Tag Archives: Joyent

The Twitter Diaries: Dec 7-30, 2010

Getting set to video stream #nodecamp next Tuesday, so that those who can’t be here in person can attend online. Details soon. #
@NomdeB Everything old is new again – including, perhaps, us. #
Friday evening, time to rock out… Italian style – Lucio Battisti – Dieci Ragazze  #

@rod11 We should do a Google earth mashup showing all the criss-crossing paths of the flying Joyeurs. #
Excellent food and company at lunch, with intense discussion about documentation, training, and video (which Mary was very patient about). #
The Twitter Diaries: Nov 14-Dec 7, 2010 – been a helluva month (or less) #
Cowgirl Creamery:

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(Milan tram in San Francisco) #


Okay, I finally broke down: I’m listening – on purpose – to Christmas music. Boney M Christmas Party??? Ah, I know who that came from… #
@smugmug Thanks for the new upload progress bars – exactly what I wanted. #
Budding Joyeur: #


My duaghter is writing again. Nice to wake up to something of hers to read. (Only in Italian, for now.) #
Very busy week starts now, but happy busy. #
testing out video streaming. Why has UStream UI has changed since last time used a month ago? Do I have the new new or old new version? #
Built-in isight under fluorescent light = not the way I really want to be seen live. #
Node.js Camp tomorrow  will be streamed live, watch my Tweets for updates and details #NodeCamp #
@jordanbrock @jasonh @justinfrench only if we all get to work there 2 months a year. At least. #
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Node.js Camp on USTREAM will be live tomorrow from 9 am Pacific Time at http://bit.ly/gTWlMD #
Women walk around SF in shoes I could barely stand up in #
@francoislaberge yes Tuesday, thanks! #
gettin’ ready to do that thang: Node.js Camp – preparation | Flickr – Photo Sharing! #
Node.js Camp on USTREAM will be live TODAY from 9 am Pacific Time at http://bit.ly/gTWlMD – #
Dear SF: enough with the last-second forced turn lanes. I cannot know every block of this city by heart. #
testing the node.js camp stream at http://bit.ly/gTWlMD – someone wanna jump in and tell me how the sound is? #
testing Twitter feed from UStream #nodecamp (live at http://ustre.am/rrb1) #
@craigmorgan How ’bout now? #
@sgharms Thank Emily, our amazing organizer, and her team of orange-shirted elves. #nodecamp #joyent #
@befreax Thanks! Great people, wicked cool projects – all the good parts of my former life at Sun, with the addition of a bright future. #
Note on the #nodecamp video stream http://bit.ly/gTWlMD – the UStream chat DOES work. They must have changed the port they use – yay! #
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@sveisvei Sorry to hear you’re ill. We’ll do our best to keep the stream up and running, and it’s also being recorded. #NodeCamp #
@iammerrick What music would you like? #nodecamp #
@craigmorgan I think I have at least six different languages on my iPod at any given time. #
About to get started here… #
Tom Hughes-Croucher giving opening remarks and instructions at Node.js Camp on USTREAM http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 #
Ryan Dahl LIVE at Node.js Camp on USTREAM http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 #
@franklywatson Join us on the stream! http://bit.ly/gTWlMD #nodecamp #
@mahemoff we’ll see if killing the first row of lights helps #nodecamp #
Geek humor – my favorite kind. And this is live, collaborative comedy http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 #
> 190 viewers on the stream at Node.js Camp on USTREAM http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 #
Next up on Node.js Camp on Workshop 1: Routingwith Guillermo Rauch http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 #
Next up on Node.js Camp Workshop 2: Game Client with Tim Caswell http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 #
@robtsuk #nodecamp Watching the stream on http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 ? #
Dang, guess I’m not eligible for the raffle. #
Starting up again soon with Workshop 3: Socket.IO http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 #
Node.js Camp started again – time to write some code! http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 #
@tomcoates That was cited in Pinker’s The Blank Slate, as I recall. #
@tomcoates At the least, bad peers and bad management can restrain you from being awesome. #
RT @daithi44: Some beer and #nodecamp streaming live, considering it a virtual night out. – you had to mention beer… #
For those who will want to catch up later, UStream captures from Node.js Camp near the bottom of the page on http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 #
@UstreamHelpers You guys are not coming out of this smelling like a rose. HELP #
Coming up: Datagrams with Paul Querna #nodecamp http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 #
…a UDP based chat? #
coming up: Workshop 5: Deployment #nodecamp http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 #
Node.js Camp demos! http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 #
@RafaelCorrales you’re welcome #NodeCamp #
Demoing a chat client with Twitter, FB supprt – coded today at Node.js Camp http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 #
Demoing Kinect with Node.js http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 #
WANT! #
RT @ryanspaulding: #nodecamp was awesome! I hope they do it again next year. – Maybe sooner! #
Demoing a distributed object system written with Node.js http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 #
Wow, a lot of really cool stuff going by very fast. #
UStream captures from yesterday’s Node.js Camp here: http://bit.ly/f4FTd9 – in reverse chron order. #
Rossella Nel Mondo racconti di una vagabonda Italoamericana  #
RT @Boh: @DeirdreS molto carino il post sul vizio:) – Sarei tentatia di dire Tale madre… ma ha un talento tutto suo. #
@riccardo_iommi Grazie! Magari lasciala un commento – non ci e’ ancora abituata (tutte le risposte finora su FacciaLibro). #
Not only is she writing again, she’s damned funny. I wish she’d translate into English the comedian #
@jamesaduncan may be useful: Favorite Restaurants, in Italy and Elsewhere #
Fa la la la la…  #


@rbanffy Thanks – that was extremely timely for me. #
Bay Area Riak Meetup on USTREAM: http://www.meetup.com/San-Francisco-Riak-Meetup/calendar/15661426/. http://bit.ly/ebRZNa #
Ah, beer. That’s what was needed. #
Tom Hughes-Croucher speaking on Riak and Node.js at Bay Area Riak Meetup on USTREAM http://bit.ly/ebRZNa #
@NomdeB I think that’s true of all male-female couples. How come men get built-in heaters? Is that why we keep them around? #
For the second time this week: if you can’t come to the geek, I’m bringing the geek to you. #
Note to those in the room: sorry, unexplaied equipment failure makes me really bitchy. Especially on an empty stomach. #
Node.js is awesome, like a unicorn riding a narwhal #
…yes, he has a graphic for that. #
Filmed Ryan last Friday, filmed Nodecamp all of Tuesday, filming Tom now. Cd prob start writing node.js myself now. NB: I’m not an engineer! #
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RT @NomdeB: @deirdreS – recognize this place (redone now of course, Hostel)  – Remind me why we needed a new gym at all? #


@NomdeB There are treadmills?!? That’s just silly. #
Hey, who can recommend a really good Mexican restaurant in San Francisco? #
@pijewski Nice restaurant, thanks. #
We’re all getting Bs & Cs. Their children are getting As. And we’re doing their homework. #
@bubbva We’re trying out one that @pijewski recommended, very close to home – will let you know! Already had roasted mussels for lunch #
@izs Drunk Amazoning? Could be very dangerous. #
Jesus told us to love the poor and help the needy without condition; we just don’t wanna do it.  #
@jasonh Welcome back. #
.@ebertchicago When I heard that Mastroianni died (never met him, but lived in Italy at the time), I felt sad that I hadn’t had his child. #
@bubbva which is a good tonic? #
If your faith is so shakeable that you have to pretend entire volumes of science & history don’t exist, is that faith? #
Question on Italian Surnames – does anyone know the origins of the name Galassi ? #
I’m good. I just don’t believe I’ll be rewarded for it in heaven. My reward is knowing I try to do the right thing #
@adamsbaldwin @qwijyboman Nationalized health care paid via taxes, just like military, police, fire depts, schools… not hard to grok. #
@alaindebotton Wow, really? Sorry kind of friendship. I have several friends orders of magnitude more successful than I. Still friends. #
Sleep. Would be a really good thing. #
RT @jimpick: Worse yet, the doc stuck a camera probe thing deep into there. – Been there, done that, a lot. #
@bklein34 Could be worse. She could be learning the violin. Or is she? #
Filming geek porn.  #


@pfuetz We haven’t forgotten our roots, nor are we likely to. #
Festive breakfast at my desk #

oh, phew – it’s only Tuesday. Lost a day in there somewhere. #
Damn, thought this was a song for sysadmins: Backin Up Song  #


@bcantrill: DeirdrÈ has shot more video than a veteran pornographer. – I’ll be sure to put that on my resume. 😉 #
@PaulFranz Almost only gifts bought this year were for a family in need whom I don’t even know. I am free of the tyranny of forced giving. #
@pborenstein A chocolate cherry croissant with a dusting of – surely not real – gold. #
I find my courage where I can, but I take my weapons from science. Because they work, bitches. xkcd: Sickness  #


@alaindebotton Or because we just like people. #
Had one of those nightmares that’s hard to shake, being still groggy with sleep isn’t helping. Coffee, shower… #
RT @saraford: Am i the only person that liked TRON? -> a lot of people I know did, haven’t seen it myself yet. Have a lot of movies to catch #
Venchi Italian Chocolate Giveaway Ms. Adventures in Italy http://bit.ly/hUQveW #
@rattay I’ve seen a lot of relatively young men in Italy who just shave their heads bald when their hair starts to go. #
there’s a huge difference between making a case for your religious views, and getting offended that some disagree #
@rattay How about needing a drink for the holidays ? #justsayin #
@creepyed LOL. That would be my ex futon? Which was already someone else’s before me? I can vouch that it’s comfy #furniture #sellingstuff #
Stuff to do over the holiday: play w Joyent’s new Canon D7, play at learning Python. Don’t laugh too hard at latter – expert advice on tap. #
@derik66 I think I’ve got a headstart on node.js from ~8 hours of filming about it. Something’s gotta sink in. #
@jasonh Excuse me, you left Texas out of that list of top universities. 😉 #
My personal blog is languishing again – which means I am once again using most of my brain cells on my day job. #
Oh, drat, we’re coming to the end of a decade. The media can be twice as lazy, with 10-year as well as 1-year recaps . Bored already. #
Spent 3+ yrs learning Sun tech, now find myself in the situation that Dtrace/analytics are my comfort zone, & its time to learn new stuff. #
It is delightfully relaxing to know that all those last minute gift ideas have absolutely no relevance to me. I’ll buy some gifts – after. #
If someone held a Winter Solstice Parade, how much do you wanna bet there’d a be a Reason for the Season float? #
My grandparents were Elks #


People keep asking if I miss Italy. Don’t need to.  #

@jlb13 all I really knew about it was bingo #

I want the giant lite brite!  #

@johnnysunshine Italy was home in some sense for 17 years, but my true home, if I have one, is a Himalayan hill station called Mussoorie. #
Holidays are when I traditionally go to the cinema. Who’s up for Harry Potter or Narnia? Sita Sings the Blues, probably Sunday. #
After massage and lunch, should I vacuum, go get packages, or … I think nap is winning. #
RT @stevel: Behold my army of cuteness. http://twitpic.com/3iug5l @NomdeB needs to see this. #
We braved Costco, @jeffreytaylor and I, to bring home the goodies for tomorrow night’s dinner. Now I’m done in for the day. #
Not gonna make it to a movie tonight after all. Body wants to sleep. #
RT @mtuckerb: Blog Post: The Relationship Paradox -> beautiful #
@HumanityCritic That’s usually a very dangerous situation for the man. #
I have found my tribe: The Christmas Resistance Movement!  #
When you’re unhappy, you get to pay a lot of attention to yourself. And you get to take yourself oh so very seriously.  #
Scrooge with title art by Ronald Searle. Cool. Plus I like the songs. #
@johnnysunshine buy whatever toy will most annoy the parents 😉 #
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@vdotw no, friend’s kitty I’m visiting for Christmas eve dinner #
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Tested whether I could type normally on a friend’s iPad. ~Yes. Could use one for communications while laptop processes video. Hmm. #
You know you work for a startup when your boss catches you online on Christmas day to discuss work – and you don’t mind. #
…really glad I’m staying home today, pouring rain in SF. Now if only I had a fireplace to loll in front of… #
It would be nice if health coverage wasn’t so damned confusing, even more if I wasn’t convinced it’s intentionally so. #
Damn, this is a lot of camera. And it’s ages since i used any kind of SLR seriously. Anyone have pointers to good tutorial sites/videos? #
Apparently I am supposed to feel like a loser because I spent Christmas alone and didn’t have a mound of gifts. Actually feel… peaceful. #
@iamjoeanybody Thanks, no one in particular said so, it’s just easy to infer from all the marketing, carols, etc. #
…and, now that the crush is over, I will actually enjoy shopping for gifts for a few special people. I shop better without pressure. #
Oh, did buy a gift of @smugmug for my daughter. Will upgrade to pro when she gets it organized – her work is defiinitely good enough to sell #
@thepartycow Good heavens, already? Seems like only yesterday he was just an ultrasound. Congratulations! #
.@anildash We need to just reschedule all this holiday stuff away from the WORST time of year to travel in the northern hemisphere. #
The Illuminated Heart (photo)  #
My New Job #
@wastedcarbon What is that? A baby spaceship? Looks like the control helm of the Enterprise. #
Going out soon to the RED VIC MOVIE HOUSE to see Sita Sings the Blues on the big screen  – thanks to @ninapaley #
RT @deirdresm: @DeirdreS You picked a great company. 🙂 -> Thanks, I think so, too! #
@Roam2Rome Ah, but some of us are tumbleweeds. #
The US is the rich country with the most skewed income distribution. Income Inequality and the Superstar Effect #
@Schlomo What sort of books? #
Too tired to cook, picking up lamb saag at Chaat Cafe. Must learn to sleep. #
@pelegri Felt like coming home. 😉 #
RT @badnima: Firefly vs Mad Men -> But only one has Captain Tightpants. @NathanFillion #
How many of these t-shirts do you have? (Joyent employees have an unfair advantage here, of course.)  #


@jasonh: there’s a couple missing there -> then they’re also missing from our new wall display. #
YouTube – Leonard Cohen – Ain’t No Cure For Love (watch in HQ) http://bit.ly/hVcCGd #
Oh, no, I am not getting into the t-shirt supply business again! However, I believe we do give out t-shirts rather freely at Joyent events. #
View through my apartment windows in a rainstorm… it’s a bit like living in a fish tank.  #


I think I just fell in love… with a camera. #
@lderezinski It’s a newly-decorated wall in the SF office. To be fair, no one claimed that this was the comprehensive collection. #
Canon 7D Test: Traffic at Night Through a Rainy Window #
@jasonh I hope Jeff Bonwick has one of those #
Having my name in the credits of Sita Sings the Blues does not get me into IMDB. Drat. #
@davetong Stewart has long reminded me of Spinrad’s decades-old book, Bug Jack Barron. He has great power; he’s using it well. #
People seem to enjoy explaining things to me. This is a huge asset in my work (and I enjoy the learning, too). #
@khaybee Beautamous! #

My New Job

^ top: Ben Rockwood, Deirdré Straughan, Brendan Gregg

I received email from a concerned reader saying: “when a writer stops writing, one of two things is happening:

— you’re blissfully happy, too happy to attempt to put it into words

— you’re utterly miserable, too miserable to find the energy to put it into words”

As I told him, it’s been both. Between health problems and a job/company that were (increasingly clearly) not a good fit for me, I was not in a happy place for quite a while. I returned to work at Oracle in early November after ~5 weeks’ medical leave, but desperately wanted a change.

That change came on December 1st: I began a new job with Joyent, a company which several Sun luminaries (far more luminous than myself) had joined over the previous months. I’m not an engineer, but when big names in Solaris engineering such as Bryan Cantrill, Jerry Jelinek, and Brendan Gregg all head to the same company, it’s time to take a look at what that company might be up to. There were other companies worth looking at for the same reason (and I did), but Joyent won out.

What Joyent does is cloud computing, a buzzword that I suspect even the non-technies among my readers have heard by now. Wikipedia describes it thus: “Cloud computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared servers provide resources, software, and data to computers and other devices on demand, as with the electricity grid. Cloud computing is a natural evolution of the widespread adoption of virtualization, Service-oriented architecture and utility computing“.

Joyent has been offering cloud computing as a service for over five years: some of your favorite Facebook games run on Joyent infrastructure. But recently Joyent has begun partnering with companies such as Dell to sell our cloud software with their hardware to third parties who want to run data centers and/or sell their own cloud services.

Where do I fit into this? As the new Director of Technical Education, it’s my job to help customers at every level – from end users to service providers to systems integrator partners – learn how to use our stuff. Which means getting highly technical information out of my colleagues and putting it into a format that can be shared with other people: a familiar theme in my working life.

I’ll still be using video, but in this job I will also be designing and likely even personally delivering technical courses, in the classroom as well as via video. This is a return to the early days of my high-tech career, when I designed and taught custom courses in desktop publishing, then installed and trained people to use desktop publishing systems for the World Bank in Cameroon and Tanzania.

As a working environment, Joyent is as different from Oracle as you can get. It’s grown from 22 to 100 employees this year (thanks to some investment, in particular from Intel) and there’s still way too much work for everyone to do. The attitude is very much that things need to get done, and “it’s better to seek forgiveness than ask permission” – which, as old Sun hands know, was once Sun head Scott McNealy‘s mantra. Those who have worked with me or observed me working know that I thrive in this kind of environment, though I’m having to unlearn some Oracle conditioning (amazing what a company can do to you in only nine months).

I was sad to leave my Sun colleagues (those who hadn’t already left themselves), though of course I was rejoining some. I spent Thanksgiving weekend editing The Faces of Sun, a video tribute to some (though nowhere near all) of the amazing people I got to work with and film at Sun.

Since I started at Joyent I’ve been extremely busy (startup hours), and expect that to continue and increase, including some travel. I probably won’t have a lot of time for my site/blog; the best way to keep up with my daily doings will be Twitter @deirdres

Warmest wishes for whatever holiday you celebrate and for a wonderful 2011!

see also: Illumos in the Cloud: What is Joyent Up to?