Workers assail Wal-Mart “lock-in” policy

Grok Headline matches for Workers assail Wal-Mart “lock-in” policy

Workers Assail Night Lock-Ins by
Wal-Mart

Workers Assail Night Lock-Ins by
Wal-Mart 01/17/2004 10:38 PM
For more than 15 years, the world's largest retailer has locked in overnight employees at many Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores.

“Everything looks like a
bl0g”

“Everything looks like a
bl0g” 06/11/2004 06:00 PM

A hallmark of good design is that it provides context and meaning for the work it's applied to. It enhances and emphasizes, and if necessary it distracts and obfuscates. Design is about visual communication and it's about enhancing written communication equally; not all text is designed, not all design is text.

Aaron on Wireless “Security”

Aaron on Wireless “Security” 12/31/2002 01:09 PM
Aaron Schwartz explains why I run an open access point in my apartment. All my systems are secure, so if someone wants to leach a bit of cable bandwidth off me, I'm fine with that. Sadly, people keep talking about...

Top 20 de definiciones sobre el
“Blogging”

Top 20 de definiciones sobre el
“Blogging” 12/11/2003 06:12 AM
20 definizioni di blog

marketingprofs.com/3/weil9.asp
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an article about so-called
“Darwinian literary
studies,”

an article about so-called
“Darwinian literary
studies,” 12/04/2003 05:00 AM
descubierto que a las mujeres les atraen ms los patanes .. For a Good Time, Well, Don€™t Call Dad

nytimes.com/2003/12/02/health/psychology/02CADS.html
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Read “Here’s The Beef”
from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Read “Here’s The Beef”
from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette 07/05/2004 04:42 AM
read his latest column

nwanews.com/adg/story_Editorial.php?storyid=69194
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Video of the boy band Townsend covering
“Pour Some Sugar On Me”

Video of the boy band Townsend covering
“Pour Some Sugar On Me” 08/27/2004 01:42 PM

ksjs.org/media/townsen.html
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“the FBI is warning police
nationwide to be alert for people
carrying almanacs.”

“the FBI is warning police
nationwide to be alert for people
carrying almanacs.” 12/30/2003 05:04 AM
people reading almanacs could possibly be considered terrorists? .. almanacs

sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2003/12/2 9/national1426EST0580.DTL&type=printable
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Bush’s State of the Union: Social
Security “Bankruptcy ?”

Bush’s State of the Union: Social
Security “Bankruptcy ?” 02/05/2005 09:55 PM
Dick Cheney's favorite web site .. exhausted and bankrupt

factcheck.org/article305m.html
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Putting out colo fires (literally!), aka
“A weekend of downtime”,
grrr.

Putting out colo fires (literally!), aka
“A weekend of downtime”,
grrr. 09/26/2004 05:04 PM

Ugh. What a horrible weekend. I and the team have been spending the entire weekend dealing with massive data corruption caused - of all things - by an electrical fire on the main electrical line coming into our colo here in San Francisco.

The colo fire has led to a cascade of failures that has caused the Technorati service to be down for most of the weekend. It's also giving me a lot more respect for people who build and maintain 100% uptime of services, the trials and tribulations they go through, and also the cost of being operationally excellent.

What Happened

At about 9:30PM PST Friday, there was an electrical fire on the power main inside our colocation center, where our entire server infrastructure is housed. This caused our battery backup power supplies to kick in, but the independent power generator at the colo never kicked in - possibly because the problem was a fire inside the building rather than a general power blackout of the neighborhood. Well, the fire was only problem #1. We weren't expecting or planning for an outage of that kind. It caused a cascade of other problems that made the rest of the weekend a huge PITA. Problem #2 was that we didn't have a good enough emergency plan in place that would shut our systems down cleanly when power ran out like that. Unfortunately, that meant that when the batteries died, our server farm went down quite ungracefully - causing problem #3, which was data corruption due to the unclean shutdown.

The rest of the weekend has been spent recovering from these failures - we've had to do consistency checks and then rebuilds of the data sets that got corrupted, and we're doing that for over a hundred machines. Bad bad bad. At least we've been performing regular daily backups, and we're able to use that as starting points on our road to recovery. The current ETA to get services back up and running is by Monday morning, which will mean a weekend of unplanned downtime.

What we're doing about it

Clearly, this is unacceptable, but the damage is already done, so the big question on my mind is how to learn from this outage and make sure that it never happens again. One of the important things learned is that there's a reason why some colocation centers are called “Tier 1” (and priced that way) and others are not. Tier 1 means that everything is overprovisioned, and there's plenty of infrastructure backup already built into the place - electrical, network, fire suppression, environmental, security, etc. We have been planning a move to a new colocation center, but this most recent incident just underscores the need to move asap. Second, it illustrates a hole we had in our emergency plan - we had built our emergency plan based on a threat level of a short outage followed by a quick electrical recovery. We had planned for a shutdown of critical systems if battery power fell below a certain threshold (upsd for you techies out there), but we hadn't gotten it implemented given that we were planning the move to the new colo. That of course, led to the data corruption that is keeping the team up all weekend.

Once we get past this crisis and get the service back up and running again, I guarantee that we'll be doing a post-mortem analysis to see where the failure points were, and how we can avoid them in the future. I have learned a lot from this experience about the value (and implicit cost) of planning and building systems around unreliable components, and doing everything you can to eliminate risk - and also about planning for quick recovery when the unthinkable happens. I have a lot of respect for the folks at Google, Yahoo, eBay, and the like for their ability to build and maintain a solid world-class infrastructure, have it scale, and also innovate with new applications as well.

Planning for Murphy's Law

Count me as one of the humbled. To our users and customers: Ouch this hurts, and we're working on making sure that outages like this never happen again. To the folks down in ops and engineering at companies around the globe keeping these systems running and useful, no matter what Murphy throws at you, you've got my appreciation.

I'll post as we have more updates on service status as the day progresses.

danah boyd’s “Revenge of the
User” presentation at the
O’Reilly emerging technology
conference

danah boyd’s “Revenge of the
User” presentation at the
O’Reilly emerging technology
conference 02/13/2004 07:16 AM

zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2004/02/11/my_etech_talk_revenge_of_ the_user.html#004027
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Understanding “Critical
Understanding”

Understanding “Critical
Understanding” 09/14/2004 04:21 PM

I suspected my point in "Crit ical Understanding" was buried in enough subtlety to warrant an explanation; here it is.

pt’s “How-To”
Tuesday…How to play purchased
music on other systems… -
Engadget - www.engadget.com

pt’s “How-To”
Tuesday…How to play purchased
music on other systems… -
Engadget - www.engadget.com 05/19/2004 09:00 PM
How to play purchased music on other systems€¦ .. How To Break iTunes DRM .. step-by-step

engadget.com/entry/2127813034623335
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Border Agents Assail Bush's Plan to
Bring in Guest Workers (Los Angeles
Times)

Border Agents Assail Bush's Plan to
Bring in Guest Workers (Los Angeles
Times) 01/23/2004 02:22 PM
Los Angeles Times - HOUSTON — U.S. Border Patrol agents, charged with enforcing the nation's border laws, are furious about President Bush's proposal to create a guest worker program for millions of illegal immigrants, union leaders say.

Wal-Mart Workers to Exchange Vows at
Work (AP)

Wal-Mart Workers to Exchange Vows at
Work (AP) 01/05/2005 07:07 PM
AP - Paula Alvarez and Dale Thompson knew their friends and fellow employees at Wal-Mart might not be able to attend their wedding because of work. "We decided to bring the wedding to them," Alvarez said.

Wal-Mart to Pay U.S. $11 Million in
Lawsuit on Immigrant Workers

Wal-Mart to Pay U.S. $11 Million in
Lawsuit on Immigrant Workers 03/19/2005 02:30 AM
The settlement grew out of enforcement actions in which janitors who were illegal immigrants were arrested at Wal-Marts.

Wal-Mart nastygrams an amateur,
Wal-Mart-themed bl0g

Wal-Mart nastygrams an amateur,
Wal-Mart-themed bl0g 04/05/2005 07:03 PM
Xeni Jardin: Kevin Brancato, who maintains the "Always Low Prices" blog about all things Walmartian, just received a cease-and-desist from Wal-Mart lawyers after more than a year of blogging on the subject. Oddly, it's one of few blogs known for generally favorable posts towards the company. Link

Senators Assail Request for Aid for
Military Operations

Senators Assail Request for Aid for
Military Operations 05/14/2004 12:11 AM
Lawmakers complained that the request to add $25 billion to pay for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan lacked specific details.

British Ex-Diplomats Assail Blair on
Mideast

British Ex-Diplomats Assail Blair on
Mideast 04/26/2004 11:17 PM
Fifty-two former British ambassadors and top officials criticized Prime Minister Tony Blair for backing Washington on the Mideast.

Democrats Assail Bush on Iraq, Laud
Kerry (AP)

Democrats Assail Bush on Iraq, Laud
Kerry (AP) 07/27/2004 11:07 PM
AP - Democrats assailed President Bush's handling of the Iraq war Tuesday night and painted a vivid portrait of John Kerry as a decorated war hero. "He earned his medals the old-fashioned way, by putting his life on the line," Teresa Heinz Kerry told the party's national convention.

Bloggers Assail Movable Type's New
Pricing Scheme

Bloggers Assail Movable Type's New
Pricing Scheme 05/14/2004 10:41 AM

"UPDATE: 'Trampled' Wal-Mart Shopper Has
History Of Injury Claims; Report: Woman
Has Filed 16 Previous Claims, 9 At
Wal-Mart Stores.."

"UPDATE: 'Trampled' Wal-Mart Shopper Has
History Of Injury Claims; Report: Woman
Has Filed 16 Previous Claims, 9 At
Wal-Mart Stores.." 12/05/2003 10:14 AM

UPDATE: 'Trampled' Wal-Mart Shopper Has
History Of Injury Claims; Report: Woman
Has Filed 16 Previous Claims, 9 At
Wal-Mart Stores

UPDATE: 'Trampled' Wal-Mart Shopper Has
History Of Injury Claims; Report: Woman
Has Filed 16 Previous Claims, 9 At
Wal-Mart Stores 12/05/2003 06:40 AM
a very unlucky shopper as this is the 16th time .. frequent faller .. Read article .. Dec. 4

local6.com/money/2683654/detail.html
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Wal Mart nastygrams a bl0g about Wal
Mart

Wal Mart nastygrams a bl0g about Wal
Mart 04/05/2005 04:48 PM
Xeni Jardin: Kevin Brancato, who maintains the "Always Low Prices" blog about all things Walmartian, just received a cease-and-desist from Wal-Mart lawyers after more than a year of blogging on the subject. Oddly, it's one of few blogs known for generally favorable posts towards the company. Always low IQs is more like it. Link

Slashdot | Bloggers Assail Movable
Type's New Pricing Scheme

Slashdot | Bloggers Assail Movable
Type's New Pricing Scheme 05/15/2004 05:52 AM
Dumb Slashdot thread on MT new pricing structure .. Bloggers Assail Movable Type's New Pricing Scheme .. whining about it .. Slashdoted .. Slashdot

developers.slashdot.org/developers/04/05/14/1314256.shtml?t id=149&tid=185&tid=99
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Talking Policy: An examination of public
dialogue in science and technology
policy

Talking Policy: An examination of public
dialogue in science and technology
policy 03/25/2005 12:12 PM
Rand Mar 25 2005 3:28PM GMT

CD-DVD Lock v1.8

CD-DVD Lock v1.8 02/12/2004 06:15 PM
CD-DVD Lock is intended for restricting read or write access to removable media devices such as CD, DVD, floppy and flash, as well as for restricting access to certain partitions of hard disk drives. CD-DVD Lock will allow you avoid many of headaches connected with unauthorized software installations from any removable media, and also prevent data leak by removable media. [Shareware $29.00 30 Days 800 KB]

Don't lock me in

Don't lock me in 01/16/2004 11:04 AM

There's no shortage of articles hyping the Google IPO and today the Washington Post contributes to the buzz machine with Google Fans Fill Web With Buzz Over IPO. Skimming through it, I came across a passage (on page 3) that struck me, though I've probably read the same sentiments a hundred times over the years. Regarding Google's competition, the Post writes,

Yahoo is counting on its roster of registered users and its portal status to give it the upper hand...Microsoft, having seen the rich margins available in search, has also decided to make a play there...In comparison with Microsoft and Yahoo, many analysts say, Google is at an inherent disadvantage because it has no locked-in users: It doesn't require people to pay or register for its services.

Shouldn't the goal be to have services people use, not because they're forced to, but because they want to? Though Google hasn't locked me in according to "analysts," I depend on them wholly for all kinds of things I do daily online, from spell-checking to news reading to basic old-fashioned searching, because they meet my needs. I have no interest in switching to some new improved Yahoo or Microsoft search unless Google fails me.

It seems to me that Google's on the right track, and the analysts are full of bunk. Focus on pleasing the users, give them what they want, and they'll stick with you. You don't need to trap them with registrations, you need to make it easy and pleasant for them to do what they want to do and then let them get on with their lives. It will only be when Google stops giving me what I want that I'd consider changing search engines. Happy users are loyal users, and that's all the lock-in you need.

Lock Cup

Lock Cup 07/12/2004 12:38 PM

You know, if your coworkers are so bad about stealing your coffee mug that you need a lock for it, perhaps you should 1) kill them, or 2) start putting your cup in your desk. But if you really need to be that one guy that just has to make a point about it, this Lock-Cup with a hole pluggable only by a special key is probably a good way to go about it, unless you work in a tracheotomy ward, then I'd probably just deal with it.
Read - design a key and what it opens [DesignBoom via I4U]

vp-usb-lock 0.1

vp-usb-lock 0.1 08/29/2004 12:28 PM
A Linux driver and PAM module for the USB wireless PC lock.

Lock down your SAN

Lock down your SAN 06/24/2005 03:23 PM
ZDNet Jun 23 2005 11:27PM GMT

Reading from the Bible on the floor of
the Senate on Tuesday, Sen. Orrin Hatch
endorsed a federal judicial nominee who
wrote that wives should have a
subordinate role in marriage, with the
Utah Republican emphasizing
“millions and millions of peopl

Reading from the Bible on the floor of
the Senate on Tuesday, Sen. Orrin Hatch
endorsed a federal judicial nominee who
wrote that wives should have a
subordinate role in marriage, with the
Utah Republican emphasizing
“millions and millions of peopl 07/09/2004 04:52 AM

166.70.44.66/2004/Jul/07072004/utah/181590.asp
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Digital Lock-Down (NPR)

Digital Lock-Down (NPR) 04/09/2004 04:12 PM
This is a near-transcript of a commentary of mine that ran on NPR's All Things Considered on April 5. You can listen to it via Real or Windows Media Player. (And please forgive my over-simplifications and overstatements.; I only had 3 minutes, which makes it tough to be subtle.) From the begining the Web has seemed like the Wild West. But now we're being told that it's actually a looting spree, with people smashing-and-grabbing all the music and movies and copyrighted text they can, for free. The irony is that thanks to Big Content companies such as the recording...

Lock-down CD scores No.1 hit

Lock-down CD scores No.1 hit 06/18/2004 04:55 AM
DRM-tastic!

The Pen Is Mightier Than the Lock

The Pen Is Mightier Than the Lock 09/17/2004 10:02 AM
The bicycle thieves of New York always seem to be one step ahead of lock makers, and this time they figured out how to open the common U-shaped lock with a ballpoint pen.

"Pint Lock"

"Pint Lock" 06/05/2005 11:45 PM

More Microsoft lock-in

More Microsoft lock-in 06/02/2004 11:18 PM
Windows Media Player 10 Technical Beta.

Microsoft released their technical beta of Windows Media Player 10 for download. The major features include a new interface, a built in online store (with choice of stores), an all in one smart jukebox as well as the most important item: enhanced device support. The enhanced device support includes Auto-Sync which "enables the seamless, automatic synchronization of music, video, and even recorded TV and photos to supported portable devices". It looks like you'll be able to map a hard drive or storage location like a PPC or Smartphone to Auto-Sync as well as transfer TV shows from the media center to a portable media center, we're not sure what is and isn't supported yet but we're going to check it out now.

[unmediated]

The real questions is - and speaking of Real - can this jukebox mix and match music from Napster, MusicMatch, Rhapsody, WalMart, etc?  How 'bout iTunes?

Is vendor lock-in bad?

Is vendor lock-in bad? 12/15/2002 02:28 AM
CNET Dec 15 2002 1:03AM ET

The pen is mightier than the lock.

The pen is mightier than the lock. 09/14/2004 01:11 PM
Use one of those heavy U-locks to secure your bike? You might want to t hink again. It seems the barrel style lock mechanisms some of them employ can be opened by a Bic pen [.mov movie].
Grok Description matches for Workers assail Wal-Mart “lock-in” policy
GrokA matches for Workers assail Wal-Mart “lock-in” policy

Workers assail Wal-Mart “lock-in” policy

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