D
Don Y
Guest
On 6/5/2022 12:29 PM, rbowman wrote:
I miss the variety of thought that was common back east. Many ethnicities,
cultures, etc. The West is more homogeneous. Too much group think -- or, lack
of desire to express alternative opinions. Or, maybe lack of \"drive\"? <shrug>
But, my early career was in Cambridge and, later, the 128 beltway so that\'s
probably several sigma above the mean.
The saying here is \"Nothing grows... except the stuff that DOES and it
grows REALLY FAST!\" But, never fast enough to survive a good fire. So,
while you want the rain, you also fear its consequences.
I\'ve several Nooks, each with a 32G microSD (cuz things won\'t fit on a single
nook). But, it\'s a lousy interface designed for folks who have small libraries
and want to see a dozen titles at a time. OTOH, I much prefer reading
(for entertainment) via this form instead of \"paper\". It\'s nice to just
be able to set it down and resume from where you left off, even in a darkened
room, car, etc!
I\'ve not purchased a \"print\" book in years -- save for a few classic references
(_Mechanisms for Reliable Distributed Real-Time Operating Systems_, _Applied
Cryptography_, etc.) or oddball references for specific projects (_Optimal
Strategy for Pai Gow Poker_, _From Text to Speech: The MITtalk System_, etc.).
While I can find ebook versions of them, I prefer a \"real\" book when I need
to *study* something. Likewise, I will print PDFs of research papers to read
and annotate, storing just the electronic version for the long haul (discarding
the print copy once \"consumed\").
Last hardcopy reference/standard I bought was a SCSI document (decades ago).
Too much is available on-line to clutter up shelves with this stuff.
And, much easier to search an electronic document than a print one.
It\'s not much better even for folks who are \"merely\" disabled. I take one of
the chairs out for a quick run around the neighborhood, from time to time, to
give the batteries some \"exercise\". Despite the suspension and ROHO seat
cushion, I always feel like I\'ve been brutalized by the process. Maybe
driving indoors is less demanding?
And, the inherent reliance on the chair itself. If it doesn\'t want to run,
NOW, what choice do you have? A second chair?? What if you\'ve motored to
a spot a mile from home when the chair shits the bed? (and, why can\'t the
chair tell you how many \"miles\" are left in the \"tank\"? Every coulomb in
and out of the battery was observable by the chair\'s controller, why wasn\'t
it keeping track??)
And, the chairs aren\'t designed to make maintenance easy for ABLE-BODIED folks,
let alone folks with particular mobility constraints. E.g., to replace the
batteries on mine, you have to run the elevator *up* to get the seat off of
the top of the battery compartment. Then, remove the shroud. Then, each of
the 50 pound batteries.
If the batteries are *dead*, then the elevator won\'t function! So, you have to
remove the seat cushion and seating plate. Then, thread a long rod through
a hole in the seat frame to manually engage the elevator mechanism, crank the
seat up and continue from that point.
Clearly designed by someone who expected NEVER to have to service his own
chair! Which is why they quote $1100 for a battery change. <rolls eyes>
[But, then again, it\'s likely INSURANCE money paying the bill... so, the
market is distorted]
You\'d be amazed at how many places you can find to stash things! :>
I\'ve stuff under the beds, on top of bookcases, under workbenches/desks,
etc. As I only wear T-shirts (save for the odd wedding/funeral), my
closets aren\'t wasted on storing clothing. :> If we had a basement,
I\'d be sunk!
The temperature extremes in the garage limit what I\'d be willing to
store out there so anything of value (and \"perishable\") has to find
a spot in the house in which to hide.
Ha! I\'d always thought of an old \"elementary school\" -- the kind
that has long halls and all the rooms on one level. You could set up
each classroom for a particular use instead of having to set-up, use,
tear-down *between* uses.
Yup. A friend \"solved\" that problem on his commercial property
by building over the areas that were once exposed soil. Amusing
to think of how cavalier we used to be with disposing of used motor
oil, industrial solvents, etc.
Yeah, a friend had a hip done recently. The positions in which they put his
limbs didn\'t seem physically possible. But, I guess with the hip joint out
of the equation (temporarily), a lot is possible!
I limit my walking to indoor areas and neighborhood sidewalks/streets.
I\'m not keen on turning an ankle by stepping on a stone that dislodges
beneath me. Or, tripping over a log. Or, encountering a bobcat, bear,
javelina, etc.
And, in my case, it\'s just exercise -- there\'s nothing \"enjoyable\"
about it (save for any neighbors I encounter along the way) -- so get
it done as quickly as possible!
Sadly, there\'s little one can do to avoid that -- save dying young!
I am always amused by folks who go to such great lengths to (have the
illusion of) exert control over their environment -- and, by extension,
the hazards they might face -- when there are so many other things
that can screw you over that you can\'t control, nor predict (e.g.,
all the money in the world isn\'t going to prevent a stroke, heart
attack, drunk driver, etc.)
So, I take the attitude of making the most of the time that I *think*
I (likely) have. Spending it making money (\"for a sense of security\")
is pretty far down the list! :>
In my case, getting out of bed was a chore. So, reserved for the essentials
(bathroom breaks). The rest of the time, get into a tolerable position
and position the tablet someplace where I can access it.
If you don\'t trust your employees, then why did you hire them?
When I\'ve been in managerial positions, my attitude (to my charges)
was always: \"Let me know what you need and I\'ll deal with the
organization/personalities to get it for you\". What was unsaid was
\"and I expect you to meet your responsibilities\". The idea of
having to play nanny with \"professionals\" is anathema to me!
My B-in-L works for a firm that actively cuts staff until things \"stop
working\". Then, they incrementally add staff back until things are working,
again. Seems a bit Draconian but I guess it works -- in the long run.
A colleague used to say \"you can\'t do anything in 8 hours\". Which, is somewhat
true. But, the extension (2*8, 3*8, etc.) isn\'t.
Working on my own is incredibly more effective as you get rid of all
the silly meetings, distractions, etc. And, only have to work when
you feel productive (instead of some silly schedule imposed by bankers)
That\'s only because folks LET that happen. If you don\'t know what the hell
you want, then why even get started on it?
Before I take on a project, I learn as much as I can about the application
domain and application, itself. Then, interview the principles to identify
their ideas as to what the goal is imagined to be.
When it comes time to codify a spec, I ask very specific questions:
\"What do you want to happen in THIS situation?\" If they respond,
\"I don\'t care\", then I state \"In situation X, the device can burst into
flames\" -- or something equally alarming. That usually is enough to
draw their attention to the fact that they really *do* care; otherwise,
I will implement any \"don\'t care\" scenarios in whatever manner is
easiest for me -- in my fixed cost estimate! (if YOU don\'t want to
think about it, then why should *I*?)
People *can* make up their minds when they have to. They just don\'t want
to think ahead. They\'d rather tell you (later) what they DON\'T want,
after you\'ve done it!
[For fixed cost contracts, \"after\" is their problem, not mine! :>
And, if I\'ve done things in the design that make your subsequent
choices difficult to implement, then who\'s fault is that?!]
I\'ve watched 6- and 7- figure projects \"finished\" and then *canceled*...
without even trying to make a sale. Because it took a reification
of an idea for folks to discover why it wasn\'t practical?? C\'mon,
what sort of imagination are you lacking?? You can imagine a product
LIKE this... you just can\'t (fully) imagine THIS product! <frown>
[To be fair, I get involved in a lot of proof of concept prototypes
so I often know more about the actual application than the client.
Because I\'ve thought about it beyond the \"gee, wouldn\'t it be nice if...\"
stage]
I don\'t believe in Agile, in practice. I don\'t believe folks are willing to
discard as much as they SHOULD (to be \"safe\") on each iteration. There\'s too
much incentive to rationalize that some \"finished\" piece can be reused, as is.
Or, \"patched\" instead of reengineered.
I always think of a friend\'s custom home. He opted to move an exit to
the deck. Builder complied. When house was built, the emergency escape
from the basement window was located BELOW the decking -- due to the
relocated doorway. Ooops! Do you cut a new escape in the cement foundation?
Do you put a \"hatch\" in the decking above the basement window? Who\'s
responsibility was it to notice this problem and make the necessary
adjustments to the design to avoid the problem manifesting later?
That\'s a matter of scale. Imagine iteratively designing a fighter jet\'s
controls... and, later discovering that some assumption made on iteration N
was no longer valid for iteration N+m -- but, no one noticed! Until the
aircraft fell out of the sky.
[Do we have to go all the way to mars before we realize there\'s a priority
inversion problem in a design?]
Look at the *manual* for a product as it is a reflection of the product\'s
complexity. A great many \"products\" are very easy to express in that
form, thus a reflection of their limited complexity.
Exactly. It\'s an interesting place to be (in life); you have the skills
and resources ($) to do many things -- but not (necessarily) the *time*
required to do so. It makes you think hard about where you want to spend
your time -- and how willing you are to let someone else (PHB) dictate
that to you!
I miss the variety of thought that was common back east. Many ethnicities,
cultures, etc. The West is more homogeneous. Too much group think -- or, lack
of desire to express alternative opinions. Or, maybe lack of \"drive\"? <shrug>
But, my early career was in Cambridge and, later, the 128 beltway so that\'s
probably several sigma above the mean.
The saying here is \"Nothing grows... except the stuff that DOES and it
grows REALLY FAST!\" But, never fast enough to survive a good fire. So,
while you want the rain, you also fear its consequences.
I\'ve several Nooks, each with a 32G microSD (cuz things won\'t fit on a single
nook). But, it\'s a lousy interface designed for folks who have small libraries
and want to see a dozen titles at a time. OTOH, I much prefer reading
(for entertainment) via this form instead of \"paper\". It\'s nice to just
be able to set it down and resume from where you left off, even in a darkened
room, car, etc!
I\'ve not purchased a \"print\" book in years -- save for a few classic references
(_Mechanisms for Reliable Distributed Real-Time Operating Systems_, _Applied
Cryptography_, etc.) or oddball references for specific projects (_Optimal
Strategy for Pai Gow Poker_, _From Text to Speech: The MITtalk System_, etc.).
While I can find ebook versions of them, I prefer a \"real\" book when I need
to *study* something. Likewise, I will print PDFs of research papers to read
and annotate, storing just the electronic version for the long haul (discarding
the print copy once \"consumed\").
Last hardcopy reference/standard I bought was a SCSI document (decades ago).
Too much is available on-line to clutter up shelves with this stuff.
And, much easier to search an electronic document than a print one.
It\'s not much better even for folks who are \"merely\" disabled. I take one of
the chairs out for a quick run around the neighborhood, from time to time, to
give the batteries some \"exercise\". Despite the suspension and ROHO seat
cushion, I always feel like I\'ve been brutalized by the process. Maybe
driving indoors is less demanding?
And, the inherent reliance on the chair itself. If it doesn\'t want to run,
NOW, what choice do you have? A second chair?? What if you\'ve motored to
a spot a mile from home when the chair shits the bed? (and, why can\'t the
chair tell you how many \"miles\" are left in the \"tank\"? Every coulomb in
and out of the battery was observable by the chair\'s controller, why wasn\'t
it keeping track??)
And, the chairs aren\'t designed to make maintenance easy for ABLE-BODIED folks,
let alone folks with particular mobility constraints. E.g., to replace the
batteries on mine, you have to run the elevator *up* to get the seat off of
the top of the battery compartment. Then, remove the shroud. Then, each of
the 50 pound batteries.
If the batteries are *dead*, then the elevator won\'t function! So, you have to
remove the seat cushion and seating plate. Then, thread a long rod through
a hole in the seat frame to manually engage the elevator mechanism, crank the
seat up and continue from that point.
Clearly designed by someone who expected NEVER to have to service his own
chair! Which is why they quote $1100 for a battery change. <rolls eyes>
[But, then again, it\'s likely INSURANCE money paying the bill... so, the
market is distorted]
You\'d be amazed at how many places you can find to stash things! :>
I\'ve stuff under the beds, on top of bookcases, under workbenches/desks,
etc. As I only wear T-shirts (save for the odd wedding/funeral), my
closets aren\'t wasted on storing clothing. :> If we had a basement,
I\'d be sunk!
The temperature extremes in the garage limit what I\'d be willing to
store out there so anything of value (and \"perishable\") has to find
a spot in the house in which to hide.
Ha! I\'d always thought of an old \"elementary school\" -- the kind
that has long halls and all the rooms on one level. You could set up
each classroom for a particular use instead of having to set-up, use,
tear-down *between* uses.
Yup. A friend \"solved\" that problem on his commercial property
by building over the areas that were once exposed soil. Amusing
to think of how cavalier we used to be with disposing of used motor
oil, industrial solvents, etc.
Yeah, a friend had a hip done recently. The positions in which they put his
limbs didn\'t seem physically possible. But, I guess with the hip joint out
of the equation (temporarily), a lot is possible!
I limit my walking to indoor areas and neighborhood sidewalks/streets.
I\'m not keen on turning an ankle by stepping on a stone that dislodges
beneath me. Or, tripping over a log. Or, encountering a bobcat, bear,
javelina, etc.
And, in my case, it\'s just exercise -- there\'s nothing \"enjoyable\"
about it (save for any neighbors I encounter along the way) -- so get
it done as quickly as possible!
Sadly, there\'s little one can do to avoid that -- save dying young!
I am always amused by folks who go to such great lengths to (have the
illusion of) exert control over their environment -- and, by extension,
the hazards they might face -- when there are so many other things
that can screw you over that you can\'t control, nor predict (e.g.,
all the money in the world isn\'t going to prevent a stroke, heart
attack, drunk driver, etc.)
So, I take the attitude of making the most of the time that I *think*
I (likely) have. Spending it making money (\"for a sense of security\")
is pretty far down the list! :>
In my case, getting out of bed was a chore. So, reserved for the essentials
(bathroom breaks). The rest of the time, get into a tolerable position
and position the tablet someplace where I can access it.
If you don\'t trust your employees, then why did you hire them?
When I\'ve been in managerial positions, my attitude (to my charges)
was always: \"Let me know what you need and I\'ll deal with the
organization/personalities to get it for you\". What was unsaid was
\"and I expect you to meet your responsibilities\". The idea of
having to play nanny with \"professionals\" is anathema to me!
My B-in-L works for a firm that actively cuts staff until things \"stop
working\". Then, they incrementally add staff back until things are working,
again. Seems a bit Draconian but I guess it works -- in the long run.
A colleague used to say \"you can\'t do anything in 8 hours\". Which, is somewhat
true. But, the extension (2*8, 3*8, etc.) isn\'t.
Working on my own is incredibly more effective as you get rid of all
the silly meetings, distractions, etc. And, only have to work when
you feel productive (instead of some silly schedule imposed by bankers)
That\'s only because folks LET that happen. If you don\'t know what the hell
you want, then why even get started on it?
Before I take on a project, I learn as much as I can about the application
domain and application, itself. Then, interview the principles to identify
their ideas as to what the goal is imagined to be.
When it comes time to codify a spec, I ask very specific questions:
\"What do you want to happen in THIS situation?\" If they respond,
\"I don\'t care\", then I state \"In situation X, the device can burst into
flames\" -- or something equally alarming. That usually is enough to
draw their attention to the fact that they really *do* care; otherwise,
I will implement any \"don\'t care\" scenarios in whatever manner is
easiest for me -- in my fixed cost estimate! (if YOU don\'t want to
think about it, then why should *I*?)
People *can* make up their minds when they have to. They just don\'t want
to think ahead. They\'d rather tell you (later) what they DON\'T want,
after you\'ve done it!
[For fixed cost contracts, \"after\" is their problem, not mine! :>
And, if I\'ve done things in the design that make your subsequent
choices difficult to implement, then who\'s fault is that?!]
I\'ve watched 6- and 7- figure projects \"finished\" and then *canceled*...
without even trying to make a sale. Because it took a reification
of an idea for folks to discover why it wasn\'t practical?? C\'mon,
what sort of imagination are you lacking?? You can imagine a product
LIKE this... you just can\'t (fully) imagine THIS product! <frown>
[To be fair, I get involved in a lot of proof of concept prototypes
so I often know more about the actual application than the client.
Because I\'ve thought about it beyond the \"gee, wouldn\'t it be nice if...\"
stage]
I don\'t believe in Agile, in practice. I don\'t believe folks are willing to
discard as much as they SHOULD (to be \"safe\") on each iteration. There\'s too
much incentive to rationalize that some \"finished\" piece can be reused, as is.
Or, \"patched\" instead of reengineered.
I always think of a friend\'s custom home. He opted to move an exit to
the deck. Builder complied. When house was built, the emergency escape
from the basement window was located BELOW the decking -- due to the
relocated doorway. Ooops! Do you cut a new escape in the cement foundation?
Do you put a \"hatch\" in the decking above the basement window? Who\'s
responsibility was it to notice this problem and make the necessary
adjustments to the design to avoid the problem manifesting later?
That\'s a matter of scale. Imagine iteratively designing a fighter jet\'s
controls... and, later discovering that some assumption made on iteration N
was no longer valid for iteration N+m -- but, no one noticed! Until the
aircraft fell out of the sky.
[Do we have to go all the way to mars before we realize there\'s a priority
inversion problem in a design?]
Look at the *manual* for a product as it is a reflection of the product\'s
complexity. A great many \"products\" are very easy to express in that
form, thus a reflection of their limited complexity.
Exactly. It\'s an interesting place to be (in life); you have the skills
and resources ($) to do many things -- but not (necessarily) the *time*
required to do so. It makes you think hard about where you want to spend
your time -- and how willing you are to let someone else (PHB) dictate
that to you!