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        Daily Chat >> General Posts >> Boston, you're doomed
        
(Message started by: fubar on Feb 5^th, 2008, 5:08pm)

Title: Boston, you're doomed
Post by fubar on Feb 5^th, 2008, 5:08pm

So, I've been a little quiet... thought I'd share some news...

I just joined a little startup company that is based in Boston. My terms of employment require that I move my happy ass to Boston before the end of this year. I figured 12 months warning should be fair... you have been warned.

So, Boston, as the saying goes... "You're wicked screwed"

I'll be there a lot this year before I move... in fact I'm there all next week.

For anyone who is curious... the company is actually pretty cool. We are building eco-friendly data centers. Our first buildings are in Iceland, so I'll be spending a lot of time *there* too. I am employee #2. Two venture funds are giving us a total of $150M to get this done... talk about pressure. This is the biggest project I've ever been part of (and I built AT&T Worldnet up from paper to a functional network).

CH is the same as it has always been, but I am stronger than ever. Can't wait to have some brews with the crew in Beantown.

Shawn

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by echo on Feb 5^th, 2008, 5:11pm

Congratulations Shawn.

At least you have time to make a smooth transition to Boston.

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Jonny on Feb 5^th, 2008, 5:14pm

FUCKENEH!!!!! [smiley=headbanger.gif]

Keep in mind that I make custom rail systems, bro.....if you have prints I can make it! ;)

Edit to add: You probably can get cheaper rails in Iceland....LOL [smiley=grin2.gif]

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by fubar on Feb 5^th, 2008, 5:26pm

Custom rails system sounds cool for the home pad... got pictures?

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Mosaicwench on Feb 5^th, 2008, 5:26pm

Ok - please elaborate. What is an "eco-friendly data center"?

My first thought was . . . a tree to sit under and take it all in?

God already makes those so you're screwed if that's what you're planning.

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by fubar on Feb 5^th, 2008, 5:40pm

A data center is a fancy building to house large numbers of computers and data storage. If you want to run a business like hotmail.com or slashdot.com, it takes a lot of computers and they have to be somewhere that has a lot of power, cooling and network. Almost every web site you ever visit lives in a data center somewhere.

Data centers currently consume 2 to 4 percent of all of the power generated in the USA. All of that power is generated using fossil fuels. Well, almost all. Don't nit pick.

The problem, as I see it, isn't about global warming. The problem is that the power it takes to run these huge data centers is priced based on a oil-based economy. This creates price instability in the power market, leading to huge fluctuations in costs for power, mostly spiraling upward.

Think about it, if your business costs are 95% based on your power bill, and that bill goes up 300% in a few short months... your business is screwed if you don't have the margins to cover the unanticipated costs.

Eco-friendly is another way of saying not-fossil-fuel-based. And that means no price fluctuations at all to worry about. Our data center in Iceland runs entirely on hydro-electric and geothermal power, with fixed price contracts for power that go beyond 20 years. So, while it is truly eco-friendly, it's really just a smart business thing to do.

Make sense?

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Jonny on Feb 5^th, 2008, 5:43pm

on 02/05/08 at 17:26:05, fubar wrote:

got pictures?

Do you got a loft?...LOL

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d734b3127cce9fbec63a8af300000016108AZM2bNk5bM6
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d734b3127cce9fbec63d0bc400000016108AZM2bNk5bM6

Need some glass rail?....LOL

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db03b3127cce9fbec600988b00000016108AZM2bNk5bM6
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db03b3127cce9fbec60c988700000016108AZM2bNk5bM6

How about some ramp rail?....LOL

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d625b3127cce9fbec6f9053e00000016108AZM2bNk5bM6
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d625b3127cce9fbec6e6841100000016108AZM2bNk5bM6

............................ ;)

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Melissa on Feb 5^th, 2008, 5:45pm

on 02/05/08 at 17:40:33, fubar wrote:

kewl

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by brewcrew on Feb 5^th, 2008, 6:21pm

You got a good first name for living in Boston.

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Kevin_M on Feb 5^th, 2008, 7:12pm

on 02/05/08 at 17:40:33, fubar wrote:

A data center is a fancy building to house large numbers of computers and data storage.

The last move my old employer (an airline) made before outsourcing and closing operations here was to move all the computer equipment to a nearby data center. Most likely coal-fired electricity though around here but supposed to be stabile. The a tech guy spent eight seconds explaining it to me in a rare moment of patience with a non-techie.
It seems to be a great idea, Shawn.

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by chewy on Feb 5^th, 2008, 7:19pm

Given any thought to where your going to live? House? Condo?

Boston housing is mucho bucks. Think suburbs.

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by fubar on Feb 5^th, 2008, 8:00pm

Good question, one I hope to figure out in the next 12 months.

I know I won't be buying anything soon. We'd like to rent somewhere and figure out if we like it before we buy.

It's the toughest part of the move, picking a location to live in.

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Linda_Howell on Feb 5^th, 2008, 8:02pm

Quote:

Boston housing is mucho bucks

I don't believe there is a more expensive place to live than where he's at right now in California.

But Shawn, this is going to be a culture shock to you hon.

The BIG DIG compared to So. Cal Freeway construction.
Gangs compared to Mafia.
Lobstah compared to sushi and kelp.
Frigid temps compared to balmy breezes and earthquakes.

And OMG.........the Kennedys!!!!!!!!

I will say prayers for you. ;)

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Jonny on Feb 5^th, 2008, 8:06pm

on 02/05/08 at 20:00:23, fubar wrote:

It's the toughest part of the move, picking a location to live in.

You want to be on the south shore near route 3, thats where I am and I can be on RT 3 in two minutes and in Boston in ten. (before the traffic)

Let me know if I can help at all. ;)

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Mosaicwench on Feb 5^th, 2008, 8:45pm

Fascinating technology, geothermal and hydro-electric.

We have friends with a geo-thermal home in Northern Wisconsin and I think they pay $500 max a year for heating and cooling and cooking. And their floors are always toasty warm. :)

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by BlueMeanie on Feb 5^th, 2008, 8:46pm

So are you involved in building the data centers, or the power production for the data centers ? Sounds interesting since my line of work is in both power production and keeping the data centers cool enough to prevent overheating.

I can see using alternative fuels in Iceland, but what methods will be used for the centers here in the US ? I used to work for a company that uses methane gas from landfills as alternative fuel. Cheap to make but costly to maintain.

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Paul98 on Feb 5^th, 2008, 8:55pm

on 02/05/08 at 17:26:27, Mosaicwench wrote:

Why do I picture Shawn bilding these contraptions:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc24b3127cceb49a6b58bf0b00000025100AZuWzdi0Ys2IA ;;D

-P.

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Charlie on Feb 5^th, 2008, 9:46pm

Sounds Great Shawn. Good luck and have a grinder and a tonic on me.

Interesting stuff too and we'll be bugging you for more info and pics of course. You do good work too Jonny. 8)

Iceland.....zounds. 8)

Charlie

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by chewy on Feb 6^th, 2008, 7:42am

Quote:

Lobstah compared to sushi and kelp

That right there should be motivation enough.

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by fubar on Feb 6^th, 2008, 1:33pm

on 02/05/08 at 20:02:00, Linda_Howell wrote:

I don't believe there is a more expensive place to live than where he's at right now in California.

Linda, it is expensive here, but I could find much more expensive places in California! I have to admit though, even the rents in Boston aren't as high as I see here, so this may actually be a great move for us. I am working down near Cambridge, and my wife and I have decided that a 2-3 bedroom apartment is plenty for us right now. Based on the few properties I've seen so far, I think we're going to be just fine.

Quote:

But Shawn, this is going to be a culture shock to you hon.

The BIG DIG compared to So. Cal Freeway construction.

There is no traffic here, no rush hour. I will miss living in such a beautiful place that has avoided the urban crush all this time.

I am no stranger to culture shock. I have lived in California (Pacific Beach, La Jolla, Coronado, Novato, Kentfield, Greenbrae, Eureka, South Lake Tahoe, Tracy, Grover Beach). For anyone who knows California, I just named at least 5 different countries that speak different languages and have vastly different social structures....but that's just California. I've also lived in Nevada and Ohio. Wanna talk culture shock?

Than I tried living in Tokyo, Japan. That was less culture shock than I ever thought it would be. I only stayed for 4 months, so I can't call it living there, but it was an education. I was my first time out of the United States.

After that, I moved to England. Windsor, exactly. I worked in Slough... that 1-stop train ride was a lesson in culture shock all by itself. Windsor and Slough are 1 mile apart on the map, but they are at opposite ends of the spectrum in England.

And, I also lived in Germany for a while. Just north of Munich is a little berg called Ingolstadt. What a beautiful place... but also quite a culture shock. If anyone here ever gets a chance to take a job in Germany... take it. It seems like every other day is a holiday or day off of some kind. They take their leisure time very seriously. So do I.

Quote:

Gangs compared to Mafia.

We have gangs here. The central coast of California has a lot of gang problems. Are the 'mafia' problems as real as our gang problems? I mean, how does it show up on the radar? Here, we see news about gang issues every night. Is it the same with mafia issues?

Quote:

Lobstah compared to sushi and kelp.

No complaints.

Quote:

Frigid temps compared to balmy breezes and earthquakes.

I'll miss the earthquakes. I think having seasons will be a weird experience. As a kid, I'm not sure I ever lived in one place long enough to witness a change of season. As an adult, I've never lived where there were real seasons.

Quote:

And OMG.........the Kennedys!!!!!!!!

Who are they? Isn't that a band? Didn't they die?

Quote:

I will say prayers for you. ;)

Say prayers for Boston. :)

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by gizmo on Feb 6^th, 2008, 1:41pm

on 02/06/08 at 13:33:15, fubar wrote:

It seems like every other day is a holiday or day off of some kind. They take their leisure time very seriously. So do I.

Sounds like you lived in a different Germany like the one I live :)

Are there data centers outside Iceland planned?

- Oliver -

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by fubar on Feb 6^th, 2008, 1:51pm

Oliver... I didn't mean to imply Germans were lazy or anything like that, but if I were to compare the total number of days off to a job in any other country I've worked, Germany was the clear winner. In Germany, we got 4 or 5 weeks of real vacation, plus national holidays, plus 1/2 a day per week to do shopping or banking (really, we got time off specifically to do this), so overall, it seemed like a lot of time off. On the other hand, when it was time to work, we worked like we had no lives whatsoever. It all evens out.

-Shawn

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by gizmo on Feb 6^th, 2008, 2:06pm

I'm sure you didn't mean to imply anything and I didn't take it that way.

I admit we have lots of holidays compared to other countries.
The law defines 20 / 24 days (depending if you have a 5 or 6 day work week) as a minimum.
Anything beyond that, which is common, is a result of collective negotiations and "good will" of the employer.
And yes, then there's the "national" holidays as well, between 9 and 13 (depeding on the federal state).
The 1/2 day per week to do shopping or banking sure sounds like your employer was the generous type.

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by chewy on Feb 6^th, 2008, 8:35pm

Ah yes. Cambridge.

Land on liberal social workers, smart ass acadamias, and dreadlocks.

Lots and lots of dreadlocks.

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by thebbz on Feb 6^th, 2008, 11:37pm

Good for the fu. Way to go Shawn. all the best, on ya.
I need a job. Whats the pay? 8)
Weld Inspectors are us. ;;D.
Nice work there
thebb
whack off beast :P take that ya ....

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Bethany1 on Feb 7^th, 2008, 7:31am

come to my area... 5 mins away from beantown.... u can drive, take the t... and your there. Pm me if you would like some info... i also work in housing. :)

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by DennisM1045 on Feb 7^th, 2008, 1:14pm

Welcome to the neighborhood Shawn! I live on the North Shore and love it up here. Cambridge is north of Boston you know ;)

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by chewy on Feb 7^th, 2008, 2:54pm

Quote:

Cambridge is north of Boston you know

Really? Listen to a Cambridge crack pot and you'd think it was dead smack in the center of the universe.

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by DennisM1045 on Feb 7^th, 2008, 4:02pm

on 02/07/08 at 14:54:30, chewy wrote:

Really? Listen to a Cambridge crack pot and you'd think it was dead smack in the center of the universe.

ROFLMAO [smiley=laugh.gif]

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Bethany1 on Feb 7^th, 2008, 7:12pm

hay don, didnt we get lost in cambridge trying to get to boston? ;;D

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Ree on Feb 7^th, 2008, 7:24pm

Ree Ree and Dave live in Natick... its 20 mins to Boston and I could use a job... Don't you need an assistant that understands your head issues...

we will all have to have a welcome Fu party when you get settled in~there are alot of M a s s holes here...

you won't know what hit ya when you get here... the accent, the pride, the taxes... the bee-ah (beer)!
ya thats Boston...

love ree

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by chewy on Feb 7^th, 2008, 7:48pm

on 02/07/08 at 19:12:28, Bethany1 wrote:

hay don, didnt we get lost in cambridge trying to get to boston? ;;D

LMAO! I think we covered most of New England. We had a nice view of where we were supposed to be from across the river. LOL

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Mr. Happy on Feb 7^th, 2008, 8:14pm

on 02/07/08 at 19:24:56, Ree wrote:

Don't you need an assistant that understands your head issues...

God.....but I love you pasty vitamin D deficient New Englanders.

Full Steam A Head,
RJ

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by chewy on Feb 7^th, 2008, 8:23pm

Milk consumption spikes during chowda season.

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Woobie on Feb 7^th, 2008, 8:24pm

on 02/07/08 at 20:14:30, Mr. Happy wrote:

God.....but I love you pasty vitamin D deficient New Englanders.

Full Steam A Head,
RJ

you crack me up, randy! ;;D ;;D ;;D

and HI Shawn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry you have to move to Boston, but you got a lot of clusterheads around ya there... geesh

Hey - good thing you didnt have to come to the midwest. :-/

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by Jonny on Feb 7^th, 2008, 8:43pm

Let me know when the house warming is, bro.....Ill hook us up with a bunch of these [smiley=grin2.gif]

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc05b3127cce961e53dffc0b00000016108AZM2bNk5bM6

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc05b3127cce961e53da7d3e00000016108AZM2bNk5bM6

;)

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by rolo65 on Feb 7^th, 2008, 9:41pm

OMG Jonny, that hunk of bottom feeding meat would cost $100 at least here in Minnesota. What a feast!

Rolo....... 8)

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by DennisM1045 on Feb 8^th, 2008, 8:06am

Wow Jonny! You have small hands ;;D

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Boston, you're doomed
Post by fubar on Feb 8^th, 2008, 11:31am

on 02/07/08 at 20:43:54, Jonny wrote:

Now were talkin... I think it's possible I could work up an appetite for that.

-Shawn