Greenhat hacking?

Suddenly, It’s Cool to Take the Bus.  From Business Week:
After Microsoft (MSFT) rolled out a new shuttle-bus service last fall, employees immediately howled for more routes. The plush, Wi-Fi-equipped coaches have become so wildly popular—strategy chief Craig Mundie is a big fan—that when word leaked recently that Microsoft was adding to the service, a [...]

Stages, Honolulu

We had the tasting menu with half the table going with the wine paring.  At $65 for the food and a bump of something like $30 for the wine, this was a good deal.  We went during a promo (2 for 1), so even better.  Way better than Barefoot Bistro in Whistler, and a solid [...]

Check this out…

Cool photo from Halema’uma’u.  Source HVO

Bonterra Mendocino County Chardonnay 2006

Medium oak - medium length finish.  Citrus, zingy - with plenty of acid.  Maybe too much acid, which makes this a food wine, not something that can be sipped by itself.  Needs something to take that edge off.  But with a cream sauce or something in that range this should work well.  A bit surprised [...]

These make our 3kw array look microscopic

World’s 13 biggest photo voltaic arrays 
One question: why a top 13 list?  Isn’t 13 an “unlucky” number? 
Other than triskaidekaphobia, this is pretty impressive.  Quick Google research leads to this figure: world-wide PV installations: 2,826 MW in 2007, up from 1,744 MW in 2008.  Meaning that these installations represent a huge addition to the [...]

Why is this a big deal?

‘Provider-in-the-Middle Attacks’ Put Major Websites, Users at Risk.  The DNS monkey in the middle attack is not exactly news.  As usual, if you do not control your network, bad things can happen.  While this is a bit more complex than the really old days and DSNIFF, but it is the same thing: re-direct a query [...]

Grownup Mac & Cheese

Start with cooking the macaroni.  Put the pot on the heat, salt the water, and let it go to a boil.  We’re going to cook 8 oz of macaroni for 4 servings.  more below the fold

Borsao Tres Pecos Grenacha 2006

This Spanish Grenache, according to the label, is from old vines Grenache grapes, so the vines are at least 30 years old.  Cherry red, aromatic.  Fine tannins with a long finish.  It has the bright Grenache flavors - cherry, blackberry, raspberry - but more complex and concentrated due to the old vines.  Rich like a [...]

What I’ve read…

Roving Mars : Spirit, Opportunity, and the Exploration of the Red Planet by Steve Squyres.  This is a great book for anyone that has an interest in the Mars Exploration Rovers.  Written by the PI, Steven Squyres, this tells the story of the the Mars Exporation Rovers (MER) Spirit and Opportunity from the very glimmer [...]

Teira Sonoma County Zinfandel 2005

Black cherry, smooth, and balanced, not as huge as other zinfandels — some zinfandels can be really huge, alcoholic, and tannic — this has more finesse.  Good black fruit, medium in body and velvet tannins.  Spicy, back pepper, blackberries.  Not as concentrated or jammy as some zinfandels.  Earthy on the nose. 
So, if you like [...]