I want to become a carpenter – and here’s my plan

I’ve thought about becoming a carpenter for as long as I can remember. The idea of crafting something out of a solid block of wood is enticing, and I’m pretty sure I’d excel, or even master carpentry given some time and practice. Unfortunately, I’ve worked in all things IT for about 25 years, so there are many things I should probably unlearn, and many things I have to learn. But I’ve got a plan, so I should be good! Here it is: Basics I will dedicate several weeks, possibly even a full month in getting to know the basics. I’m… Read MoreI want to become a carpenter – and here’s my plan »

I’m done with browser bookmarks

I originally started writing this post in early 2018, when I came to the realization I have no need for browser bookmarks anymore. It’s 2019 now, and I’m still in the same situation: I don’t use browser bookmarks. Do I still have bookmarks in my browser? No. I waited for a year, but they didn’t vanish. This weekend I exported all bookmarks from my browsers and stashed the resulting .html file somewhere (should I ever need any of the old links), and then swiftly deleted them from my browser. Watching Marie Kondo’s show on Netflix gave me the inspiration to… Read MoreI’m done with browser bookmarks »

Bye, Facebook (for now)

I have mixed feelings. Mostly I’m now less anxious and feel more peaceful. At the same time I feel I’m missing out on something I’m not completely sure what that is. I deactivated my Facebook account in early January. Timing wasn’t intentional, I just had enough time to reflect and consider how I want to invest my limited time and mental energy. Note, that I didn’t delete my account, but rather made the soft deletion, or deactivation. Apparently this removes me from all threads I’ve posted in. I simply disappear. The rationale behind this is to probably enforce me to feel I… Read MoreBye, Facebook (for now) »
Books

On writing books

I spent a few days during Christmas break to map out my 2019 – goals, dreams, hopes, ambitions and fears. I also read – a lot. Perhaps not enough to claim I’m an avid reader, but enough to make my Kindle sweat when I download more books from Amazon. I love reading ebooks, printed books as well as whitepapers that I sometimes print myself. I’m very bad with audiobooks, as I seem to like the act of reading too much. I’ve written  7, or maybe 8 books during my professional career. Admittedly, I should’ve and could’ve written thrice as many, but… Read MoreOn writing books »

Hello, iPhone! (and bye, Android)

I’ve used modern smartphones for a long time. I remember purchasing the first Nokia phone with a camera (the 7650) in mid-2002, and it was fabulous. The 0.3 megapixel images I was able to capture were grainy, but I was taking pictures with a phone, so who cared about the quality of the images! Most phones I owned between 2002 and 2010 were Nokia phones, with Symbian OS. I then spent a few years with all sorts of different Windows Phones – the Lumia 800 (in 2011), the HTC HD7 (2010), the Samsung Omnia 7 (also in 2010). It finally… Read MoreHello, iPhone! (and bye, Android) »

Building a simple and secure DNS updater for Azure DNS with PowerShell

(or: making life better by fixing one small issue at a time) I love designing and building solutions for my customers. Lately they’ve been more on the Microsoft Azure side, especially with serverless and security. The problems I encounter are interesting, require me to dive deep into certain aspects of the customer’s business domain and they enforce me to become a better professional. I truly think being able to work with cloud-based architectures is the best job on the planet right now. Then there are the times when I have a small but itching problem at home, that I really… Read MoreBuilding a simple and secure DNS updater for Azure DNS with PowerShell »

Managing your costs in Microsoft Azure with Sharegate’s Overcast

I started using Microsoft Azure in the very early days in 2008, when the whole idea with cloud computing was something very different than it is today. During recent years I’ve found myself working mostly with Azure-related architectures, deployments and governance projects as the platform has matured to fit any type of customer need. One recurring challenge I find many organizations facing is the shift from capital expenditures (CAPEX) to operational expenditures (OPEX). Traditional IT has always relied on a 12-36-month investment cycle, and one the decision for investment has been made, it’s mostly a sunken cost. Afterwards the cost… Read MoreManaging your costs in Microsoft Azure with Sharegate’s Overcast »

Thoughts on Microsoft ❤ GitHub announcement

By now, it is old news that Microsoft officially announced they will acquire GitHub for $7.5 billion. Rumors started swirling on Sunday, and as is often the case, they are more or less to the point. I’ve been following with interest the different takes on this deal. First, Slashdot. I regularly check the news on Slashdot, mostly for the commentary. Unfortunately many people still post as Anonymous Cowards, so you have to filter out a lot to get to the thought-provoking comments. There’s a petition to stop Microsoft in finalizing the deal (which presumably takes until the end of the… Read MoreThoughts on Microsoft ❤ GitHub announcement »

Thoughts on Always Connected PCs from the Microsoft and Qualcomm partnership

I’m attending Microsoft Build 2018 in Seattle this week, and it’s been an eye-opening 4 days to ingest, digest and hopefully apply everything I’ve learned here. It’s more about inspiration and mental notes on what I need to look into when I get back home, but this time I also took the opportunity to visit the expo area to learn beyond the regular breakout sessions. In one of the booths they had on display Windows 10 ARM PCs, for which the marketing name is Always Connected PCs. Initially I frowned with the name, because I come from a country that… Read MoreThoughts on Always Connected PCs from the Microsoft and Qualcomm partnership »

I feel bad for not paying for quality software – so I made a small donation

I’ve been using computers since I was 5. I’ve worked in IT more or less full time since I was 13. For all this time, I’ve used an endless amount of software written by people I’ve never met and whom I’ve never thanked properly. Windows, Office and the typical productivity software of course gets a yearly thank you note from me and my company in the form of different sorts of payments through the Microsoft Partner Network, but everything else I use does not. I was paying some bills last weekend and I figured I had some extra money left… Read MoreI feel bad for not paying for quality software – so I made a small donation »