Book: SSH Mastery

* SSH Mastery by Michael W. Lucas I have a confession to make: I'm a terrible techie. I used to be a pretty good sysadmin a decade ago, but then I ended up in management and spent all my time on the business side of my company instead of the technical side. So when it comes to software and Best Practices, I'm well behind the times. That's probably why my current sysadmin recommended I read 'SSH Mastery'. Lucas is excellent at explaining not just how to do something but why you'd want to, and why you shouldn't do some things you might be tempted to do. Moreover, the tone strikes the right balance between "not patronizing" but also "not so technical you can't follow it without advanced knowledge of the subject". All of the technical details are there, and none of the technobabble. After reading 'SSH Mastery', not only was I able to successfully create and upload a key to our servers, but I understand why it's important and why I should have done it the first time my sysadmin asked me to.

Notes to my Future Crafty Self

In addition to playing "What's That Smell?" in the kitchen today (sometimes known by its alternate name "Dear Lord, What Died In Here?"), I played around in my crafting area in the basement. It didn't go exactly the way I had envisioned. I have some notes for next time:

* If you are working on a messy project, you WILL clean off all the excess items from the workspace. The process will involve less swearing if you suck it up and do the clutter removal FIRST.

* Hey, remember that vinyl tablecloth that you got specifically to use as a dropcloth for messy projects? Cleanup will involve even LESS swearing if you put it down before you start. But that would involve picking up all the clutter first.

* "Measure twice, cut once" is just as valid for fabric and paper as it is for wood.

* "Measure twice, drill once" is also a good rule.

* If the final version of the project covers up all the extra drill holes so no one sees them, then the extra drill holes don't count. Those couple of holes that aren't covered up? I totally meant for them to be where they are.