Z Trek: The Alan Zeichick Weblog
Politics on the Net: Wiring the Political Process
The U.S. Presidential elections are being fought in Main Street, on Wall Street — and on Broadband Avenue. YouTube, blogs, RSS feeds... those are all just as important as televised debates, robo-calls and TV advertisements.Every four years,…
Would you fly on an airplane if your company designed its software?
I remember a funny Dilbert cartoon series where the Pointy-Haired Boss's company won the contract to redesign the U.S. air traffic control system. Dilbert and his colleagues immediately invested their life savings in a bus company.That brings…
The new Silverlight 2 is nearly here – and with an Eclipse project
Microsoft shipped Silverlight 2 today, sort of. While the company said that the software was "released" today, Monday, Oct. 13, it won't be available for download until tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 14.According to Microsoft, these are the highlights…
New scam: European Commission tax information
This morning's mail brought an official-looking message with an European Union Taxation and Customs Union banner... addressed to our info@ email account. It claims to be from the europa.eu domain, but the message actually originated from the…
New phishing scam: stealing Google AdWords account
Today's new phishing scam is an attempt to steal your Google AdWords account information and/or a credit-card number. I received two identical messages today, sent to email accounts that most definitely aren't set up with Google AdWords.One…
Thanks, Eclipse Foundation, for the party! (In advance!)
Here's a big shout-out for the Eclipse Foundation, which is throwing a an attendee party at EclipseWorld 2008! They've hosted parties like this at previous EclipseWorld conferences, and they're always great.This year's Eclipse Foundation Party…
Netflix: Anything to make a buck
Here's a notice that I received from Netflix today:Dear Alan,As you may know, Blu-ray movies are more expensive than standard definition movies. As a result, we're going to start charging $1 a month (plus applicable taxes), in addition to your…
Two Apples and Honey for a Sweet New Year
I must thank my friend PJ for this wonderful framed poster, dating back from the mid-1980s.It now lives in a place of honor at BZ West. What a great gift!Z Trek Copyright (c) Alan Zeichick
Going social with the SD Times Readers group on Facebook
Got Facebook? If so, join our new social group, SD Times Readers. We'd love to have you!Social networking is an interesting phenomenon. Some social networks that I belong to are super useful. Some are completely worthless. Some work great using…
Why can’t you get light cream in the Bay Area?
Coffee in California, or at least in the Bay Area, doesn't taste right. One reason, of course, is because when I'm on the East Coast, I frequent delicious Dunkin' Donuts coffee shops. But even when I make Dunkin' Donuts coffee at home (we order…
New malware phishing: Amazon Marketplace scam
This email just came in... it's a scam.The message contains a link that looks like it's from amazon.co.uk, but actually goes to to a doramail.com Web server that mimics the Amazon.co.uk login page. Don't be fooled!From: "Amazon.co.uk" Subject:…
The HP Oracle Database Machine
In a keynote address to nearly 43,000 OpenWorld attendees, Oracle Chief Executive Officer, Larry Ellison unveiled the HP Oracle Database Machine, a system designed for extreme performance data warehouses...Thus begins a press release from Oracle.…
Suzanne Vega’s "Tom’s Essay"
I'm a big fan of singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega. That meant a major disappointment last May, when she came to the IMAC Theater, within walking distance of our Huntington, N.Y., headquarters office, to kick off her most recent tour... but on…
Everything you need to know about the Large Hadron Collider
Elation when the Large Hadron Collider went online. Sadness when a major glitch caused a helium leak, because now the system won't be back online until the spring.The LHC is huge. I mean, I've toured the Stanford Linear Accelerator, which is…
The heroes who triumphed over tyranny
My friend Phil Spiegel has written a wonderful book, entitled "Triumph Over Tyranny: The Heroic Campaigns That Saved 2,000,000 Soviet Jews."The hardcover will come out on Oct. 10. You can pre-order the book from Amazon.com right now. In the…
United’s crazy computer does wacky automated rebooking
You'd think that when an airline makes a change to your itinerary, the change would make sense. But no! Sometimes it doesn't.Later this year, I'm making a quick trip from San Francisco to Tampa. My return flights were as follows:1. United #1531,…
IP Man – Cute comic strip, but poor implementation
The Adventures of IP Man is the new comic strip put out by Broadvox, a VoIP company. Designed, of course, to promote the benefits of Voice over Internet Protocol Technology, the strip is cutely drawn, but shallow and unsubtle.Our superhero,…
Registration is OPEN for SharePoint TechCon
Our conference chairman, David Rubinstein, has finished moving all the classes around, and that means that we can open registration. Hurray!SPTechCon, the SharePoint Technology Conference, will be held January 27-29, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency…
Microsoft wants students to steal Office Ultimate 2007
I think that's what Microsoft wants. In any case, they are running a big promotion selling Office Ultimate 2007 for $59.95. The promotion is called "The Ultimate Steal." The company says you can save 91% off the estimated retail price.Isn't…
Microsoft revs Zune software with Genius-like features
Microsoft built some great features into its Zune music player. Not enough, apparently, to break Apple's lock on the market with the iPod product family, it's true. However, if someone just compares the specs of current Zune hardware and software…
Possible clickjacking security flaws in Adobe software
I received this email — sent to a "bcc" distribution list — from Tom Brennan, organizer of the OWASP 2008 conference next week in New York. OWASP is the Open Web Application Security Project.The contents of the email are interesting and…
Apple gets it right with iPod touch 2.0
With its iPod touch 2.0, released this past week, Apple got it right. The company kept the features that worked really well with the original iPod touch, and added in some of the advances that appeared in the iPhone 3G.The major changes to the…
Don’t miss the EclipseWorld hotel discounts!
EclipseWorld has secured special rates with the Hyatt Regency Reston.Single occupancy: $239 per nightDouble occupancy: $264 per nightTo make your reservations online, use this link.You can also call the hotel directly at +1-703-709-1234. Be…
The 9 hottest classes at EclipseWorld
I've checked out the EclipseWorld registration database, and here are the 9 hottest classes — they're going to fill up fast!W-2: Building Commercial-Quality Eclipse PluginsBy Eric Clayberg and Dan Rubel103: Let Eclipse Generate Your Java System…
Microsoft accepts UML, joins the OMG
Yesterday, Microsoft finally gave in, accepting the Unified Modeling Language and joining the Object Management Group.Microsoft wasn't the only tools company that avoided UML, but it became the highest profile one. The modeling tools that debuted…
Easy as ABC: Listen to Alan, Bola and Clive
Your humble blogger was a guest on a podcast hosted by Bola Rotibi, principle analyst for software delivery at MWD Advisors. Here's how they describe this fascinating, must-listen program:In this 33'06" podcast episode Bola discusses a series…
Do I have a good scence of humor?
I'm not sure what Helen is looking for.... what do you think?From: "helen kumba"Date: September 9, 2008 6:41:47 AM PDTTo: undisclosed-recipients:;Subject: Hello,Hello,My name is Helen; I am 25 years in search of a man who understands love as…
The black-and-yellow screen of death
It's funny to see kiosks and other devices with behind-the-scenes error messages.• In-store displays that have a press-any-key-to-continue prompt (and no pointing device)• Airport flight monitors that are locked into a boot sequence• Point-of-sale…
The case for commercial software components
The case for commercial reusable software components is a strong one. Reusable components hit a real sweet spot: They solve genuine problems, whether it’s connectivity, GUI input or output controls, AJAX plumbing, reporting, data conversion,…
jetBlue: It’s worth the trip!
Yesterday, for the first time, I flew jetBlue on my regular route between San Francisco and New York's JFK airport. I'm probably the last business traveler in America to try jetBlue. I will fly it again.My default airline has long been United.…