Houston Clubs web design and life

What are good email characters?

Dec 17, 2008 by Paul White

If you search for this on google you will find long drawn out explanations of how to validate email addresses.  How about just an answer?  I have the answer, or at least my definition of an answer.

Most Software still does not Utilize Multicore Chips

Dec 14, 2008 by Paul White

Normally when you upgrade your computer to some new wild multicore chip, as I did with the Intel i7.  You would expect some dramatic performance results.  Unfortunately it would seem that most software was not written to take advantage of the multiple cores.  Read more for an in depth rant about software and the intel i7

PCIe SSD blows away SATA and SAS drives

Dec 11, 2008 by Paul White

Fusion IO has a new SSD (solid state disk ).  Except this one doesn't connect with your typical SATA or SAS connectors.  This drive is card based.  Thats right you mount it on one of your available PCIe slots (assuming you still have one available ).  Since your PCIe slot can support up to 10 GB/sec transfers this is a huge jump in performance.  While other manufactureres are trying to pack NAND flash memory into 2.5 and 3.5 inch packages. Fusion IO has skipped this step all together.  After building my own workstation based on dual SAS drives in a RAID 0 configuration.  I feel like my system has just depreciated overnight. For more specs click read

It snowed in Houston

Dec 11, 2008 by Paul White


Can you believe it, Snow in Houston.  Not just snow but enough to make a snow ball.  I am going to make Pepe an igloo if it keeps up.  Here are some photos for your enjoyment

MySQL Got an error reading communication packets

Dec 10, 2008 by Paul White

Aborted Connection to db. If you have ever had this little error in MySql and asp.net, you have most likely spent countless hours googling for an answer.  I have your answer read more the solution.

Obama's Green Deal

Dec 10, 2008 by Paul White

Similar to back in the 1930s when we had the new deal to help create jobs, and get the country out of the great depression.  Obama has a similar plan, but his plan involves green technologies.  The plan is really simple.  By upgrading government buildings ( military, schools, administrative ) with more energy efficent technologies ( lighting, heating, cooling ) we can decrease the long term opporating costs of the government, and at the same time we are creating demand for these new technologies which should increase the number of green jobs.  Your former GM assembly worker might now find themselves working in a factory making solar panels.  Read more for details

SAS drives on ASUS P6T RAID 0 Benchmark

Dec 7, 2008 by Paul White

I finally got my new workstation up and running. I will post some photos of the actual unit soon.  But for now I wanted to share these bench marks with everyone.  No need to get a dedicated RAID card, the build in SAS RAID support from the ASUS P6T x58 motherboard gets the job done just fine.

New Blog Design under way

Dec 7, 2008 by Paul White

Its been a while and I have learned some new stuff.  I am currently redesigning this blog with features that will help increase SEO, and improve the user layout.  Learn more about exactly what I am doing different.

Marketing to High Income Customers

Nov 25, 2008 by Paul White

Something I have noticed in recent years is advertisers are getting more keen to marketing to those with the High Income mindset. Read more about my thoughts on this and a few rules for how to reach out to these consumers.

New Core I7 workstation ordered

Nov 25, 2008 by Paul White

I finally picked out what components I wanted in my new workstation.  Read more to see the complete list of components.  Should get here by Dec 1st if not earlier.  Once its here I will do a few bench marks, and report my findings.