"The intel on this wasn't 100%."
 
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Check out this trailer a remix of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. It cuts to the chase of what the movie truly was about. The love between a father and son. It's the feel good comedy of the year!

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Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Amazing Race: Family Edition. There is a lot of people competing since it is 4 people to the family. How atomic of them! It looks confusing. I hope they don't try this again. I wonder what will happen for TARCon?

One thing about The Amazing Race is that it is so heartbreaking. Everyone, no matter how sucky they are, when they lose it just sucks. I really like the show.

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Would you believe that Don Adams has died? It's true. First, Gilligan and now Maxwell Smart. All the actors who I grew up watching on UHF are dropping like flies. Who's next? Pyle?

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Saturday, September 24, 2005
Once again some more notes for homework assignment 2 due in the 3rd week. I'll do you a favor by not posting it directly. It is somewhat incomplete and should be refreshed before submitting. I'll just link to it. Voila!

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Friday, September 23, 2005
Yeah. I thought so. But falling in the totalitarian region is really funny. I thought I was a commie.

You are a

Social Liberal
(71% permissive)

and an...

Economic Liberal
(28% permissive)

You are best described as a:

Democrat




Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid

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Short title, becuase I am sick and tired at how the recent links look. All cluttered and all.

It's been slow trying to slog through my Quixotic Quest, but I did read 23 Days in July: Inside Lance Armstrong's Battle to Win a Record Sixth Tour de France. Good read. I could not put it down, and afterwards I wanted to ride. Yet, I am so lazy that I didn't. There are no excuses, but I seem to find one any way.

I liked the book. I love the Tour de France. Even if Lance Armstrong wasn't in it, I would still watch. I was a fan of bicycle racing since I was a little kid. And I have watched the Tour on TV even before there was a Lance Armstrong to root for. Actually, my favorite is Jan Ullrich. Always the perennial bridesmaid.

Anyway the book was pleasant. It gave me more insight into the team strategies involved in racing. I was only disappointed in the fact that the author did not focus on the French rider, Thomas Voekler, much. For me, he embodied the spirit of the 2004 Tour when he defended his yellow jersey in the 15th stage finishing at the top of the Plateau de Beille. He rode the race of his life and just maintained his lead over the unstoppable Lance Armstrong at 0:22 seconds. Incredible! What gusto! He would lose the yellow jersey the next day, but it was amazing.

B+.

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Homework Assignment 2-3 Notes.

What is the maximum recommended cyclomatic complexity?
10

What exceptions are there to the answer in “a” above?
Case or switch statements. Question: Does this include if()elsif()elsif()else statements where the condition is testing the same variable? Stupid. Isn't that a case statement in disguise? Yes.

How would you use the information gained in the article if you were software manager for a major new program?
Cyclomatic complexity is a metric, a measurement of the code of the program. It can be used to describe the quality of the code, and it can be used to prescribe where to focus testing and changes.
  1. Use it to identify bad code: hard to understand, hard to test and hard to modify.

  2. Use it to stress the number tests per module which in turn helps delineate the testing schedule: time, man-hours, etc.

  3. Use it to determine what areas to concentrate on fixing or testing.

  4. If you have third party developed code, use to control it's quality.


Cyclomatic complexity seems to drive testing from the developer's viewpoint. How does it work for system tests? Configuration management? Quality? Safety? These are software departments at work.

I'm sorry I have been posting my homework. I have to so that I can read over what I did at work or in school or anyplace else. You see, I can cut and paste this stuff straight from the web. Unfortunately, it's also clogging up my recent posts list with somewhat useless stuff, but hey, if you're a software engineer or in school feel free to join in a post a comment.

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Wednesday, September 21, 2005
This thing is big! Hurricane Katrina and now Hurricane Rita are bringing the one-two punch on the Gulf Coast States. In the heartland of Red America. Tell us again Mr. RedStater what the government can do?

Partisan sniping aside. I hope we avoid the calamity this time. Good luck to those in Rita's path.

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Is the Bush administration (not to mention the Republican Party)fascists? Read the article and watch for the comparison in the end.

Get Orcinus on the case pronto.

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Monday, September 19, 2005
Avast, ye scalliwags! Today is National Talk Like A Pirate Day. Y'arrgh.

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Sunday, September 18, 2005
This is assignment 1 due during week 2, and it is related to this post for school. Download it from here in order to print it out.

In the early 1990s, a piece of telephony software written by the DSC Communications Corp. caused some phone outages across the United States. The root cause of the problem was traced back to a typing mistake. The bug occurred in three lines of a million line program. At the time, Frank Perpiglia, Vice President for technology and poduct development at DSC had said that the intended change to the software was very minor, and that it had been determined that the usual rounds of testing of the software was not needed. In hindsight, that was a bad idea.

Yet, to put the blame on insufficient testing is to ignore the other factors which contributed to the software bug. In fact, I would say that the problem really resides in the policies and procedures that allowed the developers to release their software with less than adequate testing. A symptom of this lack of quality-focused policies can be found in the cavilier comment from Perpiglia, "We had a small modification to make a small change. We felt that the change itself did not require three to four months of testing." It was sheer folly to accept the risk of not testing the change.

First, let's focus on DSC's software configuration management policy, if they had one. A change was going to take place on their software. Was there a need for the change? Was the fix to address a bug or was it relatively minor? From Perpiglia's statement, it seems that DSC deemed the fix to be a minor, inoccuous change. It probably was also somewhat necessary. I can't believe that a simple patch of less than several lines of code would be released at the whims of the company. From this viewpoint, did software configuration management accept the necessity to change the software and at whose discretion?

Secondly, let's take a look at this issue from the software developers position in relation to their processes and procedures. To make the change requires at least a minimal set of informal tests. Was there a procedure for code/peer review? Even in an informal setting with several peers and domain experts maybe the flaw could've been spotted. It literally was a typo that was the problem. At the least, was there a procedure to conduct unit tests on the change? Perhaps a unit test could've caught the flaw early exposing the unit under testing as not performing correctly. A set of procedures for the developers would've been helpful in spotting the problem.

Finally, focus should fall on the system test group. Risk was taken to not test any of the software, because running a full set of qualification tests was time consuming. Still, could they have developed a reduced set of tests to ensure that the change would not produce any bugs? They knew the functional area affected, they could've run a smaller set of tests specifically focused on that small requirements which were affected. Did they have sufficient tests for that functional area or was the bug the type where the code changes in one part of the program and wholly unrelated piece fails? Sometimes the a small set of tests would not uncover the bug, and the full complement of qualification test is needed to discover it.

In summary, the problem with the DSC software could be traced back to problems with the policies and procedures that were in place. They were lacking, because it allowed them to assume the risk that an insignificant change to their software would not produce any anamolies. DSC neither planned for the change, reviewed the change, nor adequately tested the change. It was not just the lack of test time that did them in, but a lack of focus on policies and procedures that would've helped them focus on delivering a quality product.

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A simply amazing tale of an Austrailian fellow who came dangerously close to spontaneous combustion.

When it's winter, I know I am going to generate some static electicity. And it will suck to touch door knobs. Yet, this has to take the cake.

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Saturday, September 17, 2005
My friend, Wyman (check the links on the right!), is helping put together the DC APA Film Festival. If you like film, and want it served with Asian style, check it out. It runs in Ocotober mainly at the AFI Silver Theatre. I like the looks of the last night.

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Dreams. Man, I wish they could be real. But I guess that's why they're dreams.

Tossing and turning this morning. I had one that was so life-like it was not even funny, and like the majority of them I wish it were real.

It starts in a physics class in the University of Miami. I am taking it with the girl who's become an icon to me, I. She is the first girl I have had a crush on, and probably the first girl who retruned the feelings back. She drives plenty of my feelings on what a girl should be like. She was smart, the smartest in grade school. She wore glasses. She was blonde, blue eyed. I was able to talk to her. We were friends throughout grade school. I often wonder where she is now. I think this dream comes from the depths of my psyche looking for her...

First day of class, I am amazed that after 20 years we end up in the same class. She does as well. I try to act cool and not think about the implications. Class is taught. I get the first homework assignment. I finish it up.

Next class is a movie presentation or at least looks like it will be one because the seats are like a movie theatre. She sits in front. I sit down next to her perusing my homework smiling at her. The professor comes in and gets ready to lecture. I., she turns my way and we converse. Small talk. Inane banter. Yet, out of the blue she says, "What happened between us?" She was referring to a point in grade school where I liked her, she knew I liked her, but I never had the balls to express that to her. Plus, she also had a feeling there, too. Like a moment, which passed, and we both never made the connection. Perhaps, I was in the friend zone...

"What happened between us?" I go cold at those words. They were why I sat next to her. I wanted to make the move, and yet, she says them. I don't remember what I said but they were to the effect that I don't know. She goes onto say that we had something. That there could've been a there there. Then she explains her end, "Kimmie, (one of her grade school girlfriends) said you weren't interested in me. She said to move on."

My heart breaks upon hearing this. The feelings I had for her come swelling to the surface. I am speechless. She did like me! At the time, I should've said something! It could've been...

The professor begins his lecture.

I say with anticipation, "Can we talk about this after class?" She nods. We listen to the lecture. The class poses and answers some questions. I look at her and she at me. I think of everything I want to say. I can't wait for the class to end to find out the big reason why we never were.

I wake up wishing for the answer. It has been 20 years since I have seen I. I occasionalyl have dreams of her. I would like to know how she is doing. I wish that we would meet cute. I think that that too is a dream.

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Thursday, September 15, 2005
Sarah Vowell is coming to Baltimore! October 6! And it's a Thursday! Who's up for it? Dare I even get tickets to the special early reception? One can only dream.

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Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Transporter 2. Not as bad as it would've been. It was the best comedy of the fall. Unfortunately it wasn't supposed to be. There were a lot of unbelievable things happening in this movie. And you've seen them all in the commercial. Except for the way he disarmed a bomb with a hook, a wooden bridge, and an Audi. If you saw Diamonds Are Forever you'll know the stunt.

Jason Statham is being considered as the new Bond. That would not be such a good idea. He should be the new Seagal.

3 of 5 stars.

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In September school starts. This semester I am only taking one class, CS780 Software Reliability and Testing. I'll be posting some notes about the class and some homework here. Join in the discussion to help me get an A.

First up is an assignment about DSC Communication Corp. and problems with telephony code.

Notes on the paper, "Testing Time Cut on Software Linked to Phone Outages." Balt. Sun , Leslie Cauley:

  • They took the risk that they didn't need to test the changes. What risk management did they have in place? What processes and procedures allowed them to accept the changes?

  • Would the changes have been caught in the first place? Did they have tests to catch this type of problem? Did they have regression testing? Would their test plan have caught this issue?

  • It was rather costly issue: 200 engineers on a bug hung!

  • How old is the system in use?

  • There was a mention of the regulation of the industry prevented them from acting quickly to identify the problem. Why is that an issue? Can't the Bells ask for better testing from their suppliers? Insist on it in their contracts?


Links to more information:

  1. comp.risks digest forum post about the root cause.

  2. A Google Search for any information about this problem.

  3. More about the liability issues facing the company.

  4. More about the problem



If you have any help, please post it in comments.

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Sunday, September 11, 2005
The latest DVD that I bought was the full run of Undeclared. It's another TV show on DVD that I like. I found it hilarious. Seth Rogan rocks. It is seventeen 30 minute episodes of hilarity.

Unfortunately, I can't see the last three. The third DVD of the set doesn't load on my DVD player or TiBook. I think the DVD is blank. I get error 13! How do you exchange these things anyhow? O well.

I recommend the show highly. It would've been the second TV show DVD that I watched all episodes of. Following in the grand tradition of News Radio.

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Apple this week introduced the iPod Nano. I, again, don't know why I wan't one of these. I just do. Especially, in black. So Darth Vader like it's scary.

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Thursday, September 08, 2005
I am really getting lazy with my movie reviews. Here's a quick roound up of the last few I saw.

40 Year Old Virgin - 3 of 5 stars. Could've been 20 minutes shorter seems to be the running complaint this summer. Don't see it with your mom. Even if you've been laid it will make you feel like your the titular character.

The Constant Gardner - 3 of 5 stars. A challenging movie for the summer. First, the accents where somewhat hard to decipher that it made it hard to catch some of the plot points. Are they speaking in English?

Red Eye - 3 of 5 stars. Sweet 90 minute movie! Not enough of Rachel McAdams running. The script writes itself -- See these people. They'll be part of the plot soon. Yadda. Yadda. Yadda.

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Wednesday, September 07, 2005
A couple months ago, there was a dustup between Nike Skateboarding and Minor Threat over the former appropriating the image from the seminal Minor Threat album cover for their summer tour. I really want to go on a rant about this, but don't have the time to. I think that Jason Kottke was right in calling it an homage.

I remember about 15 years ago that the rage in skateboarding graphics was copying a well known logo and transforming it into a skateboard manufacturer logo. The best was the NBA logo of red, white and blue lay up guy transformed into a skater doing a kickflip. These were all tweaking of the establishment. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

I remember about 20 years ago that my favorite pair of skate shoes were the black and red Air Jordans. Still the best after all these years. Nike was a part of skate culture a long way back. I can still recall a cover of Thrasher with Jesse Martinez kicking out a big judo air in a pair of Air Jordan's.

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Saturday, September 03, 2005
We get visitors. Comment spam!

As The Jerk put it, "This is the kind of spontaneous publicity I need. My name in print. That really makes somebody. Things are going to start happening to me now." A non-News Radio quote in News Radio quote month!

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Thursday, September 01, 2005
I whole-heartedly agree with Professor Delong, impeach President Bush. Impeach him now.

The incompetency of this administration knows no bounds.

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I am saddened by the events befalling the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. I wish it would not have happened like this. I remember coming into South Florida after Hurricane Andrew. The place never looked so strange.

Yet, the devestation showing on TV is out of this world. Katrina was a Cat 4 and it would seem that it should not have wreaked as much destruction as the Cat 5 Andrew. Yet, here it is almost a week after it has hit and it looks as if the end of the world has arrived there. I can't imagine facing this.

New Orleans is gone. She won't recover for years if not decades.

My heart and thoughts go out to those affected by this.

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Because it's September. The happiest, bestest month of the year. Also, it's Newa Radio quote month.

Enjoy.

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Gas prices are high.

I was driving in to work and was at 320 miles since my last fill up last friday. I did a lot of driving the last few days running errands and picking people up that I burned gas quicker than normal. So last night I planned to get gas hopefully to avoid the cost adjustment because of Hurricane Katrina.

Well, as I drove in this morning I saw at one station in Chase, $3.18 for premium and $2.99 for regular. I decided then and there to not wait until after work but to fill up now. You see, when I usually wait, by the time I get to the gas station in the afternoon, the price has changed by 10 cents.

So, I stopped at my favorite cheap gas, the Exxon by work. Filled up 12.440 gallons of premium (damn turbo!) for about $35.00 at $2.89 a gallon. I think I saved a few dollars.

Leaving work in the afternoon, there was a line to get in to the Exxon, and it was $3.20 for premium.

Rediculous!

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