Big Ed’s Rants

IBM has done something amazing that should have been heard around the world, but I have seen little news on.  The RoadRunner system is a supercomputer that IBM build that has broken the petaflop barrier.  This new supercomputer is capable of more than 1,000 trillion (1 quadrillion) sustained floating-point operations per second. 

What does this mean for humanity.  It is a major leap forward in computer evolution.  It should allow major breakthroughs in the medical and military fields. 

Now that IBM has broken the petaflop barrier they are looking towards achieving an exaflop.  I would then guess they will try for a zettaflop and then yottaflop.  That’s a whole lot of flops.  I just hope I am still around to see the breaking of the yottaflop.  Way to go IBM!!!

I recently ran across Windows Live Writer.  This posting is simple a test run at the application to see how it performs.  At a glance it appears to be very well coded.  I like the built in Technorati tag generator and the insert maps feature is something I have not seen.

You can also insert video and pictures easily.  If you blog give it a try.  You might find that you have a new tool.

I guess I have a problem. I just don’t agree with the way that most youth sports programs are run. This year my son is playing football for the CTYFL. This has got to be the worst run youth sports league in Texas if not America. CTYFL is supposed to be run by a board but that’s a farce. There is no doubt that it is run by Joe Martinez the director or should I just say god, since that is how he sees himself. The by-laws, state the president along with the board make decisions not the director.

Quick, someone tell Joe. O, that’s right everyone is scared of Joe. My son’s coaches are scared to say anything to him. They have even told me that if we say anything contrary to god Joe that he will ban the team from the league. Yea, Joe is all about the kids.

At the beginning of the year, Joe told our team that if we scrimmaged another team that left the CTYFL because they disagreed with him last year that our team would have to forfeit our first two games. Recently, he made the sole decision to leave one of the fields we play on because he was told he could not lock up the gates and force everyone to come in one gate. I bet your thinking god Joe does not like being told NO. Well you are right, so with two games left in our season he has redone the schedule and forced everyone to play on one field. Yea, Joe is all about the kids.

Based on what I have seen Joe Martinez the director of CTYFL is in it for the money and not the kids. When I see him I think of the movie Jerry Mcguire, “SHOW ME THE MONEY”. Yea, Joe is all about the kids. NO. In my opinion, Joe is all about the Money and Control.

As an educator it hurts me to see people like this working with our kids. As a parent, I only want the best for my kids. That is why I wonder team youth sports are in their best interest. I think maybe I should enroll my son in karate and my daughter in gymnastics, so they can have a little physical activity.

Of course maybe it’s just me, maybe I have the problem, or I am the problem.

Last Saturday I received several phone calls from co-workers asking me if I had read the local paper. I told them I had not, and asked why. They then proceeded to tell me about a Dear Abby story titled “Nepotism a bad policy”.

Here is the Dear Abby story that was printed.

I work for an organization that allows nepotism. Many husband/wife/child combinations are employed here.

My supervisor is married to one of our deputy directors, and their son is also employed here. The son works in my department and is supervised by his dad. This person sleeps in his cubby, comes in late and leaves early.

He is incompetent at answering the phone and has committed serious errors in working with clients. He has also told co-workers that he can’t be fired because of who his mother and father are.

What’s the best way to handle working within this situation? Does this violate any laws?

Just Wondering in Waco, Texas

It violates the laws of common business sense. Many companies do not allow relatives of employees to be hired for the very reasons you have described. Because this young man’s shortcomings are affecting clients, it is only a matter of time until it’s reflected in the bottom line.

Since you are unhappy, and with good reason, look for other employment. The “ship” you’re on now does not appear to be seaworthy.

I was floored. Why you ask? It’s simple, I work in the department mentioned. I would say that at one time the statements may have had some validity, but in the past few months the son mentioned in the article has made great improvements in his demeanor and work performance. It makes me wonder who wrote the article and when. I have a feeling it was an employee that was RIFed at the beginning of summer and did not even work in the before mentioned department, but worked close enough to have some idea what was going on. I only hope that this article does not have an adverse effect on the improvements made by everyone in the department and that the story dies out and is not picked up and made bigger by local media.

I was listening to a Cranky Geeks podcast on my iPod this weekend. They had a guest by the name of Justin. Justin has starting wearing a camera 24×7. You can see Justin live at http://www.justin.tv/. I have a feeling it is just the first of many such sites. I watched Edtv a few years ago and although not quite the same the concept is there. I am just now sure how I feel about this overall. I guess somethings are just better kept private.

This past weekend I attended the funeral of a co-worker and friend to all. The following is the obituariy is from the WacoTrib.

Leslie Elise Horne died peacefully at home surrounded by her family Wednesday, April 4, 2007, after a courageous battle with cancer. Burial will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at Oakwood Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 2:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Waco. Leslie was born at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., Aug. 13, 1969, to George Kenneth Anderson and Carolyn McDonald Anderson. She has been a resident of Waco since 1972. She attended Waco schools and graduated from Waco High School in 1987. She earned a B.A. degree from Baylor University in 1991, and became a successful marketing representative in the computer industry at Entre Computer Center from 1991 to 2001. During that time she, met and married Rhett Horne in October 1995. She later worked for Technology for Education and most recently was employed at the Region 12 Service Center. She was a beautiful mother, wife, daughter and friend. She very much enjoyed scrapbooking, going to the beach and spending time with her family at the ranch. Leslie was a strong Christian and very uplifting to many others. Her faith helped her through the hard times that she has recently faced. Leslie touched the hearts of many with her Christianity throughout her two year fight with breast cancer. Her emails to “Leslie’s Earth Angels” (supporters and friends) were a constant source of Christian inspiration. Leslie has been a lifelong Methodist and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Waco. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, A.J. McDonald. She is survived by her husband, William L. Horne III; son, William Lloyd Horne IV; daughter, Annelise Claire Horne; father, G. Kenneth Anderson and wife, Kathleen; mother, Carolyn McDonald Anderson; brother, Derrick John Anderson and wife, Christine; daughter, Taylor of Austin; sister, Kelli Anderson Shinault and husband, Eric Shinault of Austin; brother, Hunter Anderson of Waco; grandmother, Ms. A.J. McDonald of Waco; mother-in-law, Lynda Leachman; and father-in-law, William Horne Jr. and wife, Grada of Pinehurst, Ga.; and three step-brothers, John, David and Richard “Al” Haskett. She was extremely loved and will be missed by all. She has been an “Angel” to many. Thank you to all the “Earth Angels” and the many friends for your loving support. Pallbearers are Jeff Gurney, David Martin, Hunter Anderson, Michael McDonald, Jim McKinley and Graham Reid. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Susan B. Komen at First United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice.

I can’t say that I knew Leslie as well as I would have liked, but after Saturday’s memorial service I can say she was a very special woman. She always had a smile on her face and seemed so happy even when she came in to work after cancer treatments. I feel sad for her family. I am sure it will be difficult for them, but I am happy for Leslie. She is with the father and Jesus, as well as others that have already gone on. I look forward to seeing her again one day.

Mojiti is video in your own words. Mojiti lets you tell the story your way. You can take your video or someone else’s on youtube and dive into the experience by annotating video with text, shapes, images and more. Check it out at http://mojiti.com/.

I am by no means an expert in the area of marriage. I am writing this post as just a thought to contemplate not to act upon. My wife and I will celebrate our 10th Wedding Anniversary this Thursday. We have had our share of fights, make-ups, and other issues. Matter of fact she does not care to much that I spend, so much time on technology like writing these blogs, but she would rather I have this as my hobby than some of the other hobbies most men partake in. Anyway I have been around a lot of co-workers and friends that have gotten divorced over the past few years. In many of those cases, it was a friend or co-worker that encouraged the spouse to leave. I believe in divorce if there are alcohol issues, drugs, abuse, etc., but in many cases people get divorced just because they are not happy. In many cases it appears to me that friends and/or co-workers are the one’s telling them they are not happy. I guess I am fortunate. My wife is my best friend. I don’t really listen to others. When we have issues we just work them out. I had a professor in college, say you should not marry someone until you hate them and then get over it because in a marriage there will be times you can’t stand your spouse. It is those times that one finds what they are made of. I will end this little rant with it also helps to have faith in a higher being, like Jesus Christ.

Did you ever wonder if you name had anything to do with your personality, life style, or status in life? Maybe it does. A friend sent me a link to “Name Analysis - Meaning of your Name”. I entered my first name, as well as the name of few others, I work with and surprise, surprise, it is really close to what I know about myself and my co-workers. You could use this tool as a fun way to get to people.

Ran across http://flightaware.com/ in a blog posting today. What can I say? The thought that someone can know where your plane is at all time by viewing a web site. It is really cool and really scary at the same time.