Eat Your Own Dogfood (reheated)

Actor Lorne Greene used to flack the dogfood Alpo on TV, saying "it's so good I feed it to my own dogs." It gained currency during the dot-com craze, and the phrase is still used most commonly in technology companies. I believe it is one of the central tenets of quality assurance (as opposed to QA's subdiscipline, testing).

"Eating your own dog food" means that you use the software you create, or play the games you make. In other businesses, you might actually eat the food you serve, watch the TV shows you make, or use the product you manufacture. This can be taken to extremes, of course, as in the Not Invented Here syndrome, where you not only eat your own dogfood, but you also won't touch anyone else's [1].

Ben Hamper, writing about life as a shoprat at General Motors in his book Rivethead, tells how anyone foolish enough to drive a foreign car into the employee parking lot would find their car keyed, tagged with spray paint, mirrors ripped off, and possibly rammed by a one-ton pickup. That is an extreme punishment for not eating your own dogfood.

Why should you eat your own dogfood? You actually get to know the product you are making. By knowing it, you may get some ideas about how to increase its goodness. In the case of games and software, problems, bugs and deficencies become apparent often only after extended use by a variety of people. Eating your own dogfood shows you believe in your own product. If you work at a brewery, a game company, or bakery, it probably works pretty well for you, if you manufacture cod liver oil, syrup of ipecac, chastity belts, or experimental aircraft. . .not so much.

[1] "Not Invented Here," describes a company that will use nothing developed by "outsiders." In many cases companies don't know a solution already exists. But even more often, the organization believes they can produce a superior product. Apple Computer, from System 1 through OS9 did not include many U.I. innovations (from, say, Windows) because they were not accounted for in Apple's human interface guidelines (a great document, by the way).

Apple rejected any change they did not invent...which, of course, ignores the fact that Apple cribbed most of this stuff from innovations at PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) in the first place. In the open source world, at any time, there are several groups working on different projects that all do the same thing.

Large corporations like Microsoft reject all use of open source software...because they feel the source sharing requirements are too onerous. Therefore they must come up with all these tools in house, no matter how much it costs and no matter how poorly the tool emulates what is already available for free.
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Deja Vu: nostalgia for today

"Strangely enough, this is the past that somebody in the future is longing to go back to."

- Ashleigh Brilliant
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It seems like "Death Of A President" has been a tempest in a teapot

. . .click the poster to enlarge. . .

I thought this film would erupt into some sort of overblown controversy. But, hey, it's just a movie after all, and now that the Republicans have slipped into their "Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" mode, well, I guess we all have bigger fish to fry--on both sides of the aisle!

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Painting: self portrait number 23

click to enlarge
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Lyrics: Joni Mitchell's Amelia

Here are the lyrics to my current favorite Joni tune. . .from Hejira, which includes other amazing songs like Coyote, and Furry Sings The Blues. This vaguely sad and wistful tune addresses Amelia Earhart, drawing images and emotions from altitude and flight.


Amelia
by Joni Mitchell

I was driving across the burning desert
When I spotted six jet planes
Leaving six white vapor trails across the bleak terrain
It was the hexagram of the heavens
It was the strings of my guitar
Amelia, it was just a false alarm

The drone of flying engines
Is a song so wild and blue
It scrambles time and seasons if it gets thru to you
Then your life becomes a travelogue
Of picture-post-card-charms
Amelia, it was just a false alarm

People will tell you where theyve gone
Theyll tell you where to go
But till you get there yourself you never really know
Where some have found their paradise
Others just come to harm
Oh amelia, it was just a false alarm

I wish that he was here tonight
Its so hard to obey
His sad request of me to kindly stay away
So this is how I hide the hurt
As the road leads cursed and charmed
I tell amelia, it was just a false alarm

A ghost of aviation
She was swallowed by the sky
Or by the sea, like me she had a dream to fly
Like icarus ascending
On beautiful foolish arms
Amelia, it was just a false alarm

Maybe Ive never really loved
I guess that is the truth
Ive spent my whole life in clouds at icy altitude
And looking down on everything
I crashed into his arms
Amelia, it was just a false alarm

I pulled into the cactus tree motel
To shower off the dust
And I slept on the strange pillows of my wanderlust
I dreamed of 747s
Over geometric farms
Dreams, amelia, dreams and false alarms
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GM Pat Williams Could Be Talking About The G.O.P.'s November Prospects

Pat Williams, Orlando Magic general manager, talks, in 1992, about his team's 7-27 record:



"We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. As general manager, I just can't figure out where else to play."
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12 Days To Election Day: Vote Democrat & Throw The Bums Out!

click to enlarge
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Democrats

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Check out the Scar Stuff Blog

Jason, of the Scar Stuff Blog has a fantastic blog, where he largely seems to rip and scan strange vinyl Long Players from the days of yore. Great listening and reading! Thank you Jason!


A recent sound file is a "Two Headed Monster Devouring Raw Flesh." This blog is really cranking now, in the run-up to Halloween, and is well worth a look and a listen. . .
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Sign: Big Dick's Halfway Inn

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G.O.P. Candidate John Spencer leaks "butt-ugly" before photos of Senator Clinton

Hillary Rodham - "Before" and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton - "After"

John Spencer, former Yonkers Mayor and Senator Hillary Clinton's Republican opponent for a U.S. Senate seat, is embroiled in controversy after he claimed on Monday that Hillary Clinton was ugly, and that she "underwent millions of dollars of "work" and "looks good now."



"You ever see a picture of her back then?," Spencer said, "Whew. I don't know why Bill married her."


Republican Candidate John Spencer

Spencer denied making these statements to New York Daily News reporter Ben Smith: "I would never call Hillary Clinton ugly. That's outrageous. I didn't do it." Despite Spencer's denial, an anonymous Spencer staffer later leaked "before and after" photographs of the Senator. The staffer was unable to provide a provenance for the purported before photograph.

Smith told the Associated Press that Spencer made the comments as Spencer, his wife and Smith sat together on an airline flight. Candidate Spencer is trailing far behind the Senator in every recent poll.
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Shades Of The Enumclaw Beastiality Case-- A Spanaway, Wash. Man Is Accused Of Having Sex With A Pit Bull

A local (to Seattle) man has been busted for having sex with the family pit bull. Unfortunately for Michael Patrick McPhail, of Spanaway, Wash., this state recently made beastiality illegal under a new animal cruelty law. It's not only illegal, but a felony. You may recall the earlier series of articles in All This Is That on the now notorious Enunclaw horse sex case:

Further ruminations on Enumclaw
Horsin' around: update on Enumclaw
Another shocking revelation
Beastiality in south King County
The final horse/beastiality update
Enumclaw Story To Become A Movie

Michael Patrick McPhail pleaded not guilty Thursday to one count of first-degree animal cruelty in Pierce County Superior Court. The Prosecutor, Karen Watson said that McPhail was the first person in Pierce County to be charged with the new bestiality offense. McPhail posted $20,000 bail on Friday and Judge Katherine Stolz has set a trial date for Dec. 11.

McPhail's wife told police she found her husband on their back porch Wednesday night performing intercourse with their 4-year-old female pit bull terrier, a Pierce County sheriff's office report said. The dog was squealing and crying, according to the official complaint. The wife took photos with her cell phone and called the sheriff.

You have to feel for Mrs. McPhail. . .I mean it's one thing if your hubby is playing hide the salami with a co-worker. A pit bull? That takes it to a new level, doesn't it?
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Music in Austin, Texas this week

On our visit to Austin, Keelin and I met some great folks, ate good food, and, of course, heard some great music.

The first night, we ate barbecue at Ruby's near the university, and watched a fantastic thunder and rainstorm from the covered patio. As we we walked toward our hotel, looking for a cab, we stumbled onto a nice dive and one of the oldest music bars in Austin---the Hole In The Wall on Guadalupe. We were lucky enough to catch part of Roger Wallace's set. He played solo--just him, his guitar and cowboy hat. The songs were all impressive, and I was especially moved by one that detailed the last 1/2 hour of a convict's life before they sprung the trap door. It details the horror of execution in a rollicking, and sometimes funny tune that propels you toward the climax of what we sometimes call a necktie party.

Billy Block, on Western Beat Radio in Nashville said: "Roger Wallace stands hat and shoulders above the throng of ‘would-be’ Texas country stars emerging from the Lone Star State."

His web site (link above) includes a series of very interesting rants on music, politics, and social issues...



On Thursday, we were able to score tickets just before Dwight Yoakam's show at the Stubb's BBQ amphitheatre. Amphitheatre may be a bit grand sounding. It is a raked dirt lot with a big covered stage and about ten bars and barbecue stands. The theatre holds about 1,500 people (standing, ala Seattle's showbox, etc.). Dwight was riveting and played over two hours--new stuff, old stuff, tributes to Merle and Buck and the Bakersfield sound. He was often funny and his voice was in fine fettle. The band included some facile multi-instrumentalists--the piano player doubled on harmony, organ, percussion, accordian and banjo. The guitar player doubled on mandolin. The bass player switched between an electric and string bass. The audience was a fascinating mix of honky tonkers, college students, tourists like us, music fans, and traditional C & W folk in full regalia. The one thing most had in common was an abiding and deep thirst for Lone Star Beer and Shiner's Bock.

I'd always liked Yoakam's voice and music (and weird character actor parts in movies). I hadn't realized how good the music is--a melange of the Bakersfield sound with the best of honky tonk, bluegrass, roots music, and even a whiff of rockabilly. He covered a few Buck Owens tunes, a Bonnie Owens tune (who died recently), Queen's "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," and a Presley tune or two.



On Friday, we went out with Mark Yeend to Guero's for some of their fantastic margaritas (and Mexican food in their restaurant) and to hear the Sisters Morales play in the great outdoor venue I always like to hit when I am in Austin. I've never seen a bad show there, or had a bad margarita.

The Sisters were fine players and singers, and their band rocked. One of the sisters looked like she is about to have a baby tomorrow. David Spencer is one of the tastiest guitarists I have ever heard live. Other people agree: "David Spencer is one of Texas' finest guitar players." He scores high in polls of top electric guitar players. And we just stumbled onto them. Spencer also plays pedal steel guitar, a moving and fluid slide guitar, and he some sweet mariachi leads on acoustic.

If you ever have the chance, go to this wonderful town ("The live music capitol of the world"), where you'll encounter good music, drink, and food, but especially the Texas friendliness and hospitality you always hear about. That friendliness permeates everything you do and everyone you meet.
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More of the same of ca-ca from Karl Rove and The White House

Republicans have threatened to crank up their act against Democrats in the final two weeks of the fall campaign, and the somewhat resurrected head storm trooper, Karl Rove gave a little preview on Friday of what they have in mind.

Stumping for the struggling Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (R-N.Y.), Karl Rove ripped into Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), and took a potshot at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and asserted that Democratic policies would leave the country weaker.


"You can't say I want to win the war but not be willing to fight the war," said Rove, Bush's head political honcho. If the Democrats win, he said "our nation will be weaker and the enemies of our nation will be stronger. " In essence Rove said "stay the course." How's that working for you Karl?
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Sting has rocked his last

Take it with however many grains of salt you wish, but Sting recently blasted all contemporary rock music as so stagnant that he prefers to sing 16th century English ballads.

The former teacher who shot to fame as lead singer, bassist and songwriter in the 1970s and 80s for The Police told German newspaper Die Zeit that he prefers singing songs of Elizabethan lutenist and composer John Dowland to the rock music of today. Please. I don't see how someone who played, wrote, and sang his last decent song in 1980 is in a position to hurl brickats. I have to guess that no one in the modern rock scene is either to choked up, or too surprised to know Sting now prefers the music of Shakespeare's contemporaries.

Maybe the "adult contemporary" crowd is buying this demented gibberish, but I doubt it. I think all that tantric sex has somehow caused a dangerous blowback into his cerebral cortex.

Jack, sore from last week's hip dislocation, but on the mend, in Austin, Texas,
Where rock and roll is very alive & well
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