Matthew's Weblog

An intriguing idea but a bit unclear as to exactly how to implement, especially without even an example. I’d be very interested to see how it works and how to notate the automatic assertions… it sounds a bit like the next step beyond unit tests. Hmmm…

Finally, it looks like there is a reasonable home control system starting onto the market. Setting up without rewiring or remodeling, audio streaming, home theater, and theoretically a price point for us humans. However, it’s only available through dealers that I can find, and I’m not about to be paying someone to set it up for me. Guess I’ll have to find one that will resell without installing or wait until they decide that tinker junkies ought to be able to get the goods directly, without having to be a reseller.

I hate it when products are only available through dealers. The extra markup kills the hobbyist market, and that’s where the really great uses are found. Dealers are in it (very reasonably) to make money and have only limited time or interest to poke around and find out how to make a system really sing. I know that companies don’t want to support a bunch of idiot consumers, but if you could sign a waiver that you’d only ever ask support questions via a forum or email or something and not expect responses, then they ought to blasted well sell you the goods. IMNSHO.

At least Control4 is getting noticed, and at least one nice article.

UPDATE: OK, so as soon as I hit ‘post’ I found an article on the Control4 website that says they’re going to be selling through retail stores. I take back anything uncouth said above about them – though the rant stands, it doesn’t apply here. Now I just have to find where those retailers are…

coming from Joel Sposky’s company… Project Aardvark.

So I keep hearing about companies hiring for specific experience and I still think it is shortsighted. The problem is that companies don’t seem to believe in hiring excellence and training for specific skills. My question: does this originate from the trend in employment to hire for specific skills and then discard the employee (contract mentality but cheaper)? Or is it that the company doesn’t really believe that the employees are good enough to transition (like mainframe programmers and the issues bringing them into PC-centric worlds)?

Sports teams in the draft always say they are picking ‘the best athlete available,’ even when they have to convert someone from, say, quarterback to defensive end. Now it isn’t always the truth, but at least they’ve realized there is value in quality over specific skills. Will large companies?

Thank heavens someone finally written about what a bunch of cowering wimps Americans have turned into since 9/11 – it’s much more concise than my rants and better written.

Her question is exactly on target: How can anyone stand us? The only hope I have is that the rest of the world realize the media and politician portrayal doesn’t reflect all the varieties of people in the country. But if Americans can’t realize that, is it hoping too much for folks abroad to have a clue?

I think they have a better chance than the bible belt. Let’s have America shut up and get on with life.

Some tips from Monster…

he doesn’t quite seem to get the full implications of his experience, since it might just be shoulder surfing. Which he acknowledges. I do think it’s enlightening as to what a relatively average person might be thinking, but the part that really engages the brain: the comments afterward. Almost all are calling for banks and other FIs to be held responsible – legally – for his account getting cleaned out. I’m personally appalled at the lack of response from law enforcement and glad that he got his money back, but it has scary implications if people feel they can absolve themselves of responsibility.

Of course, if the banks (et al) want consumers to use online systems, then they should be finding ways to further security. Guess I’m going to end up shouting about it more at work… but better me shouting than packs of lawyers.

Finally people are pushing hard to find more solar options… companies with new ideas are actually showing up, and yet not deeply enough into the consumer market to make it useful to me yet.