Hey yesterday was patch Tuesday!

So be sure to check for updates!

http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate

According to the IRS, it now costs 48.5 cents per mile to drive. (Most people falsely think that driving is only the cost of gas. That’s like saying the cost of using software is only buying it. Three letters: TCO)

Well, let’s add the usual Bay Area markup of 15% to that, because everything (not just housing) costs more. So that’s 55.775 cents per mile.

Now, let’s look at the 33.5 miles round trip that I drove this morning to an appointment that was scheduled incorrectly, and now I must return to tomorrow morning instead.

What a waste of $18.68, and an hour and fifteen of my life.

Who should I donate to? Suggestions of good charities?

I already have the United Way of Silicon Valley and Red Cross on my list… and a few museums… any other deserving causes?

Update1: Yeah these are probably not good choices: 10 Inefficient Fundraisers

MichKap has an interesting post on the disclaimers at the end of Law and Order. Including this one:

Sorting It All Out : Disclaimer required?

Although some aspects of this story may
remind you of the Lisa Steinberg case recently
adjudicated in New York City, this episode and
its characters are fictional and the events and
actions portrayed do not reflect the actions of
any principals involved in that case. In the
actual case, the male defendant was convicted
of manslaughter, while all charges against his
female companion were dismissed. There was
no evidence of her involvement in physical
abuse of any child, or that any child was
sexually abused by either adult.

Apparently this is my rate of return since January 1st, 2005:

Hm. That’s not

Of course, this is still better than my rate of return for the same period in 2004 - apparently that was 0.1%.

My goal of retiring at 25 has already been blown - anyone at MSFT have a better 401k strategy?

Steven Sinofsky’s Microsoft TechTalk : Bureaucracy. Threat or menace? Either, both, or neither? Or it depends!

Here?s a quick quiz. Which project will get done faster and have better quality at the end:

* Project A ? starts off with some developers that have an idea and they just start coding.
* Project B ? starts off with some developers that have an idea and they spend 3 months not writing code, but designing the architecture and interface and then they start coding.

Want to know the answer and more? Read this entry!

Here’s another snippet:

Putting in the right process is very hard work. It is super [sorry I used that word] easy to put in process that makes 1+1+1 =2. Process can sap the life out of a team. On the other hand, it seems absurd that you should be able to change ?on a whim? the code of a system that is used by hundreds of millions of people?customers expect and demand that you have some process for deciding what to do. Anything of any material complexity must have that rigorous view. If it doesn?t then the system is a toy or the system just isn?t valuable.

National Geographic Magazine - WildCam AFRICA

PEAK VIEWING PERIOD:
7 a.m.-Noon Botswana Time

And in September as Mashatu moves into its summer season, Pete’s Pond will see increasing traffic in the afternoon hours from about 4-6 p.m.

Time now in Botswana: 10:27 AM

Check out this webcam in the bush in Africa!

Or… check out some of the highlights if its evening by the time you watch.

I saw this picture a while back… apparently this is what fulfilling the American Dream means.

Am I the only person who finds it a little creepy?

BTW, what “city” or state is photo taken? I don’t know… but, does it even matter?