• Fighting SSL and winning

    I'm in the process of setting up a Zimbra server for work and as part of it, I'm documenting configuration for all types of machines and devices we use. One of the devices is a Palm OS Treo (755p in particular). I've done a bit of research and found that the Palm OS Treos don't work properly with wildcard SSL certificates. So, I got my boss to approve a GoDaddy single domain certificate for $30; I assured him that this was needed for the Treos and he didn't have a problem with that.

  • Hurting the environment by conversing

    Prior to our son being born almost 2 years ago, my wife and I decided that we'd use cloth diapers with him (she did the research and I just nodded my head). They are a bit of work to clean and wash (my wife does most of it), but we figure in the long run, they will be better for the environment. How can we say that? Well, we believe that there will be clean energy in the future (solar, wind, etc.) and we'll (as a society) be able to cost effectively desalinate water.

  • Longer commute

    This summer was one of the slowest times I've had in the 5.5 years that I've been self employed. While there have been ups and downs, I actually considered taking a job in an office. I went through the whole interview process and was offered a position, but ultimately realized that I couldn't give up the flexibility I have being self-employed and working from home. While it is possible to be employed by someone else and have flexibility, this job didn't afford it.

  • Tough decisions

    About 4 years ago, I became a trained member of my local CERT, Community Emergency Response Team. I attended meetings did training, and even helped out during the 2007 wildfires here in San Diego. As my Disaster Service Worker card expires in June, I started looking at what it took to renew it. There was a lot of email flying around about the requirements and they changed a few times in the last few weeks (about 1.5 years ago, the CERT coordinator for San Diego left for a new job and was replaced by someone that seems bent on making life hard for us volunteers). Last night I went to my local CERT meeting and they talked about the requirements to renew the card and then brought up the topic that they've been talking about for 4 years and that is how to outfit a container box that it has with supplies as the money is coming from the city. The box is a huge step forward (it actually exists), but the money still hasn't been released by the city (it comes from "developer funds" that people paid when our community was first built). Will the city ever release the funds? I don't know and I'm a bit tired of it.