I decided over the weekend to have a go at running my own install of Wordpress 2.6, with an aim to perhaps hosting my own blog again, with the obvious gains in flexibility and monetization.

Let’s just say that it was frustrating.

The most frustrating part was the permalink issue. All known and posted fixes failed to resolve the issue of getting the permalinks to match those seen in this blog, which is the content I would be migrating. There is no clear and simple fix for those of us who just want the software to work, without having to spend two hours hacking.

I will try again when 2.6.1 is released, but it strikes me as odd that this made it out the door. However, I have seen worse unintended features appear in released software.

Dear Gmail:

This is unacceptable.

So much for the massively scalable and redundant architecture theory.

I still have my Yahoo! Mail account….

Technorati Tags: Gmail, Google, frustration, Yahoo!

I have been sitting at Gate 86 at SFO watching a little drama that gets played out thousands of times a day around the world. I call it the Hierarchy of Assumed Privilege.

The direct flight from SFO to Boston (the one I am not on) was full; nay, bursting.

Yet there were executive-types who were ANGRY at the counter staff when they couldn’t get their upgrades. The ones that they assume they are entitled to.

This is a completely asinine view of the world. Yes you support one airline and fly it a lot, and spend a lot of money with them. But unless you originally BOUGHT the (business|first)-class ticket in the first place, and those seats are gone, why are you venting your unnecessary frustration onto the one person who might be able to help you.

I have to laugh at people who use the anger card to try and get what they want. It shows that they don’t have anything left in their arsenal, and they don’t know that graciously accepting that they won’t get the upgrade may see them get treated in a more positive way, getting some upgrade of whatever kind is available.

Humans have to understand that we are all the same. We are all norn, and we all die. And thinking that what you do entitles you to be better than the rest means that you have failed as a human.

Technorati Tags: SFO, privilege, business-class, first-class, humanity

23 miles. Each way.

Every working day, I am supposed to merrily get in my little car and drive 23 miles to work. I know people who drive farther, sacrifice more, with nary a complaint.

Well, now I am complaining. I’m done. It’s over. This gig has run it’s course.

I won’t go into the frustrations I have with my current job. It’s not the company’s fault. I suppose it is my own for missing the opportunities within the organization. But I guess it’s hard to go for the brass ring, if you’re not sure this is the ride you want to be on anymore.

I think that I have known that I was done for a long time, but it is very hard to admit it. I am an enemy alien, the only income-earner, 3500 miles from “home”. With a mortgage, two kids and a bunch of other things, sometimes you just make do, hoping things will get better.

They aren’t getting better.

Now I have to figure out what to do next. Until then, I will have to be the living dead in the office, going through the paces, feeling every second in this place become one more second that has slipped away from me.

What brought this malaise on?

On Friday, I had an interview with Microsoft. They were/are looking for bright people to help them grow their new ad service and analyze the reams of data that will be coming in.

And I bombed the interview.

I know I bombed; there’s no way around it.

And you know what: I’m not good enough for Microsoft. And I knew it before the call was over. I could hear the screening interviewer saying to herself: “How do I get this guy off the phone?”.

There it was, the chance to move back to the West Coast, to work with people who are trying to do cool things. Maybe not the coolest things, but cool things.

I miss the West Coast. I miss my in-laws. I miss being able to come and go when and where I please. I miss being able to work for the employer I want, when I want. I hate not being able to take on side contract jobs that interest me.

I miss the freedom of being at home.

23 miles gives you a lot of time to assess the future.