Fork us on Github!

https://github.com/asarazan/Narwhalingus-EP

After finishing up recording of our album, we decided that it would be the greatest thing ever to release it under a Creative Commons license, and see what the world could do with it.

As such, The Narwhalingus EP: the debut effort by the Bristol 7′s (oh those cheeky lads), is now available for download on Github, containing both the final mixes, and the individual tracks– all in STUNNING 320kbps MP3 format (come on, it’s a free github account– what do you expect!?).

So please, Fork the repo, sing some harmony, steal my guitar solo, or add a Trance beat. Whatever you want to do, just tell us about it, so we can hear what’s become of our baby!

–Aaron

P.S.

Also available on Soundcloud

 

Gingerbread goes further down the Native Rabbit Hole

I’m really glad to see that they’re starting to seriously broaden the NDK in Android– as that whole Java thing was really kind of a drag, and making it a pain to port from iPhone and other C-based devices. I’m still not sure what the status is on STL support though– I guess it’s possible to get some hacked third-party implementations working.

Either way, the fact that they spend the first 1/3 of this video on NDK tells me that they’re realizing how incredibly important it is to have code compatibility with iOS.  Lets also not forget the fact that the future of Dalvik Java is somewhat in question thanks to a certain evil DB company. It is very possible that Google is hedging, in the (imo unlikely) case that they are actually forced to move away from Java on Android (And yes, ‘DB’ can mean two very different things in the above context).

via [Android and Me]

A List of Free Programming EBooks!

So the great Christian Arca just tweeted about an absolutely lovely thread over at StackOverflow with a great list of freely-available ebooks on programming. It really is anything and everything you could want, especially if you don’t want to shell out the bux (though I still recommend grabbing a cheap copy of Effective C++ on the interwebz somewhere, I got mine for $8).

There are THIS many books in the list.

 

Anyway, I think I’ll start perusing some x86 Assembly and some Advanced BASH. Haven’t played with those in awhile (and I’ve always been nothing less than woefully inadequate when it comes to assembly). I also need to reignite my quest to dive deeper into web stuff. Been too buried in native/local lately.

…Ooh! Scheme book by old man Dybvig– reminds me of college. And holy crap they’ve even got Maven guides!

Don’t thank me, thank [StackOverflow]

Never-ending green beans!

We got this bag like, a year ago and it still hasn’t run dry!

…Well, other than the freezer burn, that is. Either way, there’s always something at least a little healthy in the house….

Some Good News

Figured after all the time I’ve spent railing against unaccountable, disinterested corporations lately, I’d relate some good news, even if it isn’t mine.

A few days ago, my dad dropped his Kindle while going through airport security, breaking the screen. Pretty depressing situation, considering he had just recently purchased the thing.

Well it seems that Nissan could learn a couple lessons from Amazon– as they are now overnighting him a brand-new replacement, free of charge. He didn’t need to escalate the case to a manager, or beg and plead, nothing. He simply told a low-level CSR that he had dropped the kindle, and the CSR authorized a replacement.

Thanks Amazon, you guys rock! (Sorry Nissan, you’re still pretty useless)

…and we wonder why the auto industry is in so much trouble.

Under No Obligation

Heard back from Nissan today.

I was sitting in the Chili’s at the Chicago-O’Hare airport when I got a call from a man named Luis. It was in response to my letter to the VP of Parts and Service. The general tone sounded somewhat promising at first, but gradually slid on a determined spiral into the inevitable rejection.

It was the part where he started going on about ‘obligation’ that really got to me though:

“Well I understand sir, and I sympathize– during the warranty period, Nissan is under obligation to correct such situations, but once the warranty has run out, Nissan is under no oblig–”

That’s when I cut him the fuck off. This is not about Obligation, nor has it ever been, as far as I’m concerned. This is about doing what’s right for your fucking customer, and I thought I’d been very clear on that point from the start. For God’s sake, a second-grader could figure out that Nissan doesn’t have to do jack shit to help me out. The warranty ran out. Case Closed.

This is about doing what’s right for your customer and about instilling a sense of trust into the person that’s about to hand over $10-20,000 to you. The fact that he used the “O-Word” twice  in one sentence told me everything I needed to know. I told him I’d obviously made a mistake and thanked him for his time. That’s that.

…anybody want to buy a ‘gently-used’ Nissan?

Almost hit (twice) on my way home.

It was fucking ridiculous. The guy just COULD NOT wait to get around me on Aviation Blvd, so he tries to zoom past right before the lane ends. There’s definitely a bit of ice on the roads, but I guess he thought he was just goddamn invincible in his bigshot quasi-SUV with AWD.

Either way, just as I was mouthing “you… fucking… idiot”, he loses control right in front of me and slides into the oncoming lane, he goes all the way 360, and tries desperately to get back over, while the oncoming car glides slowly into his front corner. CRUNCH.

Luckily all involved parties were able to slow down enough so that it was a pretty minor incident. Either way. You’re a moron dude.

Also some guy tried to turn DIRECTLY into my lane less than a mile from my house. It is very difficult to swerve out of the way quickly when there’s ice on the roads, but I managed it.

That is all.

–

EDIT: Okay I lied, that’s not actually all; It is worth mentioning that I-40 was remarkably well-behaved. Everybody putzed along at a reasonable speed, no congestion, no accidents. Plenty of cars littering the ditch though– Maybe they served as an effective enough caution to other would-be daredevils?

All your favorite windows apps in one place

Ninite is freakin awesome. I will shamelessly declare that I am only posting this here because I know I’ll forget the URL next time I do a clean install.

We Made It Onto Gizmodo!

CLICK HERE

So our demo app that we developed for Raytheon just got a nod over at Gizmodo!

I MADE THAT

Pretty awesome to see something you had such a huge hand in get mentioned on a huge-ass blog like Gizmodo.

An Open Letter to Nissan’s VP of Total Customer Satisfaction

Let me know what you think, gents!

–

Aaron Sarazan

xxx Jones Ferry Rd

Carrboro, NC 27510

December 06, 2009

[To Whom it May Concern]

[Sr. VP of Total Customer Satisfaction]

[Nissan]

[Somewhere in California]

[California]

C.A. Case #6661255 — Complete Engine Replacement in ’04 Sentra

Greetings. In late 2003 I purchased the first brand-new car of my life. Our family have always been Nissan owners. From the Stanza that lasted us fifteen years, to the brand-new Altima and Murano that my parents have purchased over this past year; we’ve always felt that we could rely on Nissan products to be there when we needed them– especially when money was short.

Not long ago, it became apparent to me that my 2004 Sentra Spec-V was losing almost all of its oil between each 3,000-mile service. Upon some research, it became apparent to me that this was most-likely a well-known issue regarding the catalytic converter, and that it could lead to the need for complete engine replacement.

It is at this point that I took my car to Michael Jordan Nissan in Durham, NC and spoke to service manager Mark Padfield. He informed me that the engine would indeed require replacement, and that there was nothing they could do to help me, short of a $4900.00 full engine replacement. He did, however, recommend I speak to consumer affairs, and that he would do what he could in consulting with them.

A few days ago, Consumer Affairs returned my call, and once again informed me that there was nothing they could do. A mere five years after purchasing a brand new Nissan automobile, I was on my own with a car that I would barely be able to give away, due to its massive defect. The complete destruction of $20,000 in five-years’ time is a difficult pill to swallow, especially at a time when layoffs are happening all around, and steady income could be lost at the drop of a hat.

I realize that Nissan, as a company, is a very reputable organization, and is generally a very good bet for the auto-buyer. I’ve heard excellent things from other Nissan owners, and I’d love to continue supporting the company that I grew up with (My father was even a Datsun/Nissan mechanic in his younger days). Even the mere existence of a “VP of Total Customer Satisfaction” is evidence that Nissan takes these matters seriously, which is why I felt I had to write to you.

You’re no-doubt aware that, according to numerous studies and statistics, it costs 7x as much money to recruit a new customer, as it does to maintain an existing one. As it stands, I am still an “existing Nissan customer”. But this is my last resort. If it truly comes to pass that I am left in the cold with no reliable automobile after a mere five years’ ownership, then I can no longer with good conscience (or good faith) give my patronage to Nissan Corporation.

I am sure you’re aware of just how competitive the market is these days, and of the leaps in hybrid/electric technology being made all around us. I would hope that a customer of my age and purchasing potential (25 year-old computer engineer) would be a commodity that your company cannot afford to lose. (As an aside, I am absolutely ecstatic to test drive the Nissan Leaf when it hits the market in the U.S.).

Thank you for your consideration in this issue

and I greatly anticipate your prompt reply,

Aaron Sarazan
aaron@xxxxxx.xxx
317-626-xxxx

P.S. — My VIN # is xxxxxxxxxx and you can reach Michael Jordan Nissan at (919)-489-3800