Author: Shelley Powers

Dave getting over himself

Post author By Shelley Powers
Post date December 11, 2001

Last night, Dave Winer had a chance to try out the Segway, the new personal transport device that’s causing all sorts of excitement. In his writeup, he said the following:

“The one negative of the evening was Kamen’s hubris, which he can be forgiven for. I’d like him to be serious, not self-indulgent, if his invention is to have the chance it deserves, he’ll have to get over himself, at least a little.”

How I found out about the writeup is that Dave was complaining in Scripting News that his piece hadn’t been slashdotted by now. Let’s see, now, what was the operative phrase? Was it “…he’ll have to get over himself, at least a little”? Too juicy, man. Just too damn juicy. I love crap like this in the morning.

Just stuff

Post author By Shelley Powers
Post date December 10, 2001

Recovered from the Wayback Machine.

Currently waiting on callback from PT about status of worker’s comp claim. Same old BS.

However, the weather is beautiful again today and I’m off to rent a car at Enterprise. I have Christmas shopping to do this afternoon and I want to go for a hobble along Crissy Field one of my favorite places within San Francisco. Tomorrow if I’m stupid enough, I want to go to Point Reyes for a much longer hobble — most likely ending up 4 miles from nowhere with no one around and knee goes out, resulting in a boy scout troop finding me 4 months later after the local seashore crabs have had a full meal deal off my wasted body. Or something along those lines.

Rageboy got a nice review in USA Today and is in a particularly fine mood. I’m happy for Chris, he’s had a bad week and needs positive book vibes. Positive book buys wouldn’t be bad, either.

You know, the problem with writing computer tech books is that you never get reviewed in something like USA Today. Sigh. However, work is progressing on both my Practical RDF and the Unix Power Tools Third Edition books, and that’s a goodness.

Maybe I should write a book on failing systems, based on my “Why Systems Fail” articles — this might get into the mainstream journals. Nah — probably not.

Healthcare

Microsoft settlement

Post author By Shelley Powers
Post date December 9, 2001

Recovered from the Wayback Machine.

I don’t blame Microsoft for the abysmal settlement that’s ticked off so many states (see States urge Microsoft penalties). Corporations work for themselves — It’s the way of the capitalist world. To prevent corporations from being complete assholes, you have consumer and fair trade protection laws such as the antitrust laws, and legal organizations such as the Justice Department to enforce them.

It’s not Microsoft’s fault that the Justice Department’s decision ranks up there with England’s “let’s increase the tea tax for the colonies” as one of the worst decisions in history.

Tags Microsoft

Just Shelley

Bad Knee

Post author By Shelley Powers
Post date December 8, 2001

Recovered from the Wayback Machine.

Walked to Pier 39 tonight. Weather was very pleasant, and crowd was fun. I got some silly socks for my brother and his family for Christmas.

Walking back, my knee gave out completely and I literally couldn’t walk at first. I managed to hop to a wall to sit until the pain stopped a bit. I grabbed the streetcar and was finally able to make it home, though going was slow.

I hurt my knee when I tripped over computer cables while working at what is now the defunct skyfish.com. The orthopedic surgeon I saw recently thinks I may have broken my knee at the time and have damage now. I’m supposed to try therapy for several weeks to see if we can avoid surgery, but the insurance company is being extremely difficult. As an FYI, If your company has Liberty Mutual for worker’s compensation insurance, all I can say is good luck if you get hurt on the job. Cheap assholes.