May 2013 Archives

May 29, 2013 @ 22:50 EDT

More on Google and XMPP

I should elaborate a little more about the vitriol of my last post.

Google's largest advocates were the more technically inclined. The early adopters and the folks who either made technical decisions or heavily influenced those that did.

This was especially true of Google Talk, which brought the first meaningful interoperable Instant Messaging to the masses, unlike MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, AIM, and several other proprietary networks. This was the driving force to get our organizations to set up XMPP servers, because, hey, it'll interoperate with Google, and we all know Google does the right thing.

Now we're eating our words.

The masses that use Google Talk the same way as they used AIM or Skype or Facebook chat don't care; they were already using the network they started with. Instead, it's the technical folks, and those who listened to us, that are screwed over. Like, oh, our employers.

It was never about "using a single client" -- it was about using a single, universal identifier (not unlike your email address) that let anyone get in touch with you, without having to juggle half a dozen separate logins. With that, clients competed on features, rather than network-effected lockin.

We consequently built our Instant Messaging systems under the assumption that it would be federated, and now we find ourselves suddenly unable to communicate with an increasing part of our contact lists simply becase they clicked "okay" when Google prompted them to "upgrade" to Hangouts. Bang, they're now forced inside Google's walled garden, and all non-google contacts are gone.

If you're going to exist in a walled garden, why not just continue using Facebook? Google is now trying to beat Facebook at its own game, and in doing so, is becoming the very enemy it once decried.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Free Software, Life and other BS

May 28, 2013 @ 23:37 EDT

Wither Google?

I remember Google's original motto of "Don't be Evil." I believed them, because they backed up those words with actions. Their products were open and interoperable. Where standards didn't exist, they wrote and published them. They were principled, and consistently so.

Not any more.

It's been a slow slide from grace, but the final straw was them half-assedly killing their formerly interoperable IM service, Google Talk. Ironically, this happened the very same day their CEO decried their competitors for not interoperating with open standards.

Why is this a big deal? Simple -- Network effects. Why are telephones (and SMS), snail mail, and email so useful? Because anyone can communicate with anyone else. XMPP was that for Instant Messaging, and Google was its biggest champion. Unlike its competitors, the service was federated, just like email. You could operate your own server and still communicate with anyone else using the standard. Everyone had a walled garden, but Google through their clout started kicking those walls down. Until they changed their minds, using a set of bullshit excuses ("oh, the standard wasn't keeping up with our needs" -- nevermind they had no problem extending said standard before, and indeed, conveniently ignored many already-defined features they claimed they needed)

Now it's effectively dead, because not only has Google actively chosen to wall their garden off, they did it in such a way that renders communication with the outsiders useless -- you're told they're available, but nothing gets through. No errors, just silently dropping everything.

Why am I so pissed about this? My last two employers used federated XMPP to talk to vendors and customers. One had independent servers, one used Google Apps directly. And guess what? Now everyone who uses google can still communicate, as can everyone who doesn't. but those inside the wall can no longer talk to anyone outside.

What the fuck, Google? You just destroyed your primary value proposition over your competitors. We don't want to socailize or "hang out", we want to communicate with people we need to communicate with. We need the tools to facilitate business. Heck, even Microsoft's communication suites are fully federated (with XMPP!) these days.

I've had it. Google, which I had such high hopes for initially, is just another Facebook now. Only they've done the Embrace, Extend, Extinguish trifecta far more effectively than anyone else.

...

Today was my first day at the new job. They're using a combination of Hosted MS Exchange and Skype for commnications. It's an utter mess, slow, and won't scale much longer. I'm supposed to give some recommendations on how to grow this cleanly, but what am I going to recommend? Host everything ourselves (naturally) but should I fight for open systems (standard SMTP/IMAP, CalDAV, XMPP, built on LDAP) or just take the easy way out and recommend an all-encompassing Microsoft solution?

After all, I have the only Linux desktop in the office. So what makes the most business sense? Where's the value proposition fighting this uphill battle? Not only to the business, but to me, personally? Heck, would I honestly be better off just doing my Linux work in a Virtual Machine?

On that same note, I don't need Google to communicate. I run the server that hosts my DNS, photos, web pages (ie this blog!), email, and IM presence. RSS feeds adorn everything. It even does calendaring and address books. I'm working on adding federated VOIP services next. Everything built on open, federated, interoperable standards.

I started this before there was any real choice, but I've kept at it because I believe in the principle that I should control my own data, and not rely on the good graces of an increasingly-arbitrary third party for my digital presence.

The big feature that Hangouts added over Talk was (far) better Google+ integration. But that presumes you actaully care about Google+. What did Google+ offer me that I didn't already have? Or maybe I should rephrase that. What did Google+ have to offer that they didn't just arbitratily take away? (Aside from the ability to be a collosal waste of time, that is...)

So, I've purged my Google+ profile, and told Google why when they asked. It's a token gesture -- about as effective as farting into a hurricane.

Since my employer doesn't use Google services, I've also purged all but the essentials from my Android phone; the stuff I personally find useful. Which boils down to Voice (far better than my carrier's voicemail system) and Maps (OSMand is catching up quickly though!)

It's a shame there aren't any meaningful alternatives to Android; while I may be more than a little disgusted with Google these days, at least I still have the ability to recompile the entire Android system from scratch, and that's nothing to sneeze at. And as increasingly bad as Google's garden walling is, it has quite a ways to go before it catches up with its competition. If you can't beat them, join them. Or beat them, then join them anyway.

Anyway. Time for bed. Maybe I'll wake up with a better idea about what battles to fight.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Free Software, Life and other BS

May 27, 2013 @ 17:03 EDT

261/365: Little Buddy

When I was working in the garage yesterday morning, this little guy hopped into a box I'd just emptied and couldn't get back out. I released him near the giant pond that is my back yard.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 27, 2013 @ 16:51 EDT

259/365: Ornate trimmings

Spotted at the Thai resturant I ate at on Saturday evening. Speaking of, I do believe I'm going to start a restaurant review thingey here to documnent my explorations of my new surroundings.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 27, 2013 @ 16:35 EDT

258/365: Christmas came (very) early

...and this wasn't even all of it.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 27, 2013 @ 16:29 EDT

257/365: Mother-in-law's tongue

I now have this overgrown plant sitting between the sinks of my bathroom. Quite a change from sitting outside in full (Florida) sun!


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 27, 2013 @ 16:17 EDT

256/364: In it goes

Just FYI, this and the next few are relatively uninspired..


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 26, 2013 @ 12:40 EDT

The joy of unpacking

I write this while taking a break from unpacking. With the exception of the ginormous mess in front of the master bathroom, every room in the house is finally usable, if not ideally situated.

An unexpected snag is the utter lack of a linen closet in this place. Fortunately the bedroom closets are all reasonably spacious, but I need to figure out where to shove everything.

Shaftnet's move mostly went off okay, but there are still lingering DNS issues due to a secondary that refuses to update. I may have to yell at my registrar.

All in all, things are progressing nicely. The remaining goal today is to deal with that bathroom mess and get the funirture in my study situated.

Anyway. Back to work.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Life and other BS

May 26, 2013 @ 12:21 EDT

255/365: Fork you too!

I haven't really been in a mental space for photography lately, but this caught my eye. It went in a box five minutes later.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 26, 2013 @ 12:15 EDT

254/365: Leyla is Unimpressed

...with Game of Thrones


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 23, 2013 @ 04:41 EDT

The joy of moving

The movers show up here in about four hours. I'm wide awake, having given up attempting to sleep after being repeatedly woken up all night.

Tired. So tired.

Everything is packed, save for the pets and shaftnet itself (which I will retrieve on Saturday). It's finally happening.

...I'll see y'all on the other side. And catch up the photo backlog.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Life and other BS

May 19, 2013 @ 20:48 EDT

253/365: Moving a jungle

Today I took down my Golden Pothos (aka Devil's Ivy). It as a mere four or so feet long when it came home, but now, its shorter vines are about ten feet long, and its longer ones pushing 25 feet or so. It had been my goal to snake its vines all the way around my florida room; I suppose I will have to see how this dream may carry over to my new digs. I'll get the keys tomorrow afternoon, and the plants will all come along for the ride.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 18, 2013 @ 21:43 EDT

252/365: A bucket of future flat tires


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 18, 2013 @ 21:33 EDT

252/365: Boxed Legacies

The trusty (and slightly crusty) IBM Model M keyboard that's followed me through four jobs. So far.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 18, 2013 @ 21:26 EDT

251/365: Best damn packing tape, evar.

A shame I have six rolls of really gawdawful crap I need to use up.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 18, 2013 @ 08:32 EDT

250/365: Nants ingonyama


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 18, 2013 @ 08:24 EDT

249/265: Old-sk00l


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 18, 2013 @ 08:18 EDT

248/365: Rusty strippers


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 18, 2013 @ 08:01 EDT

Passing down the joy


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos

May 18, 2013 @ 07:55 EDT

247/365: Hanging out


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 18, 2013 @ 07:49 EDT

Female Comradery


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos

May 18, 2013 @ 07:39 EDT

246/365: Quiet offering


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 18, 2013 @ 07:01 EDT

Ooooo, buttons!

(and dials and knobs, oh my!)


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos

May 18, 2013 @ 06:48 EDT

Pac-man

As an added bonus, this image number out of the camera was '6502'. Stick that in your numerology pipe and smoke it!


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos

May 18, 2013 @ 06:42 EDT

Musings of the unemployed insomniac

I woke up this morning after about four hours' sleep, finding myself utterly unable to get back to sleep. I was tired, reasonably comfortable in my otherwise-empty bed, absolutely no reason to get up at any time in particular.. and yet, sleep eluded me. Again.

Sleep has always been a tease where I'm concerned. Even after thirty four years of near-nightly experience, I have little clue how it works. Every morning my returned consciousness is surprised that it shut down and lost time, and no idea how it got to that point.

Tired isn't the same thing as sleepy. Indeed, I usually feel about as tired waking up as I did before I fell asleep. Indeed, sleep just seems like a collosal waste of time.

I suppose this time my sleeplessness could be attributed to stress, what with the first resignation of my career, my pending move (five days!) and temporary unemployment -- though after my unused vacation days are cashed out, I'll actually overlap with the new job. I suppose this means I'm tecnnically on vacation rather than unemployed.

And what a vacation it promises to be, with at least three round trips to my new digs, 127 miles south. I'm leaving my home of the past nine years, which is both the longest I've lived at one address and the longest I've lived in any one city. Renting out the house I've poured so much time, money, and effort into. Relocating two middle-aged cats, a snake that once again refuses to eat, and an indignant betta fish.

I'm starting over again. I need to find new dives to eat at, an (honest) mechanic, get lost many times over in a strange metro area, and (most importantly) a new nail salon. I'm sort of abandoning my field of eleven years' expertise (802.11/WiFi) and jumping ship to Bluetooth, Zigbee, and the other members of the 802.15 family.

I have to make new friends. Perhaps even a relationship. Or at least a kayak. Sure, I've done this sort of up-and-move thing before, but this is the first time I'm really leaving somewhere I'd chosen to be and invested heavily into.

But I should end this ramble and get on with something productive. Like my week-long photographic backlog..


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Life and other BS

May 17, 2013 @ 09:48 EDT

245/365: Lauren of the Sax

It's a shame we didn't have a chance to do a proper shoot last weekend, but we did manage to get a few off-the-cuff shots in.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 17, 2013 @ 09:26 EDT

Last days at work

Yesterday I took home the last of my personal effects from my soon-to-be-ex employer -- my keyboard. It is a twenty-year-old IBM Model M that's seen me through four different jobs spanning fourteen years.

I'd already removed my other personal effects -- my stacking russian dolls of Bill Clinton and his women, poster prints of my photography, and my timeless 'Is it good for the company?' banner with the 'I (heart) Hooters' sticker affixed inconspiciously. There's a few stories there, naturally.

Yesterday I also revoked my work-related GPG and SSH keys, and removed my access priviliges from various internal systems that I (used to) control. No more access to source code and ticketing.

Today I remove my work account from my phone and IM clients. I'll leave the rest the IT "department", mostly to see if they have a comprehensive checklist.

I've tried to wrap up all my active projects, with varying degrees of success. All current clients have been notified, "final" software releases sent out, and the state of everything I can think of is documented.

So today, I find myself without much to get done. I'd assumed that I'd be kept busy with exit interviews and last-minute knowledge transfer, but so far, I don't have an agenda for the day.

And so it ges.

(Oh, I know I'm a week behind on photos, but needless to say, I've been busy)


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Life and other BS

May 13, 2013 @ 19:46 EDT

244/365: Ten-Four, little buddy

Have some catching up to do, but I'll get to it all, I promise.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 08, 2013 @ 20:42 EDT

243/365: Proof that nothing is too dumb to reproduce


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 08, 2013 @ 20:35 EDT

242/365: Pretty (Fat) Boy.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 06, 2013 @ 20:55 EDT

233/365: And so it goes...

Packing's well underway.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 06, 2013 @ 20:49 EDT

232/365: Kitteh Safety


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 06, 2013 @ 20:42 EDT

231/365: Mister


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 06, 2013 @ 20:36 EDT

230/365: Hapini


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 03, 2013 @ 06:31 EDT

229/365: Sneaking past the gate

This guy followed someone into my house last night; he ended up on one of the chains of my study's (spinning!) ceiling fan. With two cats in tow.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 01, 2013 @ 18:28 EDT

228/365: I found a friend


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 01, 2013 @ 08:06 EDT

Moving out, moving up?

After eleven years in Melbourne, I'm leaving town.

I've never been particularly happy here. While the reasons for that are numerous, in the end it came down to knowing that things probably wouldn't be any different for me elsewhere.

You know, in order to change your world you have to change yourself.

It came down to needing a reason to move, so that I'd be moving to something rather than running from something. My move to Melbourne (from Atlanta) was a combination of both -- a job doing something I liked, located near the beach, and.. not Atlanta.

Monday I formally accepted a job as Sunrise Micro Devices' senior software engineer. I'll be responsible for architecting the software side of their low-voltage WPAN silicon, eventually directing a team of other software engineers into implementing it. It's a natural progression of my career, comes with a decent bump in pay... and requires me to move to the southern end of Palm Beach county, about two hours' drive south of Melbourne.

I'd hoped to move North instead, but this is a professional oppportunity too good to pass up, and while tangental on a personal level, it's hard to argue that I've been pretty stagnant in Melbourne.

So, I have a tenant lined up to rent my house (and I just spent $6K on kitchen improvements. sigh..) and I have just under a month to move. Which of course requires finding a place to live. I'm not looking forward to renting, not after the "I don't like this room. Time to knock out a wall." freedom that owning your own house gave me.

On the other hand, it's a good opportunity to shed more stuff, and concentrate on what's important. Enough room for a photo studio, a garage for project workspace, and a nice kitchen. Save my money, get out (and outdoors) whenever possible, and we shall see what this adventure holds in store for me!


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Life and other BS

May 01, 2013 @ 07:35 EDT

227/365: Filler

This wasn't what I was intending to go with, but I retired pretty early for some much-needed rest Ten hours in bed goes a long way.


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 01, 2013 @ 07:14 EDT

226/365: Love Knot


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365

May 01, 2013 @ 07:08 EDT

225/365: Temptations


Posted by Solomon Peachy | Permanent link & Comments | File under: Photos, Project_365