Category: Enjoyed

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Enjoyed Happened

Work Anecdote 1: Speedy Delivery

Yesterday, I was told that one of the 250GB drive modules in one of our Xserve RAIDs had apparently gone kaput. While this is the first time I’ve seen this happen in two years, and it doesn’t affect production (horrah for hot spares!), we did need to get it replaced.
Today, at 2:45, I called Applecare Enterprise Support. 10 minutes later, I had a case number and a dispatch number.

At about 3:15, I got a call from the service courier, who wanted to confirm that I had the dispatch number, give me their number, and told me they’d be in touch Monday about scheduling a pickup for the dead drive.

I took a few minutes to run up to the unit in question and swap out the dead 250GB for a spare 400GB, just as a temporary lest we have another failure over the weekend.

At 4:40, I got a call from our front desk, saying that there was someone here with a package. I scratched my head, not putting two and two together (for reasons to be detailed in the next anecdote), and told the desk where to send them.
Five minutes later, a courier appeared with the drive module.

Literally two hours from when I called, I had my replacement hardware in hand.

I realize this is not typical, but man oh man, that was lightning quick. Kudos to Applecare Enterprise.

Categories
Created Enjoyed Recommended

Eugene Mirman Protest

Homemade Signs

And There He Is!

Scanlan Gets A Sign

Even At An Event Full Of Hate, There's Room For Love

Eugene Mirman Protests Himself

That's Not Safe!

Tonight was the Eugene Mirman protest, put together by [Eugene Mirman](http://www.eugenemirman.com). While the actual handing-out of signs didn’t start until maybe 3 minutes before the event was supposed to start, it was quite comical and silly and confusing to those not in on it.

For all of my pictures, just check my photoset: [Eugene Mirman Protest @ Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/sets/72057594129662059/)

Buy Eugene’s new CD/DVD, **En Garde, Society!** [from Subpop](http://www.subpop.com/scripts/main/catalog.php?cat=true&display_type=merch&title=En+Garde%2C+Society%21&PHPSESSID=af80c323a3aa4bed530b6a634e4045a2). It’s only $12, and comes with a nifty DVD! Alternately, [buy it off iTunes](http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=151534007&s=143441) for $9.99 and lose out on the DVD.

Categories
Enjoyed

Sport On Telly

Over the last few years, there’s been a fair amount of derision of some US television channels for what they choose to define as a “sport program”. Depending on how entertained you are by the programming, your personal limit may be spelling bees, scrabble tournaments, texas hold’em, fishing, or possibly even golf.

That said, England has (at least) three sporting delicacies I’ve taken in during portions of my evenings at the hotel room:
First, **snooker**. Now, pool is no stranger to American television, but it’s generally 8-ball, sometimes 9, and often just trick shots. Snooker, on the other hand, doesn’t get televised much because…well, it’s slightly more dull than 8-ball, and certainly more complicated. Still, interesting to watch, if for no other reason than puzzling out the rules. (Alternately, you could [just read them](http://www.billiardworld.com/snooker.html).)

Next, **cricket**. Oh, the much derided cricket. While the game is possibly torture to those with ADD – test matches last five days, after all – it is actually entertaining. Finally seeing it played and being able to reconcile [the rules](http://www.cs.purdue.edu/homes/hosking/cricket/explanation.htm) against what’s happening are a great help. My god, it even actually looks fun.

By now you may be thinking, “He’s just going for the traditional British sports. Rugby will undoubtedly be the third.” And you, my friend, would be wrong. The third sport I’ve been prone to watch is somewhat tied into snooker, in that you’re likely to see it in a pub, but it’s about as far from Rugby as you can get.

If I said I spent a good half an hour last night watching [Premier League Darts](http://www.planetdarts.tv/page/PremierLeague/0,,10180,00.html), would you believe me?

If I told you that I was shocked that there were about 300 rowdy spectators – all cheering and cat-calling at the right times – would you believe me?

If I claimed that the throwers had entrance music and body guards, making the whole thing seem eerily close to professional wrestling, would you believe me?

Okay, here’s a stretch: would you believe that it was actually entertaining? Yeah, I couldn’t believe it either.

(To those concerned that we’re spending our lives in the hotel room, trust me, we are not. Check the Flickr pool.)