Op-Ed: Does stronger typing lead to better productivity on large teams?

In this author’s opinion, yes. In many enterprise applications there is an advantage to strong typing. Enterprises are often large operations with many actors. Ebay has many actors playing the …

Development Random Musings Software Development

Something Every Freelancer Needs to Learn (as Soon as Possible).

There’s a great scene in Netflix’s new “House of Cards” series that illustrates an important lesson for freelancers. Kevin Spacey’s character, a US congressman named Frank Underwood, is meeting with …

Business Random Musings

Entrepreneurship and Pain Tolerance

A couple of years ago, as part of a health kick, I took up weight training. I quickly realized that this was something I had a genetic gift for doing …

Random Musings

Use Asterisk to give your cell phone a break while travelling.

If you travel frequently, you’ll often find yourself in an airport, hotel, or eatery that offers wi-fi access. Combined a few other technologies, you’ll be able to use that wi-fi to make and receive phone calls using your company’s phone system rather than your cell. You’ll save cell minutes and your battery, plus have access to the power and flexibility of the company PBX. Here’s what you’ll need:

Random Musings

Your high IQ will kill your startup

I don’t normally like to write “drive-by postings” that merely link to someone else’s blog with minor commentary. However, I believe that “Your high IQ will kill your startup” is one of the most insightful blog postings that I’ve ever read. It’s an excellent reminder that “pride goeth before destruction” and that sometimes we can be too smart for our own good.

Business Random Musings

Who Killed the Webmaster?

Back in the frontier days of the web–when flaming skulls, scrolling marquees, and rainbow divider lines dominated the landscape–”Webmaster” was a vaunted, almost mythical, title. The Webmaster was a techno-shaman …

Random Musings

Dear PHP, I think it’s time we broke up.

Dear PHP, We’ve been together for about five years now. I’ve had a lot of good times and I’ve really enjoyed being with you. However, the more we work together, …

Development Random Musings

Using Linux to Get Internet Access on your Verizon Phone for Free

I recently dumped Sprint for Verizon because Sprint provides such shoddy reception in my area. When researching phones online, I came across a few mentions on how to get free …

Linux Random Musings

Changing WinXP’s boot screen to look like Win 3.1 in two minutes flat.

It’s been a short while since I’ve updated this blog. I spent almost a week camping in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I go every year in the autumn to take in …

Random Musings

Using Google Sets to find related terms

Google is always coming up with cool little widgets and technologies. A lot of their ideas sit dorment in their labs, seemingly because they haven’t yet figured out how to …

Random Musings