Harry's Ruminations

If you ask a student out of college or technical school how software is developed, he'll say the software development lifecycle (SDLC) is something like: Gather requirements for a new system Design the new system's inputs, outputs, screens, etc. Develop the system Test the system Deliver the system to the customer Maintain the system If you're *really lucky* he's read enough slashdot to know, it's more of a spiral or iterative approach--less initial work, more testing, earlier customer involvement. The more I'm exposed to real software, I'm convinced it's closer to. Some nerd decided he needs a cool, fast widget to do 'X'. He just wants to make his job easier. He codes it up after-hours, fueled by cheetos and Mountain Dew He shows it to somebody in his cube. Immediately, that shameless self-promoter decides it's the second coming of VisiCalc The company makes a multi-language version of his Widget and starts selling it Version 2.0 comes ou...

So, on the 16th, I sat with my Mom at the Transplant clinic of the UK hospital to get the lowdown on her cancer. The room was on the 4th floor, off the 'B' elevators, and the atmosphere was grim. The people here had been or would be very sick, and most had a thousand yard stare, wishing they or their loved-one was anywhere but in that waiting room. Except, that is, for my Uncle Dan. Dan's the jokester of the Haddix clan, father of three boys, Jesse, Justin, and Jade. Dan never met a sandwich he didn't like, and he's gregarious. He's the sort of guy who never really grew up, and he's never met a stranger. More precisely, he's never occupied the same space with someone for more than 47 seconds without finding some common ground for conversation. He doesn't DO uncomfortable silence, or silence at all. Yes, I like my Uncle Dan, in spite of myself. Anyway, so Mom, Dad, and I are seated in a line at one side of the waiting room, and Dan plopped him...

Watched several movies over the past few days (Thank you, Netflix ). Some thoughts on them: Constantine : Creepy, dark film about a man blessed/cursed to see the interplay between angels and demons in our world. I really liked it, especially for its vivid portrayal of Hell. The Muppet Show : Wow, this doesn't age well. It's about as interesting to the modern eye as the 70's variety shows upon which it's based. Plus, without "Pigs...in...space." Bah!

So, I'm trying to print something to our color printer. I go to our internet site to download a driver, then I find that the site is dog slow. So, I thought I'd report it to our IT operations. IT Guy: Hello my name is ____. How can I assist you? Me: The driver download site is very slow. IT Guy: Let me check. (pause) No it's not. Me: Umm...I've tried this three times and wasted 20 minutes of my life trying to print something. IT Guy: Well, let me call one of our service technicians. (LONG pause) . Yes, Harold? The technician confirms that he sees no slowdown with the site. Me: Where are you? IT Guy: mhrf-hfrm..dia. Me: India? IT Guy: Yes. Me: Okay, well, as I recall, the site is hosted on different servers throughout the world, so couldn't I be seeing a different configuration than you are? IT Guy: No, that is impossible. It is the same server. (...protracted discussion of how I must not be seeing what cannot occcur....) Me: Ooookay. Thanks for your time. ...

Ugh. I've said it before ("Underworld"), but how do you dress Jennifer Garner up in this outfit and have a boring movie? Lots of camera effects layered atop a very weak story, that's how.

Spoke with Mom this morning...she's resting at home, and letting Dad and my Aunt Norie take care of her, which makes me smile. She's taken care of so many people her whole life...thanks to everyone who's written-in and keep up those prayers. I heard from Stu and Cathy that churches throughout the Louisville area are praying for Mom -- neighbors of theirs and their prayer groups. She goes in Friday for the lowdown on where things are and what the next steps are. * * * My Toyota and I have a love/hate relationship: It loves me, and I hate it. I inherited Whitney's car as a daily driver/kid schlepper after my Beamer sprang a leak. On paper, it's a wonderful idea--quiet, simple, reliable transportation. Modern safety features. Four doors. Better mileage. Better in bad weather. All that's true, but I can't get over the feeling I'm driving a tin can, powered by 1.5 melancholy hamsters. It goes down the road well, but isn't too excited about spee...