Why is everything so difficult?
Why doesn't Microsoft nmake understand += notation?
Why do the builds have to be made with a system for which documentation is so difficult to find?
Why is documentation always so difficult to find?
Why does every server have to have their own local password database? Is it really too risky to authenticate users from NIS, Kerberos, NT domain, ActiveDirectory, LDAP or something like that? Does the IT department really have nothing better to do than c

I have this pet personal project that proceeds very, very slowly: I am writing a MUD in Python and I call it PyMUD. (Ok, I know it is a lame name and I will try to invent a better one.) Today a landmark event occurred: It is now possible to log in the MUD server and execute one command! This first command was 'look', which describes the location where the player is currently located.

My employer, a data security company, is laying off people and on the same day the largest bank in Finland is closing 20% of its offices because their computers are so infested with msblast that they keep rebooting and preventing doing any work.

When will people wise up and realize they need a firewall if there is a network cable attached to the PC?

But tomorrow they probably think that it will never happen again and forget about it... until the next time.

My employer decided to keep their head above the waterline and trim the R&D to do that. 16 people had to go. (Out of about 200.) Luckily my number wasn't up this time. But with the economy in the state it is in, who knows how many people they trim next time. The trouble is, I really would hate to leave the company. I've had some fun and learned a lot. And although I am a seasoned professional programmer, I do not think finding a new job would be easy.

It took longer than I thought but in the end I did it. I have turned to the dark side, sold my soul to the devil: I replaced Linux with Windows XP in my home PC.

To soften the blow to my Linux-loving mates and to convince them that I'm still a nice guy, I'd like to offer some words of explanation.

Spyro 4 came out some time ago and I'm goign to give it to my daughter for Christmas present. I wonder what else to give her. I wouldn't like to give too many presents so that she doesn't grow up to become a spoiled brat. I have seen the kids of my friends and relatives be absolutely overwhelmed by the number of presents they get on Xmas eve. They just cannot focus and enjoy any one of the presents. They would like to do that and start playing with a new toy but the parents are always saying