My mud hut on the information superhighway...

I'm afraid, Dave. Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it. I can feel it. My mind is going. There is no question about it. I can feel it. I can feel it.

A creamy mix of technology and hobbies

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Recent Posts

Title: Update Saturday Updated date: 14 weeks 12 hours ago Teaser:
Today I updated stuff. For a few hours. Yay, the simple life provided by modern technology.
Title: C++ 11 Updated date: 15 weeks 1 day ago Teaser:
Just finished up two days of finding out what's new with C++ (C++ 11) at GoingNative2012. You should view the rebroadcasts at that link.
Title: More Munin Monitoring Madness Updated date: 22 weeks 2 days ago Teaser:
Another quick Munin monitor script, this time for drupal 6 (since it works on the database itself, YMMV and who knows if it works on drupal7.)
Title: NoSQL, Drupal. Drupal major upgrade. Modules. Modules Modules. Updated date: 23 weeks 5 days ago Teaser:
In the last major chunk of work I did for Nokia, I was working with mongodb (one of the crop of NoSQL document stores popping up like mushrooms in the fall in New England) and, despite some serious warts, I was impressed with the value of an unstructured schemaless data store when working on a fluid prototype. I've been thinking ever since that drupal's data store would be a natural fit for something like mongodb. I wasn't alone.
Title: Powershell and Perf Counters - oh bother! Updated date: 26 weeks 4 days ago Teaser:
As part of the new reality of working for Microsoft, I'm learning all the Microsoft ways of doing things. I'm in an Operations group doing very large operational things. The intersection of these two lines of thought are PowerShell and Perf Counters.
Title: Munin monitoring... for Windows, for Embedded devices, for great justice! Updated date: 26 weeks 5 days ago Teaser:
I use Munin to monitor stuff on the home network. Recently, I added a couple monitors - one is a simple web scrape for the new Boxee box that replaced the dedicated HTPC running GBPVR, the other for a Win7 VM (running under Virtual Box on my Ubuntu server, just like the CentOS image that drives this Drupal blog...) needed to run the Boxee Media Manager and also to stream content to the Xbox.
Title: Captain's Log: Supplemental Updated date: 28 weeks 5 days ago Teaser:
Just in case anyone reads this blog (doubtful) but isn't connected to me on LinkedIn, I've recently changed jobs. This follows a pattern for me of a long stint with a company, followed by a brief transitionary company, and then (hopefully, because I'm really liking this new role) a long relationship with a company. Sorry, Nokia, you were my rebound company.
Title: Viewsonic gtablet - the best little crappy Android tablet, ever. Updated date: 44 weeks 4 days ago Teaser:
Viewsonic rebranded a first generation Tegra2 Android tablet from Malat (the Zpad, more or less) and slapped a horrible version of Android on it.
Title: Twitter feed in Drupal Updated date: 50 weeks 5 days ago Teaser:
Twitter in Drupal. It works. Simple. Well, sorta.
Title: GPS tracks. iPhone. NMEA Data. Yes, you can Updated date: 51 weeks 1 day ago Teaser:
Why would you want NMEA logs from your iPhone? Well... it's a GPS. And you have it. And sometimes NMEA logs are handy...

John's reviews published at The Gadgeteer

ePillow Tablet and eReader Stand Review 8 weeks 4 days ago
The ePillow by Veyl Products LLC is a large, soft pillow with a U-shaped ridge...
Sena iPad 2 Ultraslim (Smartcover) and Kutu Cases Review 10 weeks 16 hours ago
Sena makes a full line of iPad 2 cases – the two reviewed here are a...
OGIO Squadron RSS Backpack Review 10 weeks 5 days ago
The OGIO Squadron RSS backpack (reactive suspension system – more on that...
Nyrius NAEB500 Noise Isolating In-Ear Earphones Review 12 weeks 3 days ago
NAEB500 Noise Isolating In-Ear Earphones from Nyrius are a refreshing departure...
Newer Technology NuGuard GripStand/GripBase Bundle Review 13 weeks 2 days ago
The NuGuard GripStand/GripBase Bundle from Newer Technology is a combination...

John's recent Tweets

New post: C++ 11 http://t.co/973KqCT — 15 weeks 1 day ago
C++ 11 feels like a new language - missed opportunity for music: "Feels like the first time" at #GoingNative — 15 weeks 1 day ago
@marcmaron just a mention for you... to brighten your day :) — 16 weeks 5 days ago
@SentientBeingTM sure anything is possible, sadly. — 21 weeks 3 days ago
New post: More Munin Monitoring Madness http://t.co/PI56hWm — 22 weeks 2 days ago

John's Last.fm Recent Music

Stone Temple Pilots – Crackerman Played: 6 hours 33 min ago
Stone Temple Pilots – Coma Played: 6 hours 37 min ago
Stone Temple Pilots – Church on Tuesday Played: 6 hours 40 min ago
Stone Temple Pilots – Black Again Played: 6 hours 43 min ago
Stone Temple Pilots – Big Empty Played: 6 hours 48 min ago
Stone Temple Pilots – Big Bang Baby Played: 6 hours 51 min ago
Stone Temple Pilots – Bi-Polar Bear Played: 6 hours 56 min ago
Stone Temple Pilots – Atlanta Played: 7 hours 2 min ago
Stone Temple Pilots – Art School Girl Played: 7 hours 5 min ago
Stone Temple Pilots – Army Ants Played: 7 hours 9 min ago

Info about the iron

It used to be a Dell PowerEdge 400sc but she's finally given up the ghost. After that it was a Hewlett Packard xw4400x. Now its a custom built box - core i7, 8gb ram on a Gigabyte GA-P55M-UD4 motherboard, in an Antec Sonata III case. Four cores of goodness!

UPS protecting this machine: Status A USB APC Back-UPS RS 1200, software monitor by apcupsd, works like a champ.
Hardware monitoring, Cpu Temps and Disk Drive Temps

You can go to my old tripod website to get info on my books. It's very retro.

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