The monster turkey (40.5 lbs.) is almost done. Vegetables and pie are done. Tom is here–I picked him up from his group home at noon. So far things are going well, but I can never really relax at these holiday feasts. Tom (age 16) is severely autistic, while his older brother’s case of Asperger’s Syndrome means he also requires extra management.
Monday night I went back to Irish Class, having missed a week. I did OK. Some other students had also been gone that day, so I was not too far out of step. Still, I need to work harder at this. I never fail to be impressed at how our teachers manage to keep the classes progressing when the whole system is completely voluntary and free. It is great to see devotion in action.
Also, I was feeling stuck on one of my woodworking projects, the new shaving horse. The constraint I have imposed on myself is that it has to be easily taken down for transport and rebuilt on site. I got an idea about that tonight which may help a lot.
There is a bridge in the Seattle area called the “Evergreen Point Floating Bridge”. One of the speakers at the computer conference I just attended said that unless she is careful, she will refer to it as the “Evergreen Floating Point Bridge”.
I have been waiting in line for 20 minutes to check my bags and get my boarding pass. The line looks like it will take another 20 minutes.
I have an e-ticket. I thought that was to make things faster.
Then I have to go through security.
Fortunately, I allowed myself plenty of time here before my flight.
I am listening to a keynote speech by Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. I am posting this using my Nokia 770, a Linux device.
BTW, from what I have seen around the convention center, the Nokia’s wireless reception seems to be at as good as that of the Dell laptop I also have here.
From Paul Flessner, VP of Database Development at Microsoft, referring to the 2003 SQL Server Slammer Worm:
“Note to self: Career advice–Don’t bring down the Internet. I got calls from Presidents of countries I didn’t know were countries”
And in fact Microsoft SQL Server security does seem to have improved considerably since then.
FWIW, Slammer had no affect on any of the systems I was responsible for at the time.
From Hilbert Space to Dilbert Space, and beyond 