Somewhere along the line we started believing that work's supposed to be fun. What we absolutely must have is a purpose. Focus on finding it. Make work your mission. Fun will come later, disguised as satisfaction, for each incremental step along the way.
January 16, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Somewhere along the line we started believing that work's supposed to be fun. What we absolutely must have is a purpose. Focus on finding it. Make work your mission. Fun will come later, disguised as satisfaction, for each incremental step along the way.
The key thing missing from AI is that throat to choke when things go wrong. Try using Claude to drive support and troubleshooting during a SEV 1. If you want accountability, you're going to need good reliable people behind your AI driven solutions.
January 4, 2026 at 3:05 PM
The key thing missing from AI is that throat to choke when things go wrong. Try using Claude to drive support and troubleshooting during a SEV 1. If you want accountability, you're going to need good reliable people behind your AI driven solutions.
Eventually, we'll come to terms with tech and fashion being linked. Those that do well exploit this relationship and are able to capitalize on it. The worst you can say about a particular technology is that "it's out of fashion". Never mind that it still works well.
January 4, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Eventually, we'll come to terms with tech and fashion being linked. Those that do well exploit this relationship and are able to capitalize on it. The worst you can say about a particular technology is that "it's out of fashion". Never mind that it still works well.
Speaking of COVID, not much discussion of how it created much of the mess we're in today. That's to say we have changed. The veneer of civility has rubbed off and needs to be reapplied.
December 30, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Speaking of COVID, not much discussion of how it created much of the mess we're in today. That's to say we have changed. The veneer of civility has rubbed off and needs to be reapplied.
Trying to recall since college a greater concern for tech jobs. There was the .com crash, followed by 9/11 and an outsourcing growth that spawned massive layoffs (here). Next the financial crisis of '08 brought uncertainty and further layoffs. Now, a post-COVID AI bubble. Is it like the rest?
December 30, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Trying to recall since college a greater concern for tech jobs. There was the .com crash, followed by 9/11 and an outsourcing growth that spawned massive layoffs (here). Next the financial crisis of '08 brought uncertainty and further layoffs. Now, a post-COVID AI bubble. Is it like the rest?
Cobol has sort of followed me around. Cut baby teeth in college. A brief stint at first job and most of my time trying to replace it in the second and third (on migration and integration projects). Now, it's back again. All these years later. An old itch that never got fully scratched.
December 22, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Cobol has sort of followed me around. Cut baby teeth in college. A brief stint at first job and most of my time trying to replace it in the second and third (on migration and integration projects). Now, it's back again. All these years later. An old itch that never got fully scratched.
Of late, using the Cobol compiler in gcc to write posix compatibility modules. In one swoop, revisiting grandad's computing language along with updates for things like pointers and support running on "modern" platforms.
December 21, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Of late, using the Cobol compiler in gcc to write posix compatibility modules. In one swoop, revisiting grandad's computing language along with updates for things like pointers and support running on "modern" platforms.
Def Log4J, followed by (probably) Subversion and Tomcat
What was the first Apache project you discovered?
Answer with #ASFNewLeaf for a chance to win ASF swag.
Learn more about our social giveaway → buff.ly/ET6cl0b #opensource
Answer with #ASFNewLeaf for a chance to win ASF swag.
Learn more about our social giveaway → buff.ly/ET6cl0b #opensource
November 24, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Def Log4J, followed by (probably) Subversion and Tomcat
Two roads, two hundred meters apart, within minutes the other day on my bike commute. Which is the best?
November 20, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Two roads, two hundred meters apart, within minutes the other day on my bike commute. Which is the best?
We've all heard of the Have's and Have Not. One w/ plenty, the other not so much. How about Car and Car Not? One drives plenty, the others not. Car not. Kind of rolls off the tongue. Sounds like a plan.
November 15, 2025 at 4:21 PM
We've all heard of the Have's and Have Not. One w/ plenty, the other not so much. How about Car and Car Not? One drives plenty, the others not. Car not. Kind of rolls off the tongue. Sounds like a plan.
Couldn't seem to catch the brilliance of the moment despite pulling off the main path to do so. A shot never can. Misses key elements, the silent whisper of a buck crossing in front or the soft sounds a skein makes passing overhead.
November 15, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Couldn't seem to catch the brilliance of the moment despite pulling off the main path to do so. A shot never can. Misses key elements, the silent whisper of a buck crossing in front or the soft sounds a skein makes passing overhead.
To understand gravel's appeal we have two road scenarios. Imagine it packed full w/ commuters, anxious and harried. They're being kind and trying to get over as they whiz by. Knuckles whiten and tension mounts. There's another road, calm and tranquil. Blood pressure drops and the endorphins kick in.
November 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
To understand gravel's appeal we have two road scenarios. Imagine it packed full w/ commuters, anxious and harried. They're being kind and trying to get over as they whiz by. Knuckles whiten and tension mounts. There's another road, calm and tranquil. Blood pressure drops and the endorphins kick in.
Sometimes have to remind what the term/label "expert" actually means. First, it's no honorific entitlement. It implies the holder owns the solution. Will go to ends of the earth to uncover truths held on the subject.
November 5, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Sometimes have to remind what the term/label "expert" actually means. First, it's no honorific entitlement. It implies the holder owns the solution. Will go to ends of the earth to uncover truths held on the subject.
t's hard not to notice that many are retiring. Not gonna lie, it does sound good. Get to finally enjoy all that hard work. Still, can't shake the feeling that it's too soon. Why walk away when your knowledge is greatest? There's more to be done.
November 3, 2025 at 4:15 PM
t's hard not to notice that many are retiring. Not gonna lie, it does sound good. Get to finally enjoy all that hard work. Still, can't shake the feeling that it's too soon. Why walk away when your knowledge is greatest? There's more to be done.
The end of the year is a time for soul searching. Be honest. What's working - or not. What's next. Do some research. Do a Black op. Think Big. Get out of the box.
November 3, 2025 at 4:08 PM
The end of the year is a time for soul searching. Be honest. What's working - or not. What's next. Do some research. Do a Black op. Think Big. Get out of the box.
Had lunch with a dozen colleagues last week. A bunch of old timers with careers spanning over 30 years, as programmers, analysts, architects, etc (other specialties in tech). All successful, yet none would recommend following the same path today. What can we make of this ... are they correct?
October 29, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Had lunch with a dozen colleagues last week. A bunch of old timers with careers spanning over 30 years, as programmers, analysts, architects, etc (other specialties in tech). All successful, yet none would recommend following the same path today. What can we make of this ... are they correct?
Fingers crossed the time skew bug in my Parallels VM has been fixed. A week after applying the patch and still good. Rooting for them to get it right. No options other than running Linux on bare metal if this doesn't work.
October 3, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Fingers crossed the time skew bug in my Parallels VM has been fixed. A week after applying the patch and still good. Rooting for them to get it right. No options other than running Linux on bare metal if this doesn't work.
Want to get rid of me? Start talking politics. Anything but that.
September 20, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Want to get rid of me? Start talking politics. Anything but that.
Couldn't have said it any better.
September 15, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Couldn't have said it any better.
Where's the AI innovations? Should be new products rolling off the assembly lines daily? Think like Bell Labs, PARC. Languages, O/S's, processors. You know, stuff that hasn't been thought of before.
September 8, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Where's the AI innovations? Should be new products rolling off the assembly lines daily? Think like Bell Labs, PARC. Languages, O/S's, processors. You know, stuff that hasn't been thought of before.
GW300 race report ...
iamfortress.net/2025/09/04/g...
iamfortress.net/2025/09/04/g...
GW300 V
Preamble Lincoln’s a proper drive from my home base in Little Rock. Broken into 3 legs. First to Rogers where Megan lives. Second to KC where’s there’s Heather and another sister,…
iamfortress.net
September 8, 2025 at 2:53 PM
GW300 race report ...
iamfortress.net/2025/09/04/g...
iamfortress.net/2025/09/04/g...
All disasters are unexpected. In order to deal we must be prepared. That requires work. Stall or delay at our peril.
www.post-gazette.com/opinion/gues...
www.post-gazette.com/opinion/gues...
Kelly McKinney: Why the experts let disasters happen
Two months after flash floods ravaged the Texas Hill Country, the body of 8-year-old Cile Steward has still not been recovered. “Cile remains somewhere...
www.post-gazette.com
September 6, 2025 at 2:35 PM
All disasters are unexpected. In order to deal we must be prepared. That requires work. Stall or delay at our peril.
www.post-gazette.com/opinion/gues...
www.post-gazette.com/opinion/gues...
We tend to elevate the finish, i.e. outcome of an event when it's really about the experience. Instead of trying to figure out which route can be finished, go for broke on the long one. We'll learn more failing the greater challenge.
September 1, 2025 at 10:45 AM
We tend to elevate the finish, i.e. outcome of an event when it's really about the experience. Instead of trying to figure out which route can be finished, go for broke on the long one. We'll learn more failing the greater challenge.
Arrogance is thinking what someone should or should not do. When their needs get dismissed. Good is not always about what is in your interests.
August 29, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Arrogance is thinking what someone should or should not do. When their needs get dismissed. Good is not always about what is in your interests.