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Archive for the ‘Friends’ Category

Different nations, different mentality

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

Must be now nearly 9 years since I was in the USA for longer. And now being over again I recognize that there is some mentality border for sure. People are different here for sure.

Sure they are friendly and exceptional helpful in any situation. Bit never the less I can feel it … they are different.

The last few years I’ve traveled Canada, New Zealand and Australia and wherever it was, I have felt closer to the people there.

I really can’t specify it better than, the people there are more European alike. Strange but true … perhaps the reason why I archive to make really close friends in those countries I mentioned last, but never archived to come closer with some US folks so far.

  

Going on tour

Saturday, August 23rd, 2008

It’s about time, gotta go, take care, speak soon …

Green IT

Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

I guess it was about time fitting in something truly good topic like caring for our all environment also into marketing areas like the IT business. Forcing a closer look at things again and aiming the start of re-querying bad and old behavior from once.

Green IT is more than just another new marketing gag companies now use to sell there actual new and modern hardware!

Even it may appear that way at first …. Energy Awareness is an must requirement and need for me today.

Besides traditional MHz or Mips, now power consumption, issues free standby and sleep functionalities of the used  OS have to become a reasonable arguments to answer the question whether or not to buy a specific hardware model, brand or software.

Years ago I have read some article pointing out about worlds’ overall electrical energy consumption was raise by 10% since the invention of  the Personal Computer System - short PC.

Millions of PCs … and often never powered off for just and pure convenience issues!

Sure it is smart when for a quick email check I only have to power on the LCD. The system is already up and running and it needs me just a few seconds to stay in touch with the whole world …. confessed that at some stages permanent running systems offering infrastructure services is a must requirement ….

But does it need to be more than one system per household? Does it need all the periphery running as well all the time? Does it need to be the most energy hungry system of all … Dad’s Power PC with chrome stripes and stars?

Do you know that in big data center the cooling and environment conditioning does need up to 3 or 4 times the energy all systems do need for their operating?

What about that million old server system out there in central computing center just not powered off because they are ignored and no longer used since ages? Running on money of big companies just turned too ignorant for it, as for shareholder value is the only thing what counts?!

Green IT has to become a general concern of all of us. Starting with those private users, heading over to small businesses and finally addressing CEO’s of big companies …. all “deciders” …  users, system developer, manufacturer and finally the big industrial consumer have to be AWARE today.

Little Surprises

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

Often it does not need much …. and as more unexpected it is, the more fun and joy it will bring.

On Monday an oversea friend of mine had her birthday. Now even living a few thousand kilometer away I think about them as good and close friends. So for sure postal services had to do some work (nothing special, just that bit of attention making the difference) lately.

Nontheless I had the idea to give her a call and so basic math dealing with time delays did start. When can you call someone at earliest on a normal working monday? Will there be a public holiday you could disturb on?

Anyway, in case there is a will some clever mind will make it through all and using a phone really isn’t a challenge at all … at least for most of us.

To dial the number was easy and then the tension reached the maximum …. to eases immediately when the exactly right person did take the call! No need to say we had a quick and nice chat then.

Just a few valuable and rare minutes though. Day had already started there… But ended with the given promise to do soon again…

It is so much of a difference to hear and speak with someone, even when you frequently stay in contact by email or chat.

But thats not the major aspect of all. At same stage it might not even possible to talk for some reason e.q. the missing ability to speak a language for example.

Often just small things make a big difference. This one second expiring the “unexpected” does make the difference. One day I still remember very well, I opened the letters shipped two weeks ago and nearly about 14000Km away. Something small for sure, but intended to honor friendship …. until today I keep it like a treasure. At least for me it is ONE!

Humor

Monday, August 18th, 2008

Humor is something really essential to me. A good laugh every day and not taking yourself nor anyone else too serious is a basic need for myself to survive.

Be carefully! Now that “humor thingy” is in fact somewhat difficult to deal with. Not everyone does like humor nor can deal with nasty or cheeky comments. And given the fact, that as older I turn, the more nerdy I become … the more and more I have to carefully consider to whom I make fun.

Since my english has improved (given the fact there might be some people out there thinking different about) I more and more like this “dry” and “subtil” british kind of humor.

Things which are not obvious at first and therefore forcing you to think about. That more difficult version of humor I mean ….. Although I have to say that a few “british” joke are a bit too filthily for my feelings though! ;-)

ps: I had a good laugh about that warning sign this morning.