PSPINC CEO Kenichi Uchikura's Blog

Company Lunch

Feb

28

We have this company lunch once a month. Today the food came from Thai Kitchen in Bellevue. Do you know any good food place we can order for our company lunch?

#Blog

This was the first time I have seen an example of NFC (Near Field Communication) in use. It is very interesting. But as you can see, NFC is not supported by iPhone (Apple). Until it is supported by Apple, NFC has very small chance of going anywhere.

This is my understanding of NFC.

It is like RFID where devices like cellular phone can communicate with the device that is printed on something to get info. It is designed to be used as way to transfer info or even funds using cellular phone.

#Computer #Internet

Long way to Japan

Feb

27

My daughter is on her way to Japan using her milage. To do that, she is flying from Washington DC to Chicago, Chicago to Shanghai China, Shanghai China to Kasai Osaka Airport. It may be mileage flights but I would not do that.

#Travel

Antivirus for Mac

Feb

26

I am a Mac user and I had no antivirus installed on my Mac for years. I have never been affected by any virus but that does not mean I do not have any virus in my Mac. So I decided to install antivirus to find out if I have any on my computer. But i did not want spend money to see if i have anything.

So, I tried many FREE antivirus software and I found one that I like. You can download it free from the App Store and is called ClamXav. After scanning my Mac, I found 7 or 8 virus files attached to the email. They are all virus for Windows and did not have any problem with my Mac.

If you are a Mac user, you should get this software. It is free.

#Computer #Internet

Hard Rock Cafe

Feb

25

HARD ROCK CAFE TOKYO ROPPONGI

Do you know where this is?

#Culture #Tradition

Being Effective

Feb

24

How do you become effective?

Sent via bloguru mobile.

#Mobile

Not a good day for golf

Feb

22

It was cold and wet today for golf. I feel sorry for seers I saw.

Scores?

I amp not even counting today.

Sent via bloguru mobile.

#Mobile

Where did $5 Sub Go?

Feb

21

I went to Subway and order Turkey/Bacon/Avocado sandwich. It was $9.00 + tax, almost $10.

Really?

I looked around but I see not $5 sub anymore. I guess I will stick with jimmy John's. I like JJ's sandwich better.

#Gourmet

Dinner at Bellevue Brewing Company

Feb

20

Dinner at brewery. Interesting.

Sent via bloguru mobile.

#Mobile

WINTER RULES !!!

Feb

19

It is a sad statement !!!

#Nature

What a sight!!!

Feb

19

I saw two Bald Eagles on 520 bridge today. What a majestic birds.

#Nature

Japanese and Religions

Feb

19

Sights of Japan

Asakusa - Sensoji Temple - Buddism Temple
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensō-ji

Japanese people are not very religious but they go to temples and shrines often. Are they worshipping??? I don't think so. But they pray anyway … just in case … I guess.

#Culture #Tradition

You too, Century Link???

Feb

18

It is very alarming to see so many high-plofile companies are victimized against the Internet security frauds. We received the letter I attached from Century Link.

#Computer #Internet

To Our Email Server Clients

Feb

17

I am very sorry that our email service has been unstable for the last few weeks. I would like to take this opportunity to explain what caused the system became so unstable all of a sudden. Before I do, I would also like to assure you that we are aware of all the issues and we are working very hard to provide a stable email platform.

As many of you know, PSPINC has been providing web and email solutions since 1996 and we have been updating the system every year for the last 17 years. We started with 50MB of email space back in 1996 and are now up to 10GB on our basic service -- an increase of 20,000%. As we are planning to provide more space to our clients in coming years, we have realized that there are three challenges that have prevented us from upgrading our email service.

The first challenge was the hardware that we use to host your email. Although the servers we use have ample hard disk space available, there always is a physical limit to how many hard disks we can fit inside a server. Also, when we say we provide 10GB, we are actually providing three times that amount of disk space to cover replication and backup for each account. In the interest of maintaining scalability as our clients' needs continue to grow, we decided to add more storage devices to our Data Center for the purpose of storing all email data. We invested over a hundred thousand dollars in new storage devices and replacement email servers to ensure that we will meet and exceed future demand.

The second challenge was our network's infrastructure. As we process more and more email, it was becoming clear that the network speed was not keeping up with the demand. So far we have upgraded our core routers to higher processing systems as well as upgraded our server and storage switches and cabling from 1Gbps to 10Gbps. We are still in the process of upgrading more switches and firewalls.

The third challenge was our email software. Although the open source software we use was highly optimized and customized, it was not keeping up with the demand and increased access caused by people using smart phones and tablets to retrieve their data. This increase in access has more than doubled the server load in last few years. For that reason, we decided to develop a brand new, state of the art, 64bit email server software.

We have been implementing these three changes for the last few months and have begun to move some of our clients to the new environment. Although we have been very careful to minimize the downtime caused by this move, we have encountered several unforeseen issues during the process. These issues have been caused by a combination of poor planning and failures in implementation and communication. We have taken what we have learned over the past few weeks and are doing everything within our power to make those changes as pain free as possible for you as we move forward.

I am sorry to report that we are not 100% done with implementing everything that we need to in order to provide the best email platform for you. Please bear with us for a few more weeks. We will inform you of any future implementations in advance. Our goal is to provide a better, faster, more secure and expandable platform that will ultimately be of great benefit to our end users.

If you have any questions, please let me know. I will be happy to give you a more detailed explanation. Let me assure you one more time, we are experiencing these challenges because we are in the process of implementing the biggest upgrade in our company’s history in order to provide a much better service for our clients. Thank you for choosing PSPINC.

Sincerely,

Kenichi Uchikura
Founder, PSPINC

#Computer #Internet

Government or Corporations

Feb

17

The difference between government and corporations.

When government ask you to pay for something, you have no choice but to pay. When corporations set the price, you have choice not to buy. Socialists are against the corporations but the pile should be against government if they want freedom.

Remember, corporations know you have choices and government knows you don't. Guess who gives a damn.

#Life #Politics #Society

Interesting Product

Feb

15

It is very interesting but it needs one more twist … I do not know what that would be. may be an Smartphone App.

http://www.hickies.com/products/white-white-shoelaces

#Sports

White Strawberry

Feb

15

Have you ever seen a white strawberry?
I have not.
They are so beautiful and sweet.
They must be very expensive.

#Shopping

Rainy Day

Feb

15

It is going to rain all day today.

Sent via bloguru mobile.

#Mobile

Inexpensive Lunch … Japanese Style

Feb

14

Japanese Kaiten Sushi.
Each plate is $105 yen or $1.05.
For $20, we can feed three people for lunch.

#Gourmet

Japan … Everything is Small, Think Again

Feb

14

American Vintage … Mega Muffin
320 Yen ($3.20)

I found this banner in front of McDonald's in Japan.
It is called the Mega Muffin.
My kind of breakfast.

#Gourmet

My New Image

Feb

13

Have you ever heard of "Caricature"?
It is a form of drawing and I got one made in Japan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caricature

#Life #Politics #Society

Leaving Japan

Feb

13

I am at Tokyo Haneda International Airport waiting for my 12:30am flight back to Seattle. I will be arriving Seattle around 4:30pm (I hope I get there little earlier.)

Tokyo is expecting another snow starting tomorrow. I guess I am very lucky.

#Travel

Sights of Japan

Feb

11

I walked about 4 miles yesterday from Ashiya to Sumiyoshi. Here are some pictures I took on the way.

#Life #Politics #Society

KAKU UCHI - Drinking at Standing Bar

Feb

10

There are many standing bars in Japan. Drinking at those standing bars is called KAKU-UCHI. We had KAKU UCHI new year party in Kobe and the chairman of the KOBE KAKU-UCHI ASSOC. is a Bloguru user. It turned out I met 4 Bloguru user at this party.

#Gourmet

Japanese Lunch

Feb

10

One benefit of being in Japan is that you get to eat heat Japanese food for very reasonable price. This lunch was 880yen (about $9.00) and no tipping either. I will miss this when I get back to Seattle.

#Life #Politics #Society

February Snow

Feb

9

It snowed in Tokyo last Saturday. The accumulation was a record that was set forty some years ago. I was lucky to leave Tokyo in the morning.

I heard, it snowed in Seattle too. Like Tokyo, Seattle is not very prepared for snow. I hope the snow melts soon.

#Nature

Shinkansen

Feb

7

I have traveled from Tokyo to Osaka today. It usually takes about 2.5 hours bit it tool almost 4 hours today due to the snow.

#Travel

Internet Censorship

Feb

7

The hotel I stayed blocked the access to SKYPE.
Or it might be that the Internet access was so slow, it could not log in.
Either way ... it is not good.

The Grand Price Hotel Takanawa

#Computer #Internet

Japanese Yakiniku Dinner

Feb

7

Very interesting restaurant ... It does not even look like a restaurant but they serve good food.

http://tabelog.com/chiba/A1206/A120601/12007054/

#Gourmet

Caricature ... Face Drawings

Feb

6

There was a place that turn me into a drawing in Japan. This is an art form started in the US, I heard. She drew this in about 10 minuets. I was hoping I will turn up more handsome but I digress ...

Her name is Ayano and she has been doing this for about an year. Pretty good for an year. I have seen this place many time in Asakusa but it was always full. I did not want wait for long. There was nobody in yesterday so I went in. By the time I left, there are few other people there. She told me in some weekend, she as to draw as much as 50 to 60 people in a day.

I will scan this image when I get back to Seattle. I asked the background to be blue and green.

http://caricature-japan.com

#Arts

Lunch / Tokyo Style

Feb

6

All this for 1200 Yen ($12). Very nice,

#Gourmet

Look what I found in Tokyo !

Feb

6

It is still very cold in Tokyo but I found this in my hotel backyard. Just one tree.

#Nature

Japanese Traditional Breakfast

Feb

5

Japanese traditional break fast at Japanese Fast Food restaurant. All this for 460 Yen (About $4.60). Not everything in Japan is expensive. It beats McDonald's but MCDonald's is very popular in Japan.

#Gourmet

Otsuka Shokai Solution Fair

Feb

5

Visited Otsuka Corporation Strategic Solutin Fair in Tokyo. This is the only IT show that I know of 95% of people attending including myself wear Suite and Tie and other 5% are ladies.

#Business #Marketing

Arrived at Hotel in Shinagawa

Feb

4

I arrived at my Hotel just after midnight. I took a train from the airport to Shinagwa station and walked about 10 minuets. Good exercise in the midnight. Train systems are wonderful.

#Life #Politics #Society

On my way to Tokyo

Feb

3

I am on Board and on my way.

Sent via bloguru mobile.

#Mobile

Traveling to Japan

Feb

3

I am traveling to Japan today.

#Blog

SEAHAWKS is the national champion

Feb

2

Seattle Seahawks just won the Super Bowl XLVIII (48).
This is the first time Seattle professional team won the national title.
Last time was Seattle Supersonics back 1979.

CONGRATULATIONS !!!

http://seattletimes.com

#Sports

Golf Today

Feb

1

I played golf today. It was January 4, last time I played golf. I shot 43/53 back then and I shot 42/53 today. What is with my back nine??? I really need to work on my stamina …

#Sports