Liberal Rhetoric Manufacturer

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Yesterday, UC Berkeley posted a news article on its Berkeley News icon-external-link-12x12 website titled Berkeley Law dean: I signed letter against Kavanaugh ‘without hesitation’ icon-external-link-12x12. This occurred around the same time that the FBI reported that it had failed to substantiate claims of sexual assault/misconduct made against Judge Brett Kavanaugh, claims which were an attempt to interfere with and possibly derail his appointment to a lifetime seat on the supreme court.

Berkeley News graphic of article "Berkeley Law dean: I signed letter against Kavanaugh 'without hesitation'". [Formatted]

It’s hard to see how this is news. In fact, the only thing that’s even remotely remarkable about it is that somebody felt like this was news. A UC Berkeley law dean publicly stating her opposition to a republican supreme court appointee is like a stoner proclaiming to the world his profound affinity for Krispy Kreme donuts icon-external-link-12x12 icon-search-12x12—it’s just a declaration of the obvious and is silly and unnecessary.

It would be like if I posted a press release on ChadSpace with any of the following headlines:

  • Blogger Chad Philip Johnson finally updates site after almost two full months of preoccupation
  • Engineer at Anacronist Software espouses Linux and Open Source technologies
  • General Manager of Redding Ringtails announces team will play baseball and have fun next season
  • Progressive music aficionado Chad Philip Johnson buys new album “The Wake” by heavy metal band Voivod, hurts neck

You know what would be news? If a UC Berkeley law dean publicly stated her support for a republican supreme court judge nominee (and to be fair, let’s say it’s one with a less questionable history of hard drinking and reckless partying). It is impossible that this would ever happen though. Or if it somehow did happen, this make-believe person would certainly not be working at the university for much longer.

Antiphony, Entry 5: I Am Not One of These People

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From: "Patrick Williams"
Subject: Dear trust worthy individual
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2018 12:55:19 -0400

Greetings,

I know you will be surprised to get this my email. [I might be, I'm not sure yet. Honestly, I need your help to make this decision.] Apart from being surprised you may be hesitant to reply based on what is happening in the world of the internet. [Is this why they call it "The Interwebz"?] One has to be very careful due to the amount of scammers that are out there looking to take advantage of innocent citizens. [I hate scammers! Hooray for innocent citizens like me!!] However, I am not one of these people. [No, of course not---you had me at "greetings."] My name is Capt. Patrick Williams [hello Captain!] and I was a member of the US ARMY medical team deployed to Iraq and then later transferred to Afghanistan. [Thank you for serving our country!]

I am looking for a trust worthy individual who will assist me in receiving some funds for me. [I can definitely do this. How much are we talking? Five million? Six million? Gold bullion, I hope.] I am requesting this individual to hold onto the cash until I arrive safely back to retrieve them. [I won't let you down!]

As soon as I hear back I will work out the finer details. [Here is my social security number: 555-12-3456. What else do you need?]

Best Regards
Captain Patrick Williams [Thank you Captain, sir! I can't wait to start working with you!]

Electric Eyes Are Everywhere

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Human Nature icon-external-link-12x12 icon-search-12x12 (track 07 from the Thriller LP by Michael Jackson icon-external-link-12x12 icon-search-12x12 )

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album art. [Formatted]

Looking out across the nighttime, the city winks a sleepless eye
I hear her voice shake my window with sweet seducing sighs

Get me out into the nighttime
Four walls won’t hold me tonight
If this town is just an apple then let me take a bite

If they say “Why?” tell them that it’s human nature
“Why does he do me that way?”

Reaching out to touch a stranger
Electric eyes are everywhere
See that girl, she knows I’m watching
She likes the way I stare

If they say “Why?” tell them that it’s human nature
“Why does he do me that way?”
“I like living this way”
“I like loving this way”

Looking out across the morning, the city’s heart begins to beat
Reaching out, I touch her shoulder
I’m dreaming of the street

If they say “Why?” tell them that it’s human nature
“Why does he do me that way?”

If they say “Why?” tell them that it’s human nature
“Why does he do me that way?”
“I like living this way”

A Rather Sharp Distinction Between Administration and Software Development

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Excerpt from the book Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook icon-external-link-12x12 icon-search-12x12 by Evi Nemeth icon-external-link-12x12 icon-search-12x12, Garth Snyder icon-external-link-12x12 icon-search-12x12, Trent R. Hein icon-external-link-12x12 icon-search-12x12, and Ben Whaley icon-external-link-12x12 icon-search-12x12

Book cove for "Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook" by Nemeth et al. [Formatted]

The Wikipedia page for “system administrator” includes a nice discussion of the tasks that system administration is generally thought to include. This page currently draws a rather sharp distinction between administration and software development, but in our experience, professional administrators spend much of their time writing scripts. That doesn’t make system administrators developers per se, but it does mean that they need many of the same analytical and architectural skills.