Data centers aren't all unicorns and rainbows (Jack Bog's Blog)

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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on September 24, 2012 2:47 PM. The previous post in this blog was Fluoridation: It's expensive. The next post in this blog is The new iPhone: It's a riot. Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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« Fluoridation: It's expensive | Main | The new iPhone: It's a riot »

Monday, September 24, 2012

Data centers aren't all unicorns and rainbows

They're also diesel fumes and corporate hardball tactics.

Posted at 2:47 PM | Permalink

Comments (10)

It’s out in the middle of friggen nowhere and very few souls live there. The uber lefty environmentalists are making a big deal out of diesel fumes from running backup generators for a few hours during a temporary power outage. Get real.

Posted by John Benton | September 24, 2012 2:59 PM

Get Real? Got Milk?
How 'bout Got Comprehension?

"For example, Yahoo’s Quincy data center, which expanded around the same time, ran its generators just 65 hours in 2010, state records show. Microsoft’s generators operated for a combined total of 3,615 hours that year, the records show."

Yahoo's 65 hrs/year = about 2.5 hrs testing every two weeks. Normal usage.

M$FT's 3,615 hrs/year = about 139 hrs every two weeks. Or about 10 hrs a day, for 365 days of that year. Since they said it mainly was for part of the year, some days or weeks they may have run 7/24. Abnormal usage for any data center anywhere. And smelly and noisy.

Posted by Harry | September 24, 2012 4:14 PM

Wonder if all of this is going on in Hood River, The Dalles and Prineville?

Posted by pdxjim | September 24, 2012 6:16 PM

Decent story in the Oregonian recently on the power these data centers use and the huge tax breaks they get in Oregon all for very few jobs. Enterprise zones and no sales tax are a huge draw for these companies to come to Oregon. Consultant said if California offered free power they would still locate in Oregon for the tax breaks here.

Posted by Mike | September 24, 2012 6:52 PM

I'll bet that practically all of these eco-weenies rely upon their iPhones, Netflix accounts, Google maps, Yelp, and all of the other modern conveniences that necessitate newer and larger datacenters. Rank hypocrisy.

Posted by Downtown Denizen | September 24, 2012 6:59 PM

Rural towns in Washington are notorious for being full of raving eco-weenies. Can't they just call off school when the job creators need to foul the air? Crazy.

Posted by Cary | September 24, 2012 7:02 PM

Mr. Benton the very few souls that live there have a problem with what is going on and so should you. The rural counties produce all of your food, resources and power. Keeping them clean and healthy is important.

Posted by Jo | September 24, 2012 7:49 PM

What about the generators at the Con-Way Data Center in NW Portland?

It is attached to a LEED Silver certified building (uses the servers to heat the building, etc.)

Saw a news item about the BBQ-ing in Cali causing quite a bit of air pollution. How scary is that?

Posted by Swede | September 24, 2012 7:51 PM

It's not green if you don't pollute where you use whatever that pollutes.

If, you're like Portland with it's great electric powered light rail/streetcar system (that pollutes Boardman), or you recycle (but all your garbage ends up in Arlington and your compost ends up in North Plains), or you have pristine water sources (but your raw sewage is dumped into Washington County's Garden Home neighborhood and into Fanno Creek through Tigard) - you're eco-friendly.

Posted by Erik H. | September 24, 2012 8:09 PM

I'm sure that the data center could get by on less backup generator use. Say maybe the leftie greenies cut back their web surfing ...
Shoot, MS could even write a script to deny those who object access to the servers.

Posted by tankfixer | September 25, 2012 9:32 AM

In Vino Veritas

Charamba, Douro 2008
Horse Heaven Hills, Cabernet 2010
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills Pinot Grigio 2011
Avignonesi, Montepulciano 2004
Lorelle, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011
Villa Antinori, Toscana 2007
Mercedes Eguren, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Lorelle, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2011
Purple Moon, Merlot 2011
Purple Moon, Chardonnnay 2011
Abacela, Vintner's Blend No. 12
Opula Red Blend 2010
Liberte, Pinot Noir 2010
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Red Blend 2010
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2011
King Estate, Pinot Noir 2011
Famille Perrin, Cotes du Rhone Villages 2010
Columbia Crest, Les Chevaux Red 2010
14 Hands, Hot to Trot White Blend
Familia Bianchi, Malbec 2009
Terrapin Cellars, Pinot Gris 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2009
Campo Viejo, Rioja, Termpranillo 2010
Ravenswood, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2010
Waterbrook, Reserve Merlot 2009
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills, Pinot Grigio 2011
Tarantas, Rose
Chateau Lajarre, Bordeaux 2009
La Vielle Ferme, Rose 2011
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio 2011
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir 2009
Lello, Douro Tinto 2009
Quinson Fils, Cotes de Provence Rose 2011
Anindor, Pinot Gris 2010
Buenas Ondas, Syrah Rose 2010
Les Fiefs d'Anglars, Malbec 2009
14 Hands, Pinot Gris 2011
Conundrum 2012
Condes de Albarei, Albariño 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2007
Penelope Sanchez, Garnacha Syrah 2010
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2007
Atalaya do Mar, Godello 2010
Vega Montan, Mencia
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2009
Portuga, Rose 2011
Revelation, Chardonnay, Pays d'Oc 2010
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 2005
Monte Alto, Tinto Reserva 2005
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2009
Espiral, Vinho Rose
Vin-Koru, Pinot Gris 2011
14 Hands, Hot to Trot Red 2009
Rodney Strong, Cabernet, Sonoma 2009
Abacela, Vintner's Blend #11
Portuga, White 2010
La Bourgeoisie, Red 2009
Januik, Red 2009
Three Rivers, River's Red 2008
Kirkland, Alexander Valley Merlot 2008
Muga, Rioja Rose 2010
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007

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Mark Bego - Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (2012 ed.)
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Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol
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Deborah Eisenberg - Transactions in a Foreign Currency
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. - Slaughterhouse Five
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Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
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Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
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Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
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Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 21
At this date last year: 52
Total run in 2012: 129
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In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
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In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269