Cloud computing
I am now posting on cloud related topics at: http://incirrus.com
-Paul
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Application Presence
I’ve been thinking a lot about distributed applications lately, in particular, those that make use of distributed data stores and XMPP.
What began as an experiment with application log monitoring and retention using log4j and XMPP has grown into an idea for presence at the application or service level.
What if your internet service or application used XMPP to report changes in “mood” or more specifically changes in service level? What if every application had an embedded SLA monitoring and reporting component?
Let’s say that you run an internet-scale service such as del.icio.us or flickr and every node communicated it’s service level to a federated XMPP service. Your ops team could subscribe to specific or aggregated service levels and receive notification of SLA thresholds and at the same time have real-time presence or “pulse”.
You could define service level or “mood” for the application at specific granular levels and use simple filtering of log messages to set/project the application’s “mood”.
Storage service level: 100% (no outage in the last 10 mins.)
User service level: 99.9% (5 dropped in the last 10 mins.)
–
Over all service level: 99.99% (within advertised SLA range)
Not just with the lightbulbs…
“What is needed really is a higher level of consciousness.”
“a change in committment..”
“a new sense of urgency..”
-Al Gore TED March 2008
Share ThisSecrets
In spite of the undeniable improvements that Google brings to this new connected age, I struggle to accept the cost vs. benefit of trusting them with my data.
Even with their recent entries into the renewable energy space, it still worries me that “organizing the world’s data” includes making money off any bread-crumbs I happen to leave in the Google cloud, including but not limited to my private email or RSS reading habits.
This post by Jessica Hagy at Indexed captures my fear pretty succinctly.
No Renewable Energy Portfolio for Indiana
Notice that Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, West Virginia, Tennessee have no plans to enact a Renewable Energy Portfolio standard (REPS).
I’ll try to find a map of clean energy investment to superimpose. My guess is the same white states would be empty.
Update:Here is a link to the DOE version of the map.
Share ThisMeasurement eliminates argument*
Or it should. Do you ever argue about things that neither you nor the other person have enough information to actually know? Does the act of measuring actually affect change?
-Paul’s random thought of the day
*quote Fred Gleeck
Share ThisWhereas: Mayor Hutton signs U.S. Mayors climate protection agreement
At 5P.M. yesterday Mayor Hutton became the 10th mayor in Indiana to sign the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.
I attended and was heartened by the Mayor’s comments that the city will look closely at its energy profile, commit to buying only Energy Star products, reduce environmental footprint of city buildings, support smart development initiatives, and improve the efficiency of the city vehicle fleet.
This is in addition to the stated goal to “Urge their state governments, and the federal government, to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target suggested for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol — 7% reduction from 1990 levels by 2012″.
I don’t recall her exact words but Mayor Hutton stated that this is an area where it makes sense for us to invest money because it will pay dividends in the future.
From the press announcement:
The City is already implementing or has plans for implementing most of the 12 items listed in the Climate Protection Agreement through the Indiana CLEAN Community Challenge administered by IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management), the Richmond Comprehensive Plan 2006, and the Richmond/Wayne County Environmental Awareness Council.
This is excellent news because it takes the issue local. In order for this to gain traction it will need to show results.
The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement A. We urge the federal government and state governments to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the target of reducing global warming pollution levels to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, including efforts to: reduce the United States’ dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate the development of clean, economical energy resources and fuel-efficient technologies such as conservation, methane recovery for energy generation, waste to energy, wind and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor vehicles, and biofuels; B. We urge the U.S. Congress to pass bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation that includes 1) clear timetables and emissions limits and 2) a flexible, market-based system of tradable allowances among emitting industries
Stay tuned…
Share ThisIt’s so deep, It’s so wide. You’re inside.
I saw THE POLICE with David a couple weeks ago. It was great. As Bode says, “REALLY [H]UGE Daddy!” In some ways it was like having my head spun round in a complete circle. Twice.
Don’t get me wrong, this reunion tour thing is monumental. Many many resources going in to organizing, marketing, and ultimately selling it to 30 and 40 somethings like me (and to the corporate sponsors). Not to mention the monumental energy expended with 15-20,000 people traveling to and from the concert, burning $3/gal gas.
It’s not quite the same as piling 6 teens in a 77 Corrolla and driving 3hrs. to watch a show with 150 people. Ahh, nastalgia you say? No, not really. The point is I think it changes you. In the same way it did 25 years ago when you first listened to So Lonely or Bring On The Night. You think a little bit differently today than you did yesterday. And then you do some things differently - like belt out De Do Do Do Do De Da Da Da with your son at the top of your lungs. No harm in passing on perfect pop syncopated rhythms to the next generation…
We clasp the hands of those that go before us,
And the hands of those who come after us.
We enter the little circle of each other’s arms
And the larger circle of lovers,
Whose hands are joined in a dance,
And the larger circle of all creatures,
Passing in and out of life,
Who move also in a dance,
To a music so subtle and vast that no ear hears it
Except in fragments
— Wendell Berry
*Title from Synchronicity
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5 Favorite Mom Moments
Today is my Mom’s birthday. In a perfect world, I would be escorting her up the ramp of cruise ship leaving on a journey to distant ports. Or taking her out to dinner and show. Or dropping off my son for a stay at Grandma’s.
But I’m sitting in a hotel room in Southfield, MI feeling a little disconnected from the person that brought me into this world. We talked on the phone and it was apparent she was not in a very festive mood. A family illness weighed heavily and tiredness from hosting a big gathering the night before had left her not wanting to celebrate. As I hung up the phone, I wished for her to find a moment of relaxation - some satisfaction with her many accomplishments.
Here are some favorite moments with my mom:
5. When she used words such as “Persnickety” in spite of the puzzled looks on our faces.
4. The expression on her face when my Dad, Mark, and I would return from a long camping trip. First, happiness to see us back safely. Then, the realization that everything we wore or carried with us smelled like smoke from the fire, days without a shower, and other pungeant outdoor odors. “Put those things in the garage. They’re too smelly to be in the house.”
3. When she watched my first soccer “slide tackle” at age 10. She fueled my enthusiasm with hers and was kind enough not mention that it happened in the open field with no one from the opposing team around.
2. When she graduated with a Masters Degree in Education after spending many years at home raising my brother and I (while going back to school).
1. The sound in her voice we when we told her she was going to be a grandmother. “Really? REALLY?!!” she said. It was the sound of pure joy.
Love you Mom.
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