rjamestaylor

"But dear developer: the framework is a servant of the application, not vice versa. If you embed your application logic in the framework, your application will lose its soul."

When I was working with frameworks in the past it was always a temptation to allow the framework to dictate the application organization. The discipline to not do this required me to understand the framework and how to bend it to my will. I wonder if this is a problem that others run into and thus get "trapped" in the framework?

I would be happy to look at your configuration and suggest options for scaling further (does not necessarily mean more resources or $$!). Please send an email with your account number to twitter@rackspace.com. Myself or one of my teammates will continue our discussion from there!

Robert Taylor Sr Systems Engineer (Linux) Rackspace Hosting robot@rackspace.com

CNAME, SSL, Edge Purge (invalidation), and more are coming with the addition of Akamai to the Rackspace Cloud Files product. We're excited, too. A big reason for this new partnership is feedback received from the Rackspace Cloud user community received here: http://feedback.rackspacecloud.com.

(See this link for today's announcement: http://bit.ly/RackCloudAkamai and for ongoing updates on the partnership between Rackspace and Akamai, see http://www.rackspace.com/akamai ).

Robert J Taylor Sr Systems Engineer Rackspace Hosting robot AT rackspace DOT com

I'll check with the team at Rackspace working on CloudFiles + CDN with Akamai to see if gzip compression will be supported. (You also can request it here: http://feedback.rackspacecloud.com where it can be voted upon by others). I do see Akamai itself supports "Content-Encoding: gzip" if used with the "Vary: Accept-Encoding" header. I'll post what I learn here, or you can email me directly at robot AT rackspace DOT com to follow up.

More details on the relationship between Rackspace and Akamai will be posted at this link: http://www.rackspace.com/akamai . The partnership is just beginning; your feedback and requests are and will be appreciated!

Rackspace is hiring! Over 100 open positions in all areas of tech & business roles at http://rackertalent.com

Robert "Robot" Taylor robot AT rackspace DOT com

Here's a response from Rackspace (my employer):http://su.pr/2gCe3k

"Rackspace comments on changes to Texas Sales Tax Rules

Rackspace has been in discussions with the Texas Comptroller’s Office and its tax advisors to address the recent changes to the state rules governing Texas sales tax.

The new controversial language states, “A person is engaged in business in Texas if the person has nexus with the state as evidenced by, but not limited to, any of the following: [...] derives receipts from a rental or lease of tangible personal property that is located in this state or owns or uses tangible personal property that is located in this state, including a computer server or software;[...]“

The Comptroller’s Office has indicated that the language was not intended to be construed as so broad as to extend nexus to anyone using a server in Texas. William Hamner, Director of Tax Administration indicated that the agency’s intent is not to extend nexus to a person simply using a third-party server in Texas for an activity such as webhosting. However, since taxable items are subject to taxation in both electronic and physical form, the sale of data, such as music files, housed on a Texas server could create nexus for the owner of the data.

Because of the unintended confusion that has resulted from this change, we understand that the Comptroller’s Office will issue a new rule proposal in order to properly clarify the intent of the rules change and more clearly state agency policy on this matter.

We will continue to actively pursue a positive outcome on this issue with the Comptroller’s Office and will continue to monitor and report on any new developments that we believe to be important to our customers."

Agreed -- however, the quote from the Director of Tax Administration is interesting as it specifically address the intent (or NON-intent) for these changes to apply to webhosting.

It's from a letter from the TTARA -- it's currently behind a paywall (hence the reason for only excerpting it) but should be public very soon. [Edit: website - http://www.ttara.org/ ]

Look for a public clarification on this soon (very soon) -- it's not intended to affect webhosting according to the Comptroller's office. See my previous comment.

Slow down, people...

Here's part of an update from the Texas Taxpayers Research Association applicable to this matter:

"... This past week TTARA had extensive discussions with the Comptroller’s office concerning the original intent and interpretation of the new language. The Comptroller’s Office has acknowledged that the purpose of the proposed rule was indeed broader than what was stated in the preamble, but not so broad as to extend nexus to anyone using a server in Texas.

In order to properly clarify the intent of the rules change and more clearly state agency policy, the Comptroller’s Office will issue a new rule proposal. William Hamner, Director of Tax Administration indicated that the agency’s intent is not to extend nexus to a person simply using a third-party server in Texas for an activity such as webhosting. ..."

Move along...nothing to see here

I work with Rackspace and would like to discuss your situation. Please contact me by email - robert.taylor@rackspace.com or by phone - +1.210.548.5616.

Robert J Taylor

Sr Sys Engineer / Mgr, Realtime Customer Intervention

Rackspace Hosting

robert.taylor@rackspace.com

TF: 800.961.4454 x 501-5505

O: 210.312.5505

M: 210.548.5616