know that Apple has a tiny market-share, but I just don’t see a lot of Linux desktops. I don’t even really hear that much in the news about Linux desktops. But, according to this article on Slate, that’s just what Alex Salkever has predicted. Personally, I doubt it, but I also have to admit that it sure would be nice. After all, I recently got my Linux+ certification, so anything that makes me more marketable has got to be good!
Well, here’s hoping.