“No it isnt, yes it is”

Sirius Satellite Radio: Monty Python Radio, a 24/7 limited-run channel devoted to, and hosted by, the iconic British comedy troupe, takes over Laugh USA from Friday, October 16 through Sunday October 25. Launching the day after the stars receive a lifetime achievement award from The British Academy of Film and Television Arts at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City, the channel will run for ten full days on SIRIUS Ch. 105 and XM Ch. 151 featuring classic Python sketches, skits and, songs; fans calling in with requests; fans and celebrities telling favorite sketches and Python memories; and various members of the original Python troupe reminiscing and talking of new projects.

Tune in to a special limited engagement channel to hear classic Monty Python sketches, skits and songs from the Flying Circus television show and classic Python albums including Holy Grail, Contractual Obligation Album and Matching Tie & Handkerchief.

Did you ever get engrossed in a project and you keep getting phone calls with people that want to chit chat.  Ugh! “I’ve got work to do”.

Theme song: Little Village – Dont bug me when I’m working:

iPhone Bandwidth Hog – (“Jump on a wireless connection” – SF WiFi)

While AT&T and Apple have remained silent on the absence of tethering and MMS with the iPhone, a new report provides insight on the effect an influx of bandwidth-heavy mobile users have had on the wireless network.

Digging into customer dissatisfaction with the AT&T network, The New York Times revealed that the carrier has struggled to keep up with demand as iPhone owners use more and more bandwidth. The report suggests that AT&T’s reputation could be tarnished because, for some users, its network is unable to keep up with demand. The bandwidth issues have led to delays of tethering and multimedia messaging, much-anticipated features for iPhone users.

“The result is dropped calls, spotty service, delayed text and voice messages and glacial download speeds as AT&T’s cellular network strains to meet the demand,” the report, which compared the device to a gas-guzzling Hummer, states. “Another result is outraged customers.”

The average iPhone user reportedly consumes 10 times the bandwidth of a typical smartphone user, but that is expected to change in the near future. The growth of the iPhone and its impact on the AT&T network has even led to lawsuits. As other mobile devices emulate the iPhone and also use more network capacity, the problem is expected to grow on all networks, not just AT&T.

Even John Donovan, chief technology officer for AT&T, admitted his company’s struggles. “It’s been a challenging year for us,” he told the Times.

But in the face of demand, AT&T plans to spend $18 billion this year to upgrade and expand its 3G network. And the company has no plans to cap data use, whether solely through the phone or via tethering with a computer.

AT&T announced Wednesday that it had improved its 3G coverage in metro New York and New Jersey. The company expects to roll out nationwide improvements with HSPA 7.2 technology, with the upgrade to be completed in 2011. And 1,900 new cell towers are planned for construction in the U.S. this year as well. But expansion isn’t so simple.

“As fast as AT&T wants to go, many cities require lengthy filing processes to erect new cell towers,” the report states. “Even after towers are installed, it can take several months for software upgrades to begin operating at faster speeds.”

Many analysts believe that when Apple’s exclusive contract with AT&T expires in 2010, the handset maker will offer the iPhone on other carriers. The most obvious jump would be to Verizon, the largest carrier in the U.S., ahead of No. 2 AT&T.

Fromt the Apple Insider
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/09/03/bandwidth_guzzling_iphone_called_hummer_of_cellphones.html

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While checking the network at an SF WiFi client we were pleased to see the uptime on one of their access points.  

272 days uptime. That is nice.

10th annual System Administrator Appreciation Day

A sysadmin unpacked the server for this website from its box, installed an operating system, patched it for security, made sure the power and air conditioning was working in the server room, monitored it for stability, set up the software, and kept backups in case anything went wrong. All to serve this webpage.

A sysadmin installed the routers, laid the cables, configured the networks, set up the firewalls, and watched and guided the traffic for each hop of the network that runs over copper, fiber optic glass, and even the air itself to bring the Internet to your computer. All to make sure the webpage found its way from the server to your computer.

Thank your sysadmin

http://www.sysadminday.com/