Month: October 2014

  • Setup pfSense as an OpenVPN client for specific devices

    One of the most powerful features of pfSense is it’s ability to direct your data requests through different end-points using NAT rules. In my case, I like to be able to access the content in Netflix US. In comparison, Netflix Canada’s content is somewhat anemic, although we do get such gems as Community and the…

  • Apple Pay vs. CurrentC: One addresses a customer issue, the other a business issue

    CurrentC requires an app, password and QR Code to be scanned. It works for pre-paid, cash accounts. This is a solution to a business problem (lower transaction fees, better customer tracking) that is being touted as addressing a customer need. People like using their credit cards. The US economy (and Canada to a lesser extent)…

  • Apple Pay: Addressing a customer problem

    [stag_intro]I think one thing that people don’t understand about Apple is that they are really trying to solve customer problems.  [/stag_intro] A lot of people think that Apple is about selling more hardware, creating lust for their products, but deep down, I feel that they are trying to address real problems and pain points for their customers.…

  • HP T610 thin client: low-powered, low-cost XBMC box

    [UPDATE 2015/06/26]: I ended up buying an HP T620 for my XBMC box.  The T610 here is now my pfSense router firewall with a dual Intel Gigabit NIC. I’ve been looking for something to replace the aging Asus O!Play HDP-R1.   While the media player still plays all my content, the usability is absolutely atrocious.  It…

  • Failure

    Engineering is not rated by success alone; it is, in fact, scored most viciously by failure.

  • Happy Anniversary

    Jen and I celebrated our 8-year anniversary this past Tuesday at a wonderful dinner at L’Avenue, a neighborhood restaurant. My wife wrote a very heart felt post about the love that we share between each other and the relative value of that love to our two kids.  Given that I was involved in the conversation,…