A 10+ year old SPARCStation 20 had been our primary login database server for at least 6 years. Until our recent datacenter move, it had been running without reboot for nearly 4 years. And that reboot wasn't even the server's fault (an electrician at the datacenter managed to take out the circuit.) At the end, there was a real reluctance to shut it down, but we had to move it.

Back in the office, I reverently carried the machine down the hall to Warren (pictured) as I played "Ave Maria." I think I teared up ...

Just for kicks, here's a blurb from a SPARCSation 20 press release:

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.- October 31, 1995 - Continuing its drive to provide power desktop users with the best value in the industry, Sun Microsystems Computer Company today announced the fastest multiprocessor and uniprocessor systems in the company's popular SPARCstation™ 20 family of high-performance workstations.

The new desktops sport a powerful 150 MHz SPARC™ processor with 512 Kilobytes of cache and provide a 30 percent performance improvement over current SPARCstation 20 systems. The multiprocessor SPARCstation 20 model 152MP features two 150 MHz SPARC processors. The new SPARCstation 20 TurboGX™ model 151 uses a single 150 MHz SPARC processor.

» Tag: SUN

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Published: (2006-01-06 14:06:07.0)

While looking for a suitable Madness album cover, I came across this 404 message. What a great start to my Friday! Dude.

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Published: (2006-01-06 09:41:16.0)

It's Friday, so time for a little levity. Oh and make it danceable. Then may I suggest "Our House" from Madness?

Madness was a playful ska band of the 80's, prone to bouts of irreverence. Which was great because that sort of behavior was sorely needed back then. Most bands were spending all their effort making serious artsy videos (usually they failed), and Madness just let it all go and had a great time doing it. Their Angus Young parody in the video for "Our House" still makes me laugh.

Too bad I missed out on "Our House: The Madness Musical." I would have loved to have seen that. Well, at least there is a tribute band!

"Father wears his Sunday best
Mother's tired she needs a rest
The kids are playing up downstairs
Sister's sighing in her sleep
Brother's got a date to keep
He can't hang around

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our ...

Our house it has a crowd
There's always something happening
And it's usually quite loud
Our mum she's so house-proud
Nothing ever slows her down
And a mess is not allowed

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our ...

Father gets up late for work
Mother has to iron his shirt
Then she sends the kids to school
Sees them off with a small kiss
She's the one they're going to miss
In lots of ways

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our ...

I remember way back then when everything was true and when
We would have such a very good time such a fine time
Such a happy time
And I remember how we'd play simply waste the day away
Then we'd say nothing would come between us two dreamers"

» Tag: Song of the day

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Published: (2006-01-06 09:26:12.0)