If you ask a student out of college or technical school how software is developed, he’ll say the software development lifecycle (SDLC) is something like: Gather requirements for a new system Design the new system’s inputs, outputs, screens, etc. Develop the system Test the system Deliver the system to the customer Maintain the system If you’re *really lucky* he’s read enough slashdot to know, it’s more of a spiral or iterative approach–less initial work, more testing, earlier customer involvement. ...

I think you’re right (and I live in the same world… DavidJarvis - Dec 3, 2007 I think you’re right (and I live in the same world). One question is, how are companies like Microsoft making this sort of thing work? (I guess that presumes you accept that they are, as I do.) How do you “ride the nerd” to success and avoid the bloated remnant product? (Sort of like a lot of TV shows’s second season …) ...

So, on the 16th, I sat with my Mom at the Transplant clinic of the UK hospital to get the lowdown on her cancer. The room was on the 4th floor, off the ‘B’ elevators, and the atmosphere was grim. The people here had been or would be very sick, and most had a thousand yard stare, wishing they or their loved-one was anywhere but in that waiting room. Except, that is, for my Uncle Dan. ...

Funny story. I’m praying for your mom. Your Uncl… Tabitha - Nov 1, 2007 Funny story. I’m praying for your mom. Your Uncle Dan sounds like a good guy to have in a somber place like that. Take care. Keeping you all in our thoughts & prayers.

Watched several movies over the past few days (Thank you, Netflix). Some thoughts on them: Constantine: Creepy, dark film about a man blessed/cursed to see the interplay between angels and demons in our world. I really liked it, especially for its vivid portrayal of Hell. The Muppet Show: Wow, this doesn’t age well. It’s about as interesting to the modern eye as the 70’s variety shows upon which it’s based. Plus, without “Pigs…in…space.” Bah!

Movies I’ve seen lately… 1. Perfect Strangers… DavidJarvis - Dec 3, 2007 Movies I’ve seen lately… 1. Perfect Strangers. A good friend recommend this. I told him afterwards he is no longer allowed to recommend movies to me. Ever. This movie leaves you with the same feeling you might get after finding someone had barfed in your food. After you ate it. 2. Bertie and Elizabeth. Interesting and sympathetic look at the lesser-known brother of Edward VI (and a very unsympathetic look at the woman he dumped the crown for) 3. Beowulf. Some are panning this because it doesn’t follow the original story exactly. Actually it does fairly closely but adds some unifying elements that I thought worked rather well. I liked it a lot, but adaptations don’t have to be authoritative versions for me to enjoy them; I guess I’m not a purist. 4. How Green Was My Valley. Sappy but touching. ...

So, I’m trying to print something to our color printer. I go to our internet site to download a driver, then I find that the site is dog slow. So, I thought I’d report it to our IT operations. IT Guy: Hello my name is ____. How can I assist you? Me: The driver download site is very slow. IT Guy: Let me check. (pause) No it’s not. Me: Umm…I’ve tried this three times and wasted 20 minutes of my life trying to print something. ...

Ugh. I’ve said it before (“Underworld”), but how do you dress Jennifer Garner up in this outfit and have a boring movie? Lots of camera effects layered atop a very weak story, that’s how.

Spoke with Mom this morning…she’s resting at home, and letting Dad and my Aunt Norie take care of her, which makes me smile. She’s taken care of so many people her whole life…thanks to everyone who’s written-in and keep up those prayers. I heard from Stu and Cathy that churches throughout the Louisville area are praying for Mom – neighbors of theirs and their prayer groups. She goes in Friday for the lowdown on where things are and what the next steps are. ...

You’re just saying all this because you want a new… Whitney - Nov 2, 2007 You’re just saying all this because you want a new diesel vw. You forget I actually listen when you speak. :) I’ll just say I think you’re making the assumption that the federal government would actually honestly use the fuel tax to develop alternative energy sources or something else worthwhile, instead of adding to its own bloated bureaucracy … I say this because I admit I’ve had the same thought, but the real problem is that the American public does not perceive this threat as clearly as you and I do. If they did there would be no objection to things like drilling in tiny areas of Alaska for domestic oil. In effect you’re saying because the American people aren’t smart enough to do the right thing, the government has to force it on them. And yes … that would make you a Democrat. :) ...

Twenty-nine years ago today, I came squalling into the world, pissed-off that my head looked like this: Mom was similarly disillusioned that my head was the size of this: So, yeah…birthday. Pretty-much feels like any other day…I got one of these as a present: As a result, my wife now gets to wake-up every morning at 5:20 on the dot to the sound of whirring blades, grinding coffee beans, and dripping hot water. I think of it as the gift that keeps on giving ;-) ...

Happy birthday, Harvid! I’m thinking of you. <… Bill Randall - Nov 0, 2007 Happy birthday, Harvid! I’m thinking of you. Biru

Shameless cross-link here

From Daniel 3 (KJV): 16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." ...

Well said. Jeff Roberts - Nov 3, 2007 Well said.

Mom slept pretty well last night, and is finally cleared for some solid foods. Everything is working in her digestive system, and they seem to be managing her pain well. She was resting comfortably (for the first time in 6 days) last night, according to my aunt. * * * Well, today is election day, or “The day the democrats take back the keys to the cesspit.” Getting anything done in this state is akin to the intrigues of Lorenzo de Medici’s Florence…everything is a political game. Fletcher went into the governor’s mansions naively thinking he could undo centuries of entitlements and pork. ...

Just got off the phone with Mom. They’ve unhooked the epidural, so she’s in quite a lot of pain in the area of the surgery, which they’re counteracting with oral pain meds, augmenting with injections as needed. She still has a long road to go just recovering from this surgery. The docs said biopsy/pathology results would be available in 4-5 days, so we’re in that window. Thanks everyone for your encouragement and prayers.

Someone broke into my house today, right after Whitney left with Maria to pick-up Joey from school. Our ADT security system detected the intrusion and they called the police immediately. ADT called me and I told Whitney to go home and check-it-out. She said everything was still there, but the three drawers in our kitchen bar table were open wide. Bizarre things–it was broad daylight, and if they’ve been casing our house they know PEOPLE PICK UP THEIR KIDS BY THAT BUS STOP every day. ...

I will complain about nothing today. I will com… Jeff Roberts - Nov 1, 2007 I will complain about nothing today. I will complain about nothing today. I will complain about nothing today.

I’m trying to find the words to describe how awful yesterday was…Dad is devestated, we’re all in shock… First, the good news: When they got in there, they saw what they were dealing with, and the surgeon considered stopping the operation. He didn’t. He did not give up hope on Mom; that’s about the best news I can hold onto right now. The facts of it: She had a tumor invading the right lobe of her liver, her diaphragm, and the bottom of her right lung. They did an initial analysis on the lymph nodes in her chest and they came back clear, so they went forward, removing 40% of her liver, 20% of that lung, and removing/reconstructing her diaphragm. The surgery took 6 hours, and involved 3 surgeons. They considered stopping the surgery several times, but didn’t. ...