Oracle install

I've been attempting to install Oracle 11g as well as the Oracle Application Server. The oracle database install is easy...however--getting an Apache server up and running to do appropriate reporting...not so easy.

If anyone knows where to track down an easy installation guide (not the gigantic and largely useless Oracle "help files") I'd be interested in taking a look.

Back in the saddle

It really has been 2 and a half months since my last post. Wow. A ton of things happened.

Most noteworthy (for me) was turning 30. I wrote a poem:

Observations through the years (30)

Turning 30 has its perks,
Especially being able to avoid the jerks.
I get to drink and enjoy my life,
As they say, have fun--be merry, you know...avoid strife.

The days get longer,
due to work demands.
The nights get shorter--
due to work demands.
The sleep gets restless--
and lower adrenal glands.

We fly forward,
by looking back.
Understanding our errors
and how we react.

As 30 comes to bear,
I think of times gone past,
How I molded the minds
of the young, the passionate, the fun, the wild, and the crass.

As 30 has come...I think of change and hope and steadfast dreams.
They cause me to reflect--
Will we win the fight?
Will we lose our way?
Will we follow our definition of right?


Will I find a smile at the end of the day?


Are the things that matter,
The things we hold dear?
Who are the friends.
That remind me that they are near?

Can a person grow,
without another?
We learn things that we know--
Based on eachother.

I grow older - I grow fonder - I grow stronger - I grow wiser - Personally, I grow.

Now I'm thirty...
Thank you all--
New friends--
OLD friends--
fast friends--
good friends--

Let's raise our glass,
Celebrate what has passed.
Forge ahead...
and find tomorrow--slightly hungover in bed.


I also have been working out again. I'm making my way towards getting back in shape to run a few track meets next year. I feel like I have a few more months before I am ready for track workouts as I'm only down to a 6:18 mile and I can only run about 3.6 miles in a half hour. But--I'm doing good.

I also created a twitter account. I don't post to twitter enough either...however--I did just up my mobile text plan to 1500 texts/month...so I may start twittering about the more interesting things that I've been doing with work.

I am continuing my research on my book--and the writing is going painfully slow. But, I do have high hopes to get it done and get it out to the world. The slowness is mostly related to me deciding to start dating. I'm on a quest to find that woman that will allow me to sweep her of her feet and will simultaneously challenge me and allow me to grow. I'm not quite there yet. At times I get impatient when I find a beautiful woman that fits the bill and pull a "Jon Favreau" from Swingers move and blow it. The stories aren't completely false regarding smart men not having a clue about women. At least for me.

Eh...so...I'll try to actually start posting again. As this is more of a digital chronicle of events in my life...rather than a medium where I attempt to market things or ideas.

Future Tech research

I figured since I mostly just write links in a word doc and then email them to myself I could potentially be forward-thinking enough to just post the information for the masses.

Perhaps someone that reads the blog can write in their two cents regarding a topic of research/debate/interest.

Quantum computing:
http://www.futureforall.org/computers/quantumcomputers.htm

Technological singularity:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_Singularity

Optical computing:
http://www.futureforall.org/computers/opticalcomputers.htm

DNA computing:
http://www.futureforall.org/computers/dnacomputers.htm

Future of computing:
http://www.nature.com/nature/focus/futurecomputing/index.html

Future of computer interaction:
www.predictivepixel.com
www.io2technology.com
http://www.physorg.com/news147454178.html
http://www.readius.com/
www.smarttech.com

Singularity sites:
http://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/art0134.html?printable=1
http://www.accelerationwatch.com/
http://singularityhub.com/
http://singularityhub.com/category/computing/
http://www.acceleratingfuture.com/michael/

Carnegie Mellon research:
http://www.cylab.cmu.edu/
http://www.cylab.cmu.edu/research/projects/current_projects/machine_learning.html
http://www.cylab.cmu.edu/research/projects/current_projects/audio_captchas.html
http://www.cylab.cmu.edu/research/projects/current_projects/effective_trust.html



Network World Research
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/dir/2009/060109id1.html?page=1

Grid Computing
http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/aries/

Networks and Mobile Systems:
http://nms.csail.mit.edu/

Various Research groups:
http://www.csail.mit.edu/node/3

University of Oregon - Eugene (Dr. Li's Network Security Research topics)
http://netsec.cs.uoregon.edu/research/idsave.shtml
http://netsec.cs.uoregon.edu/research/wormdefense.shtml
http://netsec.cs.uoregon.edu/research/rf.shtml
http://netsec.cs.uoregon.edu/research/mssl.shtml

Darpa Research Projects:
http://www.darpa.mil/#tech
http://www.darpa.mil/ipto/programs/ct/ct.asp
http://www.darpa.mil/ipto/programs/hpcs/hpcs.asp
http://www.darpa.mil/ipto/programs/ld/ld.asp
http://www.darpa.mil/sto/strategic/dtn.html
http://www.darpa.mil/sto/strategic/coronet.html
http://www.darpa.mil/sto/strategic/snm.html

Palo Alto Research Center
http://www.parc.com/work/focus-area/security-and-privacy/

Digital Dilemma

It's been far to long since I've posted a blog. Unfortunately, I have this feeling that it won't be a overly frequent occurance. However, I am fully immersed in technology. So immersed that I feel like writing an "Ode to Tech"

Digital Dilemma

Where art thou, HDMI?
I sometimes sometimes feel my fingers cross
and process things like the square root of pi. <---yea...not a strong start...sorry.

I search for answers that solve
the problems tech brings
like how to intelligently derive
intrusion detection types of things.

I wax and wane
just like the moon.
I think my work is sometimes in vain,
Did I contact the Carnegie Mellon CyberLab too soon?

Whats the new protocol
solving the problems we face?
Why its intelligent tracking!
all at a digital pace.

One and zero
Make up my octets
Do I find the human computer interaction methods
Full of endless loops and regrets?

To solve the future issues--
and stay ahead of the pack...?
Where do we find ourselves heading?
Are we on the right track?

Is it the net...
Is it the man...
Personal opinions aside...
I say lets just enjoy the ride!


We need a strong dose of thinktank, government, industry, academia. So, with that said, how is this possible? How can we collaborate? Is it a technology that creates a technological breakthrough? Is it a singular mind working on a solution? Is it a group of people that sit in a room and don't give up until the problem gets solved? Well--I think it is a bit of all those things. The promise is that technology can help facilite productivity and increased productivity creates an environment where new ideas can be captured and cultivated.

Current research has been revolving around some very interesting topics that have been identified at University of Oregon. Like intelligent routing and validation of data transmission through the net. There's some other fascinating topics being researched at the Carnegie Mellon Cyber Research Lab. There also appears to be some very interesting research happening at Stanford and MIT. As usual. During this stand-up of the Chief Technology Office for the Air Force Network Integration Center I feel like I'm in a PhD program. I read a couple of white papers every day...which I need to get better at docummenting and indexing. Our entire group does really. I hate creating processes that create more work...rather than less...but sometimes it is a necessary evil for long-term results.

Oh well. I'm off to see a man about a dog. (going to grab a beer or two)

Change and Configuration Management

Well, I'm finishing up my 2nd month with Booz Allen Hamilton and things are still coming at me fast and furiously. But, I do think that my friends and professors were right--consulting is the right industry for me. My brain likes the information overload and collaboration across the country to identify solutions.

My first month I was able to meet with a General in the Air Force, a Principal of Booz Allen, and helped shape some of the basic and "super high-level" processes that may shape the future-state of the Chief Technology Office at one of the Agencies in the USAF. Pretty cool stuff in month one.

Month two had me learning more about X.509 standards for the Public Key Infrastructure used to certify users for secure networks. If you're interested in getting more information or direction on X.509 standards I can definitely point you at some RFCs and other documents that will help explain what OIDs are and their general numbering convention. I've also been trying to identify an education model that will support not only educating the members of the Chief Technology Office--but also the agency it supports and the greater CTO community in the AF. Additionally, I've been configuring an Apache HTTP server (with Virtual Hosts and SSL) to employ a Subversion, Tortoise SVN, and ViewVC suite of products to create a software configuration management process in a Testing and Interoperability Facility. But, this is just a small piece to the overarching change management process that has to manage the hardware, data, and additional assets.

So, process, policy, and governance. Lots of fun stuff...and pretty cool to be working on so quickly at a company. I see big things happening in this company.

If you have any questions, comments, or thoughts, please post them and I will make certain to respond shortly. I know I'm behind on my postings for the Harvard Business Review cases...but work has me pulling a number of late night researching efforts to meet client deadlines and expectations. Sorry. I'll try harder.

overdue posting (much like overdue books)

I've been extremely lax in my posting of late. This is due to the new job down in St. Louis. My brain has been mush for weeks....I swear...if I don't read 100+ pages of academic white papers on X.509 standards (I've got more links and white papers than I even want to think about...seriously...PhD thesis material here), or CTOs, or IT Governance, or Configuration Management, or emerging technologies....it because I'm in meetings getting the knowledge shoved into my brain through folks that are brought in to train us on Service-Oriented Architecture.

So, I still have January and February's Harvard Business Review cases to read...and post. When I do that I think my postings may change to discussing the Chief Technology Officer and their semi-defined role in an organization.

If you have any insights as to what you feel a Chief Technology Officer does...or if you are one....shoot me a comment and connect up with me on my LinkedIn profile.

Answers to PMP questions

I apologize to the couple of guys that asked for answers. I've been busy packing and preparing for a move to the St. Louis area for a new job.

I don't have a ton of time to write out the explanations why the answers are as such...so if you have specific questions, please just write a comment and I will try to get them answered in a timely manner in a follow-up comment.

Answers:
1. B
2. A
3. C
4. C
5. B
6. B
7. C
8. D
9. B
10. C
11. A
12. D
13. C
14. C
15. C
16. C
17. C
18. B
19. D
20. B
21. C
22. A
23. B
24. C
25. C
26. C
27. C
28. D
29. D
30. B
31. A
32. A
33. B
34. B

Ok...so I think these are the answers to the set of questions I asked. Based upon my memory I think that the questions I asked were from the Scope Management section.

I still need to post the HBR case studies for February and March of 2009. I do apologize...I've been very busy getting prepped for my move and saying goodbye to friends. I've also been working on my iPhone application...it is still in the planning stage...yep...I'm behind schedule. But, we're not really done scoping the project...so I can't really say I'm behind schedule yet. It feels that way though.

My next post will be as a member of the Booz Allen Hamilton team. I will likely NEVER post about work. Definitely not about anything about what is happening behind the closed curtain. But, working there may help me focus my thoughs on Project Management and help me along the way for my upcoming book. :)

Blogging to Blog

I am sorry to all my devoted fans (apparently I have at least 1 individual that will read occassional updates)....I haven't blogged in quite a long time. It has been a busy past two weeks. I had an interview at the 52nd best company in 2009 according to Fortune , Booz Allen Hamilton. The interview went well. I do feel as though I didn't represent my Technical Architecting ability as well as I would have liked. I made no mention to the understanding of Client/Server and N-Tier architecting strategies. Eh, whatever. It's all there anyway. So, I can use it if required. It was hard to try and architect a legacy system that I've been trying to forget for the last 2 years while simultaneously learning multiple new bodies of knowledge during my MS education. :)

But, I did receive an offer from Booz Allen and I accepted! Beyond the company being internationally known in the consulting industry...which is great...I am looking forward to just learning a ton from my future peers. Additionally, projects that create opportunities for travel is exciting and something that I really wanted in my last job. There are a number of other little factors that made me interested in Booz Allen. But, honestly...I think however long I work at Booz Allen--5 years, 10 years, 20 years-- I will grow personally and professionally while I work at making other companies more productive, efficient, and successful while simultaneously wearing the Booz Allen ID badge.

In the next 24-48 hours I will make an effort to write up both January's and February's Harvard Business Case studies. But I just wanted to make this post to identify why I've been slacking in my blogging responsibilities.

A reader also made a comment about tracking down the answers to some PMP questions. I will post these also...I have been boxing up my items and preparing to move down to the greater St. Louis area. So I apologize for not posting those sooner.

Active Directory

Well, I've put a hold on cataloging all of my MBA and MS knowledge into podcasts....only for a very short while. I do want to re-learn and fill the knowledge gaps a little. So, I will be doing those posts soon.

I think I gave a brief overview of Macolm Gladwell's book, Outliers in my last posting. I definitely recommend that you read it if you like seeing all of the connections between a singular thought. I'd say he's one step away from being a James Burke Connections type of guy...but he doesn't go backwards and follow the Outlier concept or Blink concept through history. Not really sure how one could do that....but I see a little bit of parallelism there.

Anyway, I've been learning more about Active Directory the past few days. So, with a definitive YES, I can answer the lifelong question:

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around, does it make a sound?

Answer: Yes, an alert will be sent via remote administration to acknowledge the tree fell and some action is required to get it operational again. ;)

Yea, I know....cheesy. But, any techie chuckled just a bit.

Things are starting to progress a little with one of my most desireable companies, Booz Allen Hamilton. Everyone reading this podcast, please collectively think positive thoughts about me acquiring this job. It would be an amazing learning opportunity and professional opportunity to travel the country while helping Booz's customer make a more seamless working environment.

2009 already??

Happy new year to those out there that read my blog. I have been suffering from a little bit of blogitis. Meaning I haven't been blogging as frequently as in the past. For this, I feel a little bad. Some friends that live around the world only really get updates from my blog about the "businessy" stuff. I try to leave the more social aspects of my life off the blog when possible.

But, I just finished Malcolm Gladwell's new book, Outliers. I know. Me and everyone else that wears a suit to work. But, really, it was quite impressive and inspiring. For starters it was interesting reading about the population gaps and how timing is apparently more important than one might think. As someone that is truly in a generational gap between X and Y this is interesting. I get classified in both segments depending on who I'm speaking with. The IQ sections were especially interesting...being someone that recently qualified into Mensa it appears that IQ is no prediction of being an outlier according to Gladwell. I definitely agree. The real predictor is a combination of family, opportunity, and willingness to achieve success. Right now I've had 2 out of 3. This is where I think that 2009 will be a great year....Opportunity is bound to knock at some point this year.

So, as a glancing overview of Outliers he talks about hockey players (AGAIN). Next he goes over how some of the other folks were "lucky" by putting in 10,000 hours of work before truly gaining expertise. Bill Gates was a workaholic that lived right next to University of Washington and was on a teletype computer at 4am. Bill Joy lucked out living next to a super computer at University of Michigan. The Beatles played up to 12 hours a day in Amsterdam. Even folks that are naturally gifted in something don't really gain an expert level until hitting 10,000 hours of work. So, we all need to push a bit harder. After this section Gladwell tackles the IQ debate...and demonstrates how family nurturing and support is a more important variable to success than being smart. Interesting. There are a few other sections, but fairly near and dear to me is the the last section talking about Educational reform.

My personal take on Education is that the public school system is in dire need of reform. My dad talks about how the model needs to change because "we're no longer farmers and shouldn't have a school year based on farming timelines." My take is a little different. It follows what Malcolm said, there was a lot of research saying that kids need to rest their brains. My personal take on this is that is a bunch of malarky. Kids only go to school 180-200 days a year in the US. Imagine how smart the kids would be (regardless of class size) if they were in school for 240 days a year. If your kids had more time to learn the same material--it'd probably be retained for much longer. Not only that, less time off wouldn't allow for as much to be forgotten. This concept is a little controversial for a few different groups. Teachers being at the forefront....I know I'll be irritating a lot of primary school teachers that read this (which I have quite a few friends that teach) but they really should teach closer to 10 or 11 months a year. It just doesn't make sense to take so long off on the summer. Less summer vacation means less time to go to all the seminars that they need (but business people have to go to seminars also...during their work year) and they can't go sailing around the globe or travel the US by RV. But seriously, teachers get good pay and even better benefits. Heck, some teachers my age made more than I did as a Senior Software Engineer for a Government Contracting firm. I worked year round, had an MBA, and received 8-10% raises BI-ANNUALLY. I know teaching can be difficult. It can be stressful. But, the rewards of seeing every single one of your pupils go off and change the world should be enough of an incentive to teach more days out of the year. The real impact would be to the vacation and travel industry.

Anyway, hopefully some of you agree with my ranting (which did go on a bit too long...sorry). If you agree or disagree, please comment. I'm interested in your opinions.

Also, have a great 2009! I know that things were tough in 2008. Trust me, my plan of living off my equities while finishing school didn't go as well. But, I do have a great feeling that 2009 will be a year filled with good things. This is coming from a Republican that voted for Obama that undertands that finances may be tight for us all....