Who do they talk to all day? What do they talk about all day? How expensive is their phone bill??
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Applying SLAs to my life
For the last two days, I've been in meetings to discuss Service Level Agreements (SLAs). For those that don't know, SLAs are contractual terms that are used to guarantee certain levels of service being provided.In the consumer world, they are sometimes used by internet providers for something like 99% uptime, certain bandwidth, or latency provisions.
So its not enough to say that you want a 99% uptime (for example), but you also have to have a reliable way to measure it and report on it. And this conversation really got me thinking about my personal life. What service levels do I have for myself? I mean, outside of the basics (food and shelter), really what services are am I providing for myself?
I thought about this more (yes, I should have been thinking about the client, but what can I do), and realized that the reason my past New Year's Resolutions failed wasn't because I got lazy or because I was too ambitious, it was because I didn't have a reliable way to measure them. Well....on second thought, I was too ambitious, and I am lazy..but that's a side point.
I've written earlier about the power of measurement, and now, I'm ready to apply it to my own life. Each goal henceforth must be presented with a way to measure success (and failure).
so with that, I present Sharad's 2009 Resolutions.
1) Redefine my body. My past goals failed because they were nebulous. This year, I will not fail because I will set the bar low enough to suceed. I want to be superbuff, but I know it won't happen. I want to work out 5 days a week, but with my work and travel schedule, it won't happen. So, 3 times a week, I will exercise. I will mix weights and cardio. I may crank out a half-marathon, but if I do, its just gravy. The goal is simplicity, and I will achieve it with 3 workouts a week.
2) Redefine my mind. I have really been slacking on keeping my brain engaged lately. Work is blah, and since I travel 90% of the time for work, my life is blah. So, I'm not going to promise myself that I'm going to learn a new language or become a zen master. Instead, I'm going to shut off my computer, and read a book. Less blogs (and blogging), more reading. 2 books a month. That's 24 books in the year. I've already nailed January ("Middlesex" and "The Meaning of Night"), so I'm working on building up a buffer....let's keep it up through the year.
3) Expand my horizons. As I mentioned in point 2, I travel literally every week. I'm always gone. Tampa, Boston, New Jersey, Dallas....I'm there. While I hate work travel, I love personal travel. So here and now, I'm pledging to expand my horizons at least one time, but leaving the good ol USA, and exploring a different land. I have a long list of places that I'd like to see (more on that in a future post), so let's start checking them off.
4) Learn how to relax....I'm always on the go. And when I'm not rushing around, I'm in front of the tv. I've always wanted to learn how to meditate, and to further that objective, I'm going to meditate once every other week. I could probably do more, but let's just start with baby steps.
So its not enough to say that you want a 99% uptime (for example), but you also have to have a reliable way to measure it and report on it. And this conversation really got me thinking about my personal life. What service levels do I have for myself? I mean, outside of the basics (food and shelter), really what services are am I providing for myself?
I thought about this more (yes, I should have been thinking about the client, but what can I do), and realized that the reason my past New Year's Resolutions failed wasn't because I got lazy or because I was too ambitious, it was because I didn't have a reliable way to measure them. Well....on second thought, I was too ambitious, and I am lazy..but that's a side point.
I've written earlier about the power of measurement, and now, I'm ready to apply it to my own life. Each goal henceforth must be presented with a way to measure success (and failure).
so with that, I present Sharad's 2009 Resolutions.
1) Redefine my body. My past goals failed because they were nebulous. This year, I will not fail because I will set the bar low enough to suceed. I want to be superbuff, but I know it won't happen. I want to work out 5 days a week, but with my work and travel schedule, it won't happen. So, 3 times a week, I will exercise. I will mix weights and cardio. I may crank out a half-marathon, but if I do, its just gravy. The goal is simplicity, and I will achieve it with 3 workouts a week.
2) Redefine my mind. I have really been slacking on keeping my brain engaged lately. Work is blah, and since I travel 90% of the time for work, my life is blah. So, I'm not going to promise myself that I'm going to learn a new language or become a zen master. Instead, I'm going to shut off my computer, and read a book. Less blogs (and blogging), more reading. 2 books a month. That's 24 books in the year. I've already nailed January ("Middlesex" and "The Meaning of Night"), so I'm working on building up a buffer....let's keep it up through the year.
3) Expand my horizons. As I mentioned in point 2, I travel literally every week. I'm always gone. Tampa, Boston, New Jersey, Dallas....I'm there. While I hate work travel, I love personal travel. So here and now, I'm pledging to expand my horizons at least one time, but leaving the good ol USA, and exploring a different land. I have a long list of places that I'd like to see (more on that in a future post), so let's start checking them off.
4) Learn how to relax....I'm always on the go. And when I'm not rushing around, I'm in front of the tv. I've always wanted to learn how to meditate, and to further that objective, I'm going to meditate once every other week. I could probably do more, but let's just start with baby steps.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Oscar Nominees are out
I just saw that the 81st Annual Academy Award Nominees were announced this morning at 5:30 am (pacific).
http://www.oscar.com/nominees/?pn=films
Scanning through the list, some of the big "winners" (in my opinion) are:
http://www.oscar.com/nominees/?pn=films
Scanning through the list, some of the big "winners" (in my opinion) are:
- The Curious Care of Benjamin Button
- The Dark Knight
- Doubt
- Frost/Nixon
- Milk
- Slumdog Millionaire
- Wall-E
- The Curious Care of Benjamin Button
- Doubt
- Frost/Nixon
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Lost is back
the tivo (or dvr...sorry, bit torrent machine) is set, and I"m excited....
some things I'd like to see happen:
1) small mysteries start getting solved!
2) no new major mysteries
3) tell me why the numbers are important....
that is all
some things I'd like to see happen:
1) small mysteries start getting solved!
2) no new major mysteries
3) tell me why the numbers are important....
that is all
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
So I've finally joined the year 2007, and signed up for twitter. Keeping with my progression onto social networking, I'm a bit late to the game.
I've added twitter to my sidebar, and am looking for tips on how to get started.....any regulars have any advise for a poor, confused newbie?
I've added twitter to my sidebar, and am looking for tips on how to get started.....any regulars have any advise for a poor, confused newbie?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Newest obsession - everyblock
Everyblock.com is an incredibly innovative (and creepy) new obsession of mine. This site gathers data from both public and private sources and provides news updates for each and every block of your city.
So far, the site has indexed the following cities:
but, the site is very promising, and I will be scanning for updates regularly..
check it out at www.everyblock.com
So far, the site has indexed the following cities:
- Boston
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- New York
- Philadelphia
- San Fransisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Washington, D.C.
but, the site is very promising, and I will be scanning for updates regularly..
check it out at www.everyblock.com
Sunday, January 11, 2009
24 --
interesting so far....Tony Almedia is back (i didn't know that he left in the first place!)
Janine Garafalo and Billy Walsh (yes - of Queens Blvd fame) as FBI agents, and Tim Taylor's brother as the head of the FAA......
so far, so good, i'm liking the random b-list actors that are popping in.
Janine Garafalo and Billy Walsh (yes - of Queens Blvd fame) as FBI agents, and Tim Taylor's brother as the head of the FAA......
so far, so good, i'm liking the random b-list actors that are popping in.
simpsons is awful
so I'm waiting for the 24 season premiere to start, and ended up catching the end of the Simspons. Wow, this show has fallen on some hard times, and I think Fox needs to pull the plug.
After a crazy long run, I think that the Simsons needs to find the axe.
i feel dirty writing this........
After a crazy long run, I think that the Simsons needs to find the axe.
i feel dirty writing this........
Thursday, January 8, 2009
the greatest / greasiest burger ever!
5 guys burgers....in Tampa......is heavenly.
so i ate one of their burger and split an order of fries over 2 hours ago, and i can still feel the grease oozing out of my pores.
amazing burger....just simply amazing....
not sure how else to describe it......incredibly unhealthy, but oh so good.....
http://www.fiveguys.com/locations.aspx
is it time to go home yet???
so i ate one of their burger and split an order of fries over 2 hours ago, and i can still feel the grease oozing out of my pores.
amazing burger....just simply amazing....
not sure how else to describe it......incredibly unhealthy, but oh so good.....
http://www.fiveguys.com/locations.aspx
is it time to go home yet???
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
slumdog millionaire soundtrack
love it.
can't get the song from M.I.A out of my head, and i can picture scenes from the other non-vocal tracks in my mind.
yes - its a slow day at work, but still....I might have to see that movie again
can't get the song from M.I.A out of my head, and i can picture scenes from the other non-vocal tracks in my mind.
yes - its a slow day at work, but still....I might have to see that movie again
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Paging Dr..eh...Surgeon General Gupta?
Rumors are rampant, and the speculation and buzz on the interweb is relating that CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta will likley be named the new Surgeon General by President-elect Obama.
Granted, I don't know much about the doctor, and really about the position of Surgeon General, but from what I understand this is a cabinet level position.
if confirmed, would Dr. Sanjay Gupta be the first Indian-American to serve in the US's Cabinet?
Congrats!
Granted, I don't know much about the doctor, and really about the position of Surgeon General, but from what I understand this is a cabinet level position.
if confirmed, would Dr. Sanjay Gupta be the first Indian-American to serve in the US's Cabinet?
Congrats!
"Middlesex" - a book review
Middlesex is a very provocative and interesting book written by Jeffory Eugenides. On the surface, its the story of Cal/Callie Stephanides, a third-generation Greek living in the Detroit suburbs.
What seperates Cal from all the other Greeks is that he was in fact a she......Cal is the proud owner of 2 recessive genes that actually caused him to be born as a female. confused yet?
the book traces the last 3 generations of Cal's family....from Greece to Turkey to New York to Detroit....and explains the decisions that led to Cal's hermaphritideness (is that even a word??)... a completely original and fascinating tale that caused me to laugh out loud (literally) multiple times.
winner of the 2003 Pulitizer Prize, the book is deep and shallow at the same time. provides an interesting and provacative look at something that few understand (transgender issues) without completely weirding out the reader.
def check it out.....its a great read
first entry listed on my 2008 book list!
What seperates Cal from all the other Greeks is that he was in fact a she......Cal is the proud owner of 2 recessive genes that actually caused him to be born as a female. confused yet?
the book traces the last 3 generations of Cal's family....from Greece to Turkey to New York to Detroit....and explains the decisions that led to Cal's hermaphritideness (is that even a word??)... a completely original and fascinating tale that caused me to laugh out loud (literally) multiple times.
winner of the 2003 Pulitizer Prize, the book is deep and shallow at the same time. provides an interesting and provacative look at something that few understand (transgender issues) without completely weirding out the reader.
def check it out.....its a great read
first entry listed on my 2008 book list!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Thoughts on the Fiesta Bowl
As a proud Michigan alum and huge Wolverine and Big 10 support, I have very mixed feelings about tonight's Fiesta Bowl between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
On the one hand, the Big 10 has played really really really badly this bowl season. The Big 10 is 1-5, with 2 huge blowouts (Rose - USC over Penn State, Citrus - Georgia over MSU), and could really use a win to hold onto some dignity and respectability for next year.
On the other hand.....am I seriously considering rooting for the Buckeyes? Their win will do nothing to enhance Michigan's position in the world.
after further review.....f the buckeyes, and hook em' horns!
On the one hand, the Big 10 has played really really really badly this bowl season. The Big 10 is 1-5, with 2 huge blowouts (Rose - USC over Penn State, Citrus - Georgia over MSU), and could really use a win to hold onto some dignity and respectability for next year.
On the other hand.....am I seriously considering rooting for the Buckeyes? Their win will do nothing to enhance Michigan's position in the world.
after further review.....f the buckeyes, and hook em' horns!
"The Other Boleyn Girl" - movie review
Guys.....avoid this movie at all costs!
now that I have that off my chest, this movie is about the intrigue surrounding England's King Henry VIII yearning for a male heir. His wife had only produced females, so he was desperate because he wanted to avoid a civil war for the crown after he died.
This movie is about 2 sisters that both wanted to be the next Mr. King Henry VIII......natalie portman as the dark haired difficult-to-control Ann Boleyn and Scarlett Johanson as her blond and gentle sister Mary.
While students of history know how this movie ends, i found the overall tale pretty boring and very melodramatic. In an attempt to make this movie more appealing to the general audience, they hit us over hte head with every main point, and don't leave any space for nuance.
watch it with your girlfriend (yes, this was a "Mona pick"), but don't let me catch you watching it alone!
listed on the Movie Review
now that I have that off my chest, this movie is about the intrigue surrounding England's King Henry VIII yearning for a male heir. His wife had only produced females, so he was desperate because he wanted to avoid a civil war for the crown after he died.
This movie is about 2 sisters that both wanted to be the next Mr. King Henry VIII......natalie portman as the dark haired difficult-to-control Ann Boleyn and Scarlett Johanson as her blond and gentle sister Mary.
While students of history know how this movie ends, i found the overall tale pretty boring and very melodramatic. In an attempt to make this movie more appealing to the general audience, they hit us over hte head with every main point, and don't leave any space for nuance.
watch it with your girlfriend (yes, this was a "Mona pick"), but don't let me catch you watching it alone!
listed on the Movie Review
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