Look Ma, New Wallpaper

Posted on 30 November 2006 by g

As K pointed out, it seems like it is always dark and rainy around here anymore. While I love the night photography shots that we got from the London Eye, I thought it was time to brighten things up a bit.

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It Shouldn’t Be This Hard

Posted on 29 November 2006 by g

I figure if K gets to write about Mr. Brick, I get to write about Mr. Gates or Mr. Jobs now and then. After all, this gives you a fair idea of what I deal with day to day.

The background is that for work I needed to set up a new development environment to build an application based on Microsoft’s .Net Framework. This requires installing and configuring a new operating system (Windows) along with a number of software packages such as Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005. I figured this would simply require me to press “Next”, wait…, press “Next”, wait…, press “Next”, wait…

But it turns out that it was a bit more interesting. First up is Windows Update. This is a great feature — in theory. You click the icon, it checks for any updates, downloads them and installs them. Bingo! Good to go, right?

Well, not so fast. It turns out that Windows Update can’t just update everything all at once, so it took many rounds. It went something like this.

  • Install Windows, restart system
  • Install IIS which was included with Windows but didn’t have any option to install while installing Windows, restart system
  • Upgrade Internet Explorer in order to use the latest Windows Update software, restart system
  • Upgrade Windows Update to the newer Microsoft Update in order to get other updates, restart system
  • Run Microsoft Update to get updates, restart system
  • Run Microsoft Update again to get updates to the updates, restart system
  • Run Microsoft Update again to get the updates that can’t be installed at the same time as other updates, restart system
  • Run Microsoft Update again to get updates to the updates that couldn’t be installed with the other updates.
  • Run Microsoft Update again — okay, we’re good now.

Next up, SQL Server. There are a number of checks that are performed for compatibility, system requirements and what not. I imagine this is a good thing. Unfortunatly, my system was missing a few things — too bad SQL Server wouldn’t just install them for me. They looked like development-type components, so I went on to install Visual Studio.

While watching the progress near the end of its journey while installing this behemoth of a software package, my daze was snapped by that familiar, “ding” — Error: unable to read the file InsignificantAndDoesNothing.txt. Hmmm. That’s okay, we don’t need that file, I’ll press skip, ignore, continue… but, no. The only option is OK. At this point the progress bar does an about face and slowly retraces its journey back across the screen with the message, “rolling back installation…”

I finally work around that problem by copying all the files off the disc on to the hard drive and install it from there. So, then, back to SQL Server. Now the suspense is killing me. Will I pass all the checks? And… the… answer… is… no. Some registry counter value is wrong. I click the little help message… “go read the manual.” Thanks.

A Google search later and I have an article from Microsoft about editing registry values — didn’t work. Another Google search and I have a post on a forum about how Microsoft’s article didn’t work because I used the wrong tool to edit the registry! How many registry editor tools do you need to include in your operating system? And as far as I could tell I just need to copy a number from one place to another. Is that so hard that the installation program couldn’t have done it for me? Do I really need to go and edit the registry to install this software on a new system? Really, it shouldn’t be this hard.

Well, at this point the installation appears to be finishing up successfully and I am hopeful my troubles are behind me and I can get to some realy work — just after a quick trip back to Microsoft Update one last time…

Posted in Technology | 2 Comments

Wow, It Does Rain in London…

Posted on 26 November 2006 by k

Welcome to Winter in London! Grey rain and short days (its light between 7 & 7:30AM and dusk comes between 3:30 and 4PM). You simply can’t leave home without an umbrella. Ick!

Luckily, we’ve been blessed by a mild fall. We had lots of sunshine and bright warm days up until a couple weeks ago. But then, the London fog and sporadic rains began. And our daily fireworks have now been replaced by God’s fireworks: lightning and the clap of thunder.

I’d say they have strange weather here in London…hopefully I’ll be able to weather the season without turning gray and pasty without the sun to lend a healthy glow.

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A Smart Home in My Laptop

Posted on 22 November 2006 by g

I was quite surprised and impressed — today I received a call on Skype while listening to some iTunes. I started to fumble for the iTunes app to pause the music, but ended up just answering the call right away. I figured I had headphones on, so the caller wouldn’t hear the music — I’d just have to listen carefully over the music until I could pause it.

To my surprise, when I answered the call, the music stopped. I couldn’t beleive it. I carried on with my call and then upon hanging up, the music resumed. This is one of those features that is often used as an example of a “smart home” — when the phone rings, the stereo volume turns down automatically. Well, no waiting for the home of the future here — it is available today on my laptop!

I love coming across good design like this because it is so uncommon. More often I am complaining about terrible design — or lack of design — and if anyone had taken two seconds to think about it, would have come up with something better.

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Breakfast Staples

Posted on 20 November 2006 by k

Whoever thought bringing home the bacon would be so traumatic? (literally. not figuratively.)

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During our time here, we’ve found many things puzzling. Not the least of which is that bacon’s not really bacon (it’s more like thinnly-sliced smoked Virginia ham). But, of course, you’ve heard that story before.

But did you know that British eggs are brown on the outside and aren’t refrigerated? After years of conditioning to refrigerate eggs, I can’t help but question if keeping them in the pantry is safe. Can someone enlighten me? Is it natural to keep eggs in the cupboard? I’m still protesting by keeping them in the fridge, but, given the size of our fridge, could certainly use the real estate for other things.

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An update. I spoke with a few English folks on the “bacon issue” and learned about “streaky bacon” which is intended to be close to the American-style. We tried it last week–it looked (see photo at right) and tasted similar to American bacon, but didn’t have crunch…too much meat, too little fat. It’s ironic, actually, since one of my tasks during grocery trips growing up was to rip open the (intended) back flap on the bacon packages to find the one with the least fat. Come to find out, it’s the fat that gives the bacon its essential crunch and taste.Hmmm….

Posted in Life in London | 7 Comments

Like New Business…

Posted on 17 November 2006 by k

…only I won’t get a bonus if we win the account.

Yes, we’ve entered the “strategy” phase of our MBA. In addition to our classes and coursework, we also have begun work on our first 4-6 month strategy project.

For now, we’re just trying to find a client…we must submit who our client is and what we plan to do for them for approval by December 8. Each of my 7 group members (myself included) is working hard to build a relationship with folks on the “inside” at notable London firms. Will we be successful? We have to be, our grade (not our pocketbook) depends on it.

Here’s who we’ve short-listed:

  • Innocent Juice Drinks-an all-natural fruit drink producer in the UK. Top on numerous charts for their fast-growth and stellar business strategy. Business plan and focus is very similar to the young Ben & Jerry’s.
  • Bibendem Wine Distributors-guess the name says it all
  • FOPP-a cool music store. Like the Barnes & Noble for the music world, this place offers a cafe, a bar, weekly concerts and a place to meet others who like music slightly off center.
  • Pret-a-Manger-a chain of fresh but convenient sandwich shops. They have the best carrot cake in the WORLD. Yum.
  • Fresh & Wild-the British version of Whole Foods
  • Ann Summers-the slightly risque British version of Victoria’s Secret
  • We’ve also teamed with a local investment bank–their venture division, I think, in order to identify likely and interesting prospects

In many ways, I think it’s easier to win paid projects. When you don’t charge for your services, folks are weary of your value–it’s much more difficult to get your foot in the door.

I’ll keep you posted on whether we have to resort to plan B desperate mode in order to work with a reputable English company.

Posted in MBA in London | 1 Comment

Darn Pearls!

Posted on 16 November 2006 by k
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Most little girls LOVE jewelry. And I’m one of them.Like other jewelry, my love for pearls goes way back.

One birthday my aunt Kathy gave me a tiny strand of fake pearls. I was delighted and wore them religously for at least 7 years (from about the age of 3 to 10). Sad, I know. Somethings never change, but tastes do mature. After 10, I demanded only “real” jewelry and tucked my tiny strand into my jewelry box never again to see the light of day.
Along these lines, our first married Christmas G gave me my first REAL strand of pearls. I was, surprise, delighted. And, I wore them religously–almost daily–until a few weeks ago. Enter the pearl and hairbrush debocle. Not pretty. G was greeted by a hysterical K and indiviual pearls on the floor (thank goodness they were tied off between).

Now what?

My pearl earrings always break (come unglued), and I always take them in for repair, but I’ve never dealt with restringing a strand of pearls. Some have said that it’s less expensive to buy a new strand all together, but this was a really nice strand and I’d hate to think that restringing would cost so much. Can anyone offer advice from experience?

Moving forward, some of you may know that I’ve been saving for a right hand ring for about a year and a half now (because, according to my wiser friend Genevieve, husbands only give wives their first diamond). I’m saving for a yellow diamond, but at times will waiver and consider less expensive stones like the pearl (because I could buy it in about a 20th of the time). But, it’s been decided once and for all. Pearls are heartbreakers…ours is a love/hate relationship.

[Photo above from happier days in my pearls’ lives…]

Posted in Life in London | 3 Comments