ascendnextlevel

From a stockbroker friend

2007-09-25T02:40:00.000-07:00

Strategy ("doing the right things") is vastly more important than tactics ("doing things right").

Interesting for life? Sounds good anyway :)

Great Soul

2007-09-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the good laugh I got from those puns you posted. The play on words with regards to Gandhi was superb! I looked him up in the wikipedia and he died at aged 78 in 1948, so rigorous fasting and a strict vegetarian diet never hurt him.

That got me looking at the average age of death and how that has varied over the years and various other death statistics. In England and Wales in 2001, 22 per cent of men who died did so in their own homes, while only 4 per cent died in communal establishments such as nursing homes (excluding hospitals and hospices), according to detailed mortality statistics published by the UK Office for National Statistics.

By contrast, only 16 per cent of female deaths occurred in the home and 11 per cent in nursing homes. This reflects womens longer life expectancy, as they are more likely to be widowed and
be living in nursing or residential care homes for the elderly at the time of death.

In 2001 anyway, the average age at death was 73.2 years for males and 79.4 years for females. For those deaths due to land transport accidents the average age at death was 40.1 years for males and 49.1 for females. These 2001 statistics alone makes Gandhi's 78 in 1948 outstanding.

In fact, in Asia around 1948 the average lifespan turns out to be somewhere between 40 and 45.

Ever felt that you have lived too long? This lovely wikipedia article has all the gen.

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K's sister E just phoned. She is bored. She's one hour into sitting outside an Alcoholics Anonymous support meeting - it's a support meeting for those who are the partners of alcoholics. It's news to me (just now!) that A's Beau -- who incidentally has now dumped her I hear in favour of another female -- is an alcoholic. Do I care that my daughter was living in the same house as this person? K said to E on the phone, oh you shouldn't have said, mummy asked me not to tell daddy. I bet. I had heard that he lost his driving licence on a 1 year DWI ban. Poor girls, they need better female role models. I try my best.

Life is kind of like driving a car isn't it? It doesn't matter how careful you are someone can just crash right into you - I expect that Gandhi had people crashing into him all the time but he took it well, I mean, you don't get to live to 78 whilst all around you are dying at 50 without smiling a lot.

Puns

2007-09-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

These are the top 10 from some pun-writing contest held somewhere. The details of that have been lost in the chain of e-mail from which I took these:

A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says, "I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger."
Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says "Dam!"
Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.
Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, "I've lost my Electron." The other says "Are you sure?" The first replies, "Yes, I'm positive."
Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcend dental medication.
A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But why?", they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he said," I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."
A woman has twins and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to Spain , they name him "Juan"; the other went to a family in Egypt and is named "Ahmal." Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, "They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal."
A group of friars were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened up a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the men of God, a rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair. He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. So, the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close up shop. Terrified, they did so, thereby proving that only Hugh can prevent florist friars.
Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and, with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him (Oh, man, this is so bad, it's good) a super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.
And finally, there was the person who sent ten different puns to friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.

Tweener

2007-09-19T14:30:00.000-07:00

I'm in San Antonio for the zExpo conference. Today -- Wednesday -- I went for a walk around downtown. I came upon a faux English pub and went in for a Boddington's. The beer was good. Business was slow, so the wait staff had time to chat with the customers.

I noticed something. To my left was an elderly gentleman, perhaps in his mid- to late-60's. A doctor, he said, but exactly what kind I did not know. (There's a geophysicist convention in town, so he might just be a PhD.) Two of the young waitresses were very sociably discussing stuff with him. To my right were two young turks, perhaps in their early 20's. The young female bartender was fixated on them. The older man was safe; the younger men were hot. I, being 47, was still a risk of being a dirty old man pervert and therefore to be ignored. I barely got enough attention to order my beer.

I'm a tweener ... too old to be cool; too young to be safe.

Good Advice

2007-09-17T13:48:00.001-07:00

Thank you pal. "Do enough to stay employed" ... that is what 90% of us do isn't it? There is nothing special about me so this is what I will endeavor to do!

I'd like to teach science and maths to teenagers I think, ideally, around the 16 - 18 age so they actually might be interested in the subjects as they have decided to stay on at school. Who knows, one of them might go on to discover something worthwhile.

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K has known death twice now. First four years ago when she was 6, a 5 year old at her school died of a brain tumor, and now her deputy head has suffered a massive coronary whilst at school and passed away. He was a jolly chap too, I was only talking to him last week.

The whole school has been invited to the funeral and K wants to attend, tomorrow she says she wants to wear black to school as a sign of respect.

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Web Services, UDDI, XML, WDSL, SOAP these are all going through my head, CICS Service Flow Feature, Channels and Containers, Business Transaction Services, Rational this, beans etc. What a maze of standards and acronoym soup. Plus "code coverage" .. my next assignment :) Find out how much of the code actually gets tested. I'm waiting for my motivation, I hope it's not like Godot.

Inflection Point?

2007-09-16T18:44:00.000-07:00

Have you and I reached a turning point in our lives, but for different reasons? You because of your single-parent status and me because ... well, I'm not exactly sure why the steam is out of my pipes.

One of the scenes from the movie "Breach" showed the character Eric O'Neill (played by Ryan Phillipe) rather down in the mouth and seeking advice from his father, who, presumably, was career Navy. The father, played by Bruce Davison, recounted what his father had told him when he, Eric's father, was a young man and frightened about going out to sea for the first time:

"Just get on the boat and do your job. The rest will follow."

I'm wondering if deep within that is what we need to realize. Perhaps we are coming to realize that the dream of our work being of any real significance is vaporizing before our eyes. Perhaps we need to realize that, truly, it's just a job.

That's easier said than done for me. I define myself entirely by my occupation. Sad, but true.

I don't think the same is true of you.

Here's something my lovely bride tells me whenever I'm feeling low about not contributing what I think I should: "Your half-speed is equal to everyone else's best effort." She's a manager ... she has some insight into these things. You are the same way ... you produce more in an "off" day than most do when they're actually trying.

Do enough to stay employed. Focus on your daughter. She will be grown up and married before you know it.

Foundational Cracks

2007-09-16T15:20:00.000-07:00

It's coincidental that you should publish a post on realizing ones limits - I am going through such a stage at the moment. I used to have what seemed to be limitless enthusiasm for any challenge I would set myself - but now that all seems to be gone. The only thing I can use to even semi-motivate myself is fear .. but even that is not really working any more for some reason. The best I can do is "fear of being unable to provide" .. but it's a mere sham. I'm just lazy and I don't know what to do it about it!

I think I have got myself into a cycle of being a single parent (almost) and have neglected to balance this new activity with what I "used" to do. I guess it's coupled to the fact that I think what I do for a living is worthless in the grand scheme of things - so how can I get motivated about it? What happened to that desire to do a good job that I used to have? The desire to help people, it all seems to have evaporated as I just look after me and mine (and me and mine exclusively it would seem) the best I can.

Does a poor farmboy like you have any advice for moi?? :)

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I will catch the movie you suggest - into The Breach!

Realization of Limitations

2007-09-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

There's a blog I read hosted by a conservative university here in the United States. They allow comments, and on occasion I've been known to weigh in one some issue.

The other day one of the primary posters to the blog commented on something said (or written ... I don't recall) by The Pope. I interpreted it as a rather simple reference to prayer, but based on subsequent commentary by others, including faculty at that university, the Pope's reference was more to some deep and arcane theological concept that's been brewing since the days of Augustine.

I was embarrassed to have misinterpreted it so badly. It displayed my lack of intellectual depth.

Compared to some folks, I am not that well-read a man. I do not possess a keen grasp on philosophical concepts. I can't speak to Hobbes or Locke or whomever.

I am but a simple farm boy, after all. :-)

Movie Recommendation: Breach

2007-09-15T06:06:00.000-07:00

Title: Breach
Year: 2007
Starring: Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillipe, Laura Linney

Synopsis: A film about the investigation into and ultimate apprehension of Robert Hanssen, an employee of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) who sold state secrets to the Soviets and later the Russians from 1985 until his arrest in 2001. The film is told from the perspective of Eric O'Neill, a young FBI operative who was assigned as a clerk to Hanssen as part of the investigation.

What's Different: It is an almost unsettlingly quiet film. The suspense is not contrived, but rather a natural result of the gentle unfolding of the story. In addition, the details of the film are wonderfully aligned with the sense of personal tragedy -- dull, overcast skies; dull, drab government office buildings.

Will Kids Like It?: Probably not ... the film is too slow. But if you have a slow, quiet evening by yourself, and you're looking for a quiet, mostly intelligent film that unfolds somewhat like a chess game, then you may enjoy this.

What I Liked About It: First, it was filmed in and around where I used to live, so it brought back memories. The quiet nature of it allowed me to relax into the story line. Loud, aggressive action films unsettle me too much. But most of all I liked the portrayal given by Chris Cooper as Robert Hanssen. He projected the subtle sense of a man deeply ensnared, but fueled by some deep resentment towards ... what? ... insufficient recognition of his qualities and contributions? That was never explicitly stated, but rather the viewer was left to piece together the psychology for themselves.

Believability Factor: It's based on a true story, so to that extent it's believable. The film itself does little that requires suspension of belief. It is mostly very plausible, with little to no continuity or logical breakdowns.

Miscellaneous Commentary: There is always talk in the gossip rags about how Hollywood actresses that are over 30 face increasingly few roles, and over 40 actresses are essentially cast aside. Demi Moore of late has been complaining rather loudly. But Laura Linney in this film shows that there can be roles for older women, provided the role doesn't call for them to be sexy sirens. (An older woman can't plausibly play the role of a 20-something siren. Then again, a 20-something actress can't plausibly play the part of a powerful female executive or detective or whatever ... in the real world such power is not possessed by people so young ... but Hollywood overlooks that.) British films are much better at employing older, less glamorous women in satisfying roles. Hollywood is too beholden to the cult of youth.

Circle of Life

2007-09-10T17:06:00.001-07:00

Interesting "World Clock." I was heartened to see that the rate of bicycle production outpaced computer production. There is hope. :-)

* * *
I received a phone call from my sister yesterday. She is closest in proximity to my parents, and she ends up taking care of them more directly than me. I provide financial assistance, but not direct assistance. I am grateful for her presence. I truly am.

Two points:

I learned that my father's "good" eye is now developing macular degeneration and he now can't drive. This is a significant development because up to this point I was counting on his good health to provide the general care for my mother. My mother, my sister reports, has degraded to a point where a nursing home is probably indicated. So there's been a bit of an "inflection point" in the health and well being of my parents.
My family is somewhat dysfunctional. We all endured various emotional trauma during our upbringing. What this latest development is serving to do is flush some of that to the surface. Being called upon to care for a parent is difficult when the child feels the parent failed the child earlier in life. Up to this point I was only really aware of my own issues. But on the call with my sister yesterday, she expressed, in stronger terms than I've ever heard her express, that she has some significant issues with my parents and she's struggling to get past those. My other sister practically refuses to have anything to do with my parents. So there was some seriously bad things that happened back in the early 70's and the full extent of it is a mystery to me. I see my slice, but not the whole pie.

This turn of events has me somewhat unsettled. There are many variables in play right now. I am not sure how things will develop. I find myself wishing for "certain events" so that I no longer need to deal with this. Isn't that awful?

World Clock

2007-09-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

Interesting to note the growth areas?

I suggest pressing the "now" button and watching for a few minutes and reflecting.

:)

Some Like It Hot & The Apartment

2007-09-09T03:49:00.000-07:00

Twice now in as many weeks people from outside the U.S. have made commitments to hold our technical workshops without first consulting with us

Did you notice that sometime towards the back end of the 80's that "Personnel" departments started to be renamed to "Human Resources" departments? I'm not entirely sure where this change came from, perhaps from Japan along with some misguided search for "super efficient" "top performing" organizations.

It's still alien to me to think of "human resources", it's too easy to think of them along with their oppsoite - "non-huhman resources" (ie. computers). But it's far easier to work a resource to death and to send a resource to far flung countries at the drop of a hat than it is to do with a person isn't it? Somewhere along the way we have lost a little of our humanity since we started work. Cry for the children.

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Are you guys following the Madeleine McCann circus? If it transpires that the parents are culpable then what does this mean for all parents who might really face this situation? A possible "Boy Who Cried Wolf" story could give paedophiles a field day. What would it mean if humans really could lie like that? Who knows. The only think I know is that the whole thing is just too sad beyond words.

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Movies! I love 'em.

You have seen the following movie that I have not: Ratatouille, plus my red match many of your red, typically the "foreign" movies.

I have seen a bunch more than your good self from this list, but that's only because I have a DVD collection that's not far short of 700 movies now.

I remember telling K only a week or so ago that she had so many classic movies to look forwards to, she of course asked why she couldn't see them now! I mentioned that some were not suitable, but more importantly she would not understand those movies fully yet. For some odd reason I was thinking of "American Graffiti" at the time as an example of a wonderful movie that she has yet to enjoy.

Oh man I can really recommend the following, your colours except two films which are both in my top 10, my life would be less without them :)

North by Northwest (1959)
American Beauty (1999) - you will love this!
Vertigo (1958)
Se7en (1995)
Léon (1994)
The Third Man (1949)
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
Alien (1979)
Double Indemnity (1944)
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Metropolis (1927)
Aliens (1986)
Raging Bull (1980)
Sin City (2005)
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
The Apartment (1960)
The Big Sleep (1946)

Looking at the list they all feel like old friends, nice memories.

IMDB Top 100

2007-09-07T17:52:00.000-07:00

Key:

black -- seen
red -- have not seen
bold blue -- I can't believe I've never seen this

Listing:
The Godfather (1972)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Godfather: Part II (1974)
Buono, il brutto, il cattivo, Il (1966)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Schindler's List (1993)
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Casablanca (1942)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Shichinin no samurai (1954)
Star Wars (1977)
12 Angry Men (1957)
Rear Window (1954)
Goodfellas (1990)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Cidade de Deus (2002)
The Usual Suspects (1995)
C'era una volta il West (1968)
Dr. Strangelove (1964)
Psycho (1960)
North by Northwest (1959)
Citizen Kane (1941)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Memento (2000)
Fight Club (1999)
Sunset Blvd. (1950)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
The Matrix (1999)
American Beauty (1999)
Taxi Driver (1976)
Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le (2001)
Vertigo (1958)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Se7en (1995)
The Departed (2006)
Léon (1994)
American History X (1998)
Paths of Glory (1957)
Chinatown (1974)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Laberinto del fauno, El (2006)
M (1931)
The Third Man (1949)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
Alien (1979)
The Pianist (2002)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
The Shining (1980)
Untergang, Der (2004)
L.A. Confidential (1997)
Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Double Indemnity (1944)
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Boot, Das (1981)
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Metropolis (1927)
Aliens (1986)
Raging Bull (1980)
Leben der Anderen, Das (2006)
Forrest Gump (1994)
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Sin City (2005)
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Rashômon (1950)
Rebecca (1940)
Modern Times (1936)
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
The Great Escape (1963)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
All About Eve (1950)
Ratatouille (2007)
Amadeus (1984)
Sjunde inseglet, Det (1957)
Touch of Evil (1958)
On the Waterfront (1954)
The Prestige (2006)
Jaws (1975)
The Elephant Man (1980)
Vita è bella, La (1997)
The Sting (1973)
Strangers on a Train (1951)
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Batman Begins (2005)
The Apartment (1960)
Braveheart (1995)
The Big Sleep (1946)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Nuovo cinema Paradiso (1988)

Comment:
The IMDB movie ratings tend to skew towards recent movies.

Graduated Assisted Living

2007-09-06T16:54:00.000-07:00

The concept of "assisted living" has been around in the States for about 20 years; but it's received a lot of attention in about the last 10 years. The leading edge of the "baby boomers" -- those born starting in 1946 through, I think, 1966 -- are starting to retire. Lots have vast quantities of financial reserves, and they're starting to make plans for elderly living. The Marriott Corporation is deep into assisted living facilities, as are other large corporate concerns. And one concept that's developed is the graduated assisted living -- a community where the degree of care you receive is graduated based on your need. From virtually no assistance all the way up to full nursing care, all based on a fee schedule, of course.

They're expensive. I have no idea how people afford them.

* * *
Pictures! I'm hampered by the fact all your pictures are man-made, and I find man-made things far less compelling than natural things. Still, I'll try to convey what goes through my mind and and heart as I review the pictures.

#1 Chichén Itzá, Mexico

Mexico has never been alluring to me. So I do not find this compelling. All I can think as I look at that picture is hot, sweltering humid heat.

#2 Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

I've been to Rio, and I saw this off in the distance, but I didn't go visit it. It's a remarkable piece of construction. But beyond that, it doesn't move me much. I suppose it should since it's Jesus, but I can't get past the Catholicism of it -- the focus on imagery rather than the underlying substance. I hope that doesn't sound too judgmental. It is clearly somewhat judgmental. :-(

#3 The Great Wall, China

Prior to going to China last year I would have found this more alluring. My experience in Beijing was not entirely pleasant -- okay, but not great -- and so now the thought of going back over there dampens my enthusiasm.

But, that aside, there are few man-made things in this world that elicit the same wonder and awe as the Great Wall ... more so than the pyramids, but a wide margin. The vastness of this undertaking is inconceivable to me.

#4 Machu Picchu, Peru

I'm not familiar with this ... but I suspect it's one of those things where the ancient city is at 14,000 feet or something like that. I very much like the remoteness of this picture. And if all issues of safety and secure travel could be set aside, I would love to visit this.

#5 Petra, Jordan

Oh, goodness. Hot, dry, dusty, desolate, hot, hot, hot. No thanks.

Plus, it's in the middle-east. And I want nothing to do with that region of the world. Jordan is relatively moderate. But still ...

#6 The Roman Colosseum, Italy

We drove by that when my lovely bride and I were on a cruise back in -- how long has it been? -- 2000? The concept of living the life of leisure as a rich Roman is appealing. (No surprise there, huh?). The achievement of that building for that time is impressive.

#7 Taj Mahal

You know, I have never, ever had an interest in going to India. I just can't past the notion of oppressive heat, dusty conditions, and overcrowded and obscene poverty.

Have you been to the Taj Mahal? Is it one of those things where the picture makes it look massive but in reality it is somewhat small? (Thomas Jefferson's house at Monticello, Virginia is that way ... the pictures make it look fairly large ... but when you walk inside you get a real sense of being cramped. You'd bump your head into door lintels. Ceilings are at 7' or something like that.

Again ... all man-made things, and my heart just doesn't stir for that. I can be suitably impressed with human engineering achievements. But to my eye, a building or a bridge or whatever can't compare to a gorge or mountain or waterfall.

* * *
Year 6, huh? You, good sir, are the papa of a little girl who is growing up. Brace yourself. :-)

* * *
I just finished an SOA workshop in Detroit. It went well enough, I suppose. I could definitely detect a sudden loss of energy in the attendees about mid-morning second day. Too much information, or something.

Still, several commented that I seem to have a natural affinity for instruction. I do enjoy it ... but only when I know the material and the audience is interested.

* * *
Twice now in as many weeks people from outside the U.S. have made commitments to hold our technical workshops without first consulting with us. They somehow got the impression our workshops are "cookie cutter" operations where they can bring workstation, host and all supporting material into their locations on their schedule without any consultation. So now I'm furiously trying to contain the breakage of our saying "no." I find it astonishing that someone would think they could lay out a 10-week, back-to-back-to-back schedule across different cities in AP and just drop that in our laps and say, "Come do this."

Assisted Living

2007-09-04T16:07:00.000-07:00

.. an interesting term which we saw on The Simpons today re: Grandpa and the old persons care home, it's not a term I had heard before. We all need assistance to live now and again I would say.

You know, I have heard that Linux is making a big impression in some of these homes as an internet browsing appliance to enable granpa and granma can see their kidz on YouTube no doubt. It's funny though, Bill Gates envisioned Windows as just that, but it's so trojan bound, patch ridden and poor peforming after a while (the famed Windows "half life") that savvy IT providers are realising that Linux with a read-only file system is pretty bullet and (more importantly) fool proof - not Windows. Interesting how things turn out.

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Onto those interesting pics:

#1 Temperate woods .. midly appealing, reminds me of the UK about 20 to 50 miles due South of London, many a happy Sunday walk.

#2 Tundra .. nice colour of sky, a little less appealing than #1 but ok, perhaps a little boring

#3 Steppe - still very nice but a little snoozy again

#4 Industrial - I like the flame, the light in the dark, but this has to be the worst of them (to me) because of what is being depicted

#5 Rain Forest - looks warm and cozy but I can't shake the Mel Gibson movie imagery, hmm the film must have made more of an impact on me than I thought

#6 Plains / Wheat Field - I am singing Sting's "Fields of Gold". I like this photo a lot

#7 Coastal Lighthouse - ok but a little scary/lonely (your 2nd fave but not mine!)

#8 Mountains - breath taking, love it (your biggest draw too) I think the colours and form are very easy on the eye

#9 Desert - Is that your backyard? Looks a little too hot !

#10 Rolling Countryside - Not a lot happening

#11 Cityscape - Yes I like it, lights again, life, human life

#12 Tropical Beach - I would be bored, where is the internet connection?? I was never really a beach person

#13 Arctic - ok, a feeling of newness ensues within me

#14 Farm Country - looks like the back of the office I work in! Too mundane

#15 Waterfall - ok but in this picture it doesn't pass the "so what?" question, whereas in real life it would be awesome

Not a lot missing, you could have had a Grand Canyon I guess, or some deep ocean trench/undersea pics?

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In return please answer the same question for the new seven wonders of the world:

#1 Chichén Itzá, Mexico

#2 Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

#3 The Great Wall, China

#4 Machu Picchu, Peru

#5 Petra, Jordan

#6 The Roman Colosseum, Italy

#7 Taj Mahal

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My daughter returns to school tomorrow into "year 6" !

Visceral Scenery

2007-09-02T18:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a series of photos, all taken from the web, all of different types of sceneries and landscapes. Take a quick scan of these ... then explain which ones evoke the strongest draw to you and which ones the least. Why?

(Try not to allow considerations such as survivability or the time it would take to travel to the locale to factor into your response. This is really a test of what image evokes the strongest visceral response -- positive and negative.)

#1 - Temperate Woods

#2 - Tundra

#3 - Steppe

#4 - Industrial

#5 - Rain Forest

#6 - Plains / Wheat Field

#7 - Coastal Lighthouse

#8 - Mountains

#9 - Desert

#10 - Rolling Countryside

#11 - Cityscape

#12 - Tropical Beach

#13 - Arctic

#14 - Farm Country

#15 - Waterfall

* * *
I am most drawn to #8 (mountains) the strongest, with #7 (coastal lighthouse) a close second.

I find #2 (tundra) and #13 (arctic) compelling.

I am least drawn by #12 (tropical beach). Yes, that's right. I find such things utterly uncompelling. I am more drawn to the "industrial" picture than the tropical beach scene.

I like cool, and I like remote.

Note: in looking back, I see that my selection of pictures betrays my bias. I have only two "hot and sunny" pictures -- the beach scene and the desert scene.

Note 2: I tried to represent different major geographical categories. What am I missing here?

* * *
The next two don't count. They're here just because they're cute!

* * *
Yes, the universe is strikingly vast and strikingly remote. I was thinking about that the other night as I went for a walk after dark. It was clear and the stars were out.

The Enormity of it all

2007-09-02T04:03:00.000-07:00

The Voyager 1 probe is about a billion miles away from the Earth, having been travelling for 30 years now. This equates to the distance light travels in slightly under two hours. Yet, the nearest star is 4 light years away. To explore this Universe we are going to have to accelerate. The Voyager probe is travelling very quickly, but it's not accelerating. I showed in a previous post that if we were to travel away from the Earth on a ship accelerating at a mere 1g, so Earth's gravity (it would be nice and comfortable for us) then we'd get to the edge of the observable universe, 14 billion light years away, in just 25 years of ship time. This would be 14 billion years or so of Earth time of course.

Oh it's all relative :)

My kingdom for a void

2007-08-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

I am delayed in life somewhat as I am building two new quad core computers, one water cooled and one air cooled. I tell you I am getting too old for this. Soon, I will retire to a lake and fish.

Ah but I can see your frustration over the left brigade taking your liberties away, making up facts and producing false conclusions to support their positions. Sounds like human beings to me -- perhaps that is the one thing I have learned, we all do this -- in all walks of life. Perhaps it is a case of trying to bend what comes into our eyes into the a priori shape that we have for it in our heads? This is what humans do.
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I had to laugh at your BBC mole poster to the wikipedia .. I have a feeling I know who it might be! George Bush is a wanker no doubt, I think that's something most humans have done. But he is a rich wanker, perhaps the most famous man in the world, and in a position to help or make worse the position that humanity finds itself in.

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Hmm this void sounds very interesting doesn't it? What could be the reason behind it's existence? In Star Trek a ship was crossing a void at one point wasn't it? This baby is a bit bigger. Reminds that we are pretty clueless of how the observable part of The Universe (also known as "the universe" to some folk) got to be in the state it appears to be in now.

Huge Hole Found in the Universe

2007-08-24T14:01:00.000-07:00

Here's the story.

The hole is nearly a billion light-years across. It is not a black hole, which is a small sphere of densely packed matter. Rather, this one is mostly devoid of stars, gas and other normal matter, and it's also strangely empty of the mysterious "dark matter" that permeates the cosmos. Other space voids have been found before, but nothing on this scale.

The mysteries never cease, do they? :-)

The BBC and Wikipedia

2007-08-22T09:01:00.000-07:00

Apparently some edits to Wikipedia articles have been traced back to IP addresses owned by the BBC. Here's an analysis of some of the changes. It's not surprising. Apparently the same thing has been done from the New York Times.

In this age of satellite TV, satellite radio, and internet streaming ... what is the view of the BBC of late?

Norwegian Moose

2007-08-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

No, not "Norwegian Wood". This:

The poor old Scandinavian moose is now being blamed for climate change, with researchers in Norway claiming that a grown moose can produce 2,100 kilos of methane a year -- equivalent to the CO2 output resulting from a 13,000 kilometer car journey.

On the one hand I have to laugh at this. But on the other, there's a more ominous problem. As the article states, domesticated cows produce the same methane gas, and in far greater quantities. It's only a matter of time before the other pet lifestyle of the left will be forced down our throats -- vegetarianism (or worse, veganism).

The delicious irony in this is that one of the left's favorite poster children is Ben and Jerry, of the ice cream fame. Guess how many cows labor in support of the milk that's used for their supposedly "eco-friendly" product?

I can give up ice cream fairly easily. But I do enjoy a good burger on occasion.

Holidays are over for now!

2007-08-19T14:25:00.001-07:00

We had a nice time - got to see a number of places in the UK

Went to a real chocolate factory
Made some pottery
Stayed in two hotels
Went to a butterfly park
Went to an open animal farm
Visit two theme parks
Visited an "Eco" park
Went to a Roald Dahl Museum
Went to a telephone and transport musuem
Saw five movies at the cinema!

It was really nice not to be on the internet at times pal :) I am pretty tired from all the travelling so now need a holiday!

One thing, my daughter and I are (I think) now officially "natural" in our behaviours towards eachother. We're not forced into those "unnatural" modes of behaviour you get into when the time you have to see eachother is short, and you are forced to part. It's great :)

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Is Global Warming a reality? Forget the politics and the unscrupulous so-called "scientists" vying for research money, but do you think that Global Warming is happening due to human output of Co2?

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I was speaking to one of my chess genius buddies and he says the words "Why?" and "Because" should be struck off the vocabularly list as they don't mean anything.

I think he wants to replace "Why?" with "For what reason...?" and "Because" with "As a result of .." This seems just like semantics to me and I really am not sure where he is coming from. Is there something in his suggestions here that I have missed that you can see?

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How's things?

Warmest Year for United States

2007-08-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

Interesting article. A quick background:

Using NASA surface temperature numbers, a team at NASA concluded that 1998 was the warmest year on record for the lower 48 United States.
However, Steve McIntyre of climateaudit.org noticed some rather odd "discontinuities" in the graphic data, all around January 2000.
The team at NASA apparently refused to release their algorithm to McIntyre, so he reverse engineered the algorithm and discovered the problem. He notified the team at NASA of the error.

Now this:

NASA has now silently released corrected figures, and the changes are truly astounding. The warmest year on record is now 1934. 1998 (long trumpeted by the media as record-breaking) moves to second place. 1921 takes third. In fact, 5 of the 10 warmest years on record now all occur before World War II.

I find the phrase "silently released" interesting. This is very common. Findings that support the proper "narrative" are loudly trumpeted; findings or corrections that run counter are quietly handled. A true scientist would be disinterested in outcome. I suspect these folks at NASA were fairly invested in the "global warming" narrative and this set of corrections are rather embarrassing.

Letting Go

2007-08-08T06:26:00.000-07:00

Now, if on the other hand we are fashioned by God, then I have no idea why we are imbued with this competitive desire to win, what good can it do us?

Perhaps this is a vestige of our broken nature? Perhaps this aspect of our being is not what God wants for us, but nevertheless something he has permitted us to take on as so important a part of our being.

There really is a strong thread that runs through the Bible about letting go of such stuff. I have heard and read that the passage in Matthew 11:29 -- "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." -- is alluding to precisely that: letting go. One commentator suggested that if one had to come up with a single word to describe Jesus as portrayed in the Bible, that one world might be "relaxed." Jesus had the "letting go" part down perfectly. He rested in perfect assurance of God's role in his life.

There are, of course, enormous challenges to really believing that and really living that.

* * *
I went for my first night-time ride on the motorcycle last night. Not long ... 10 miles at most. But it was a new experience, and not a very comfortable one. The lack of visibility and awareness of my surroundings was disconcerting. I don't plan on doing that often, but it is good to know that I can do it if I need to.

* * *
I hope you're doing well on your holiday with K. I hope to hear your report upon your return!

House Elves

2007-08-05T00:54:00.000-07:00

Ahhh it's a gloriously sunny Sunday morning here, the skies are sharp and blue and with some regret I've just finished the latest and last installment of the Harry Potter series by J K Rowling. I've been reading those books for the last ten years so will kind of miss them as they are now familiar, and I assert that having a preference for the familiar is a fundamental part of the human condition. Still, there are two more films to look forwards to :)

House Elves were "slaves" to wizards throughout the Potter series, working for little or no pay but glad to do so usually, for love.

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You wrote recently:

There's a powerful driver within our souls to prove ourselves right ... even when it doesn't really matter if we do. Pride? Stubbornness? Fear?

I agree this seems to be a fundamental urge, I see it in my daughter. It must be connected to fear I believe. I don't know if I told you before, but in the last year some time a smart Mensa fellow told me about two people in a heated debate, or just having a chat:

The smart fellow thinks "I wonder what this person thinks about my arguments?"
The really smart fellow thinks "I wonder what this person thinks I think about his arguments or what I think about my arguments?"

I think it is all connected to the desire to win, that imposter again. But what else could you expect from an organism that has developed through natural selection, survial of the fittest, winning the race?

Now, if on the other hand we are fashioned by God, then I have no idea why we are imbued with this competitive desire to win, what good can it do us? Think of how many wars have been caused by it. Heck, even the original sin was caused by the desire to win something, knowledge in that case.

If you don't fight (like Ghandi) do you win? Will passive resistance always eventually prove itself to be unstoppable? If we are verbally attacked, we defend ourselves don't we? Why do we bother? Why don't we just say "Ok, bye"? It's a shame that we have to waste precious moments of our lives dealing with those that would attack us, so that they themselves can assuage some sort of desire within themselves, or mitigate their own pain, isn't it?

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Two weeks vacation time for us now. I am not sure where we will get to, I will probably take the girls to a Pottery Musuem and visit a bunch of theme parks in the UK. We were going to pop over to Eurodisney Paris but oops K's passport has expired (10 years) so we'll make that trip during half term (semester).

Wherever we get to, the hotel must have a swimming pool, jacuzzi and steam room/sauna, this they demand of me!

Settling Differences

2007-07-15T17:36:00.000-07:00

It occurs to me that there's really a very delicate balance implied in my last post. My rail against "toleration at all costs" implies some way to recognizing fundamental differences and settling them in some way. In a perfect world there would be a vital exchange of ideas where the better argument wins the day. But we have anything but a perfect world.

The idea of "self correcting societies" also implies a general recognition about certain foundational principles of society. Do we still have that?

Tolerance

2007-07-15T15:16:00.001-07:00

I think the "tolerance above all else" mantra is a damaging thing.

Nice last post by the way, one which I read together with K, I think it's important that she's exposed to such ideas. Especially the idea that societies can be self correcting, but sometimes you have to stand up and be counted. Like in the movie "Network" ..

I'M AS MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE !

:)

Discerning Differences

2007-07-15T05:12:00.000-07:00

I too think racism is a learned behavior. But then I'd define racism not as noticing differences, but rather acting upon differences noticed. The human is wired to notice differences; that is part of our ability to survive. But we learn how to react to those differences. Your daughter no doubt notices the differences between races, but she has learned to not allow those differences to affect her treatment of others.

As I grow older, I find that what I react to most is the behavior of others. And yes, I do that by comparing the behavior I observe against a standard of proper behavior I hold in my mind. What I consider "proper behavior" involves, essentially, the "treat others" doctrine.

Stereotyping comes into this when, across time, I see improper behavior, time and again, displayed by persons possessing certain external characteristics. I believe this is unavoidable; I believe this is how we are programmed as human beings. We note differences and we start to build a library of impressions based on what we experience.

Many will say, "Don't judge a book by its cover." But nobody really operates this way in the real world. They make judgments and discernments all the time. Doing so is an essential part of life. The issue is more how quickly we apply a judgment, what our initial reactions to that application of judgment are, and how enduring that application is given evidence to the contrary.

Several years ago now I was in a company sponsored "diversity" class. It was an attempt at indoctrination, pure and simple. One exercise had them displaying slides on the screen with photos of people, and we were to assess our initial reaction to the people in the photo. One photo showed a group of street thugs, dressed in gang leathers, all with facial expressions conveying anger and threat.

Of course the reaction to that is initially one of caution and fear. Of course! But we were then told the people in the photo were actors, and in real life they were doctors and teachers. The lesson was: "Shame on you for judging too quickly!"

I went up to the instructor during a break. I asked, "If you encountered a man on the street wearing a Ku Klux Klan white robe and hood, what would be your initial reaction?" Her answer: "I would think him simply someone in a white robe." Her answer was, of course, a complete lie. She would form, as any normal person would, an initial impression based on an historical understanding of the KKK and the garments they wear.

That is an extreme example, of course ... few people walk the streets in KKK robes. But what about the "gangsta" image? That look is designed to express a potential threat. That is the whole purpose of that look. And if time and again we are treated poorly by those who dress that way, is it wrong to form a general impression of people who dress that way? I would argue no.

Years ago, Martin Luther King, in his famous "I Have A Dream" speech said, "I dream that one day my children will be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." The second part of that is conveniently ignored by liberals today. The idea that "character" matters is generally opposed. That's because if it is allowed to matter, then we must deal with the issue of what constitutes "good" character and what constitutes "bad" character. They don't want to allow such a distinction.

Note: well, they do, actually. They very much want to allow the distinction. The real issue is they want their definition to be applied. That is irony of today's rallying cry about "diversity" and "tolerance." They very definitely do not want diversity of thought or opinion; they demand fairly strict adherence to a set of beliefs. And by tolerance they mean tolerance for people that possess those beliefs, but rather severe intolerance for those who do not. The classic irony is this: if someone was truly tolerant, they'd tolerate even the intolerant.

But there is such a thing, and there used to be a societal mechanism to reward good and shame or ostracize bad. I think the "tolerance above all else" mantra is a damaging thing. I very much think certain intolerances in society is a healthy corrective mechanism.

Racism

2007-07-14T16:07:00.000-07:00

A question on racism .. is it learned behaviour or is it something inate in humans?

For many years my assessment was that it was the latter - a result of the quality in humans that evolution has given us .. ie. a preference for the familiar.

But watching my daughter grow up I see *none* of that when it comes to children of other "races" .. although why that term is used is beyond me as we are all part of the human race homo sapiens.

Societal pressure and whether it's coming back in some kind of ant-politically-correct way against the war on terrorists is interesting, I think your observation is spot on. I think it is returning.

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It's funny, we are like Locke and Demosthenes from Enders Game by Orson Scott Card ...

Back on Earth, Ender's brother and sister have begun trying their hand at popular politics, assuming the virtual identities of Locke and Demosthenes. The latter, written by Valentine, is a hot-headed rabble-rouser who stirs up discontent and whose main purpose is to provide a counterpoint to Peter's Locke identity, whom he is using to gain real power and influence over the world stage.

Stereotype Alert

2007-07-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

I'm in the Dallas airport, awaiting my flight to New York. SOA time in the Big Apple, baby!

On the CNN TVs that are throughout the airport -- side note: brilliant marketing move on CNN's part to cut the deal to be the supplier of a news feed to airports -- they had a story about an arrest of someone associated with the Belfast airport terrorist attack.

Here's the stereotype -- all terrorists seem to look alike. They're all young men, somewhere between 20 and 35-ish or so, with a beard and an angry look on their face.

Now I recognize that not all people who fit that description are terrorists. But still I wonder ... is there a growing perception among the general population of this common "look" of terrorists? And is there perhaps a chance of a movement towards general distrust and discrimination against people who fit this profile?

Is that necessarily a bad thing? Societal pressure used to be a governing force. We've scrubbed it from our discourse for politically correct purposes. I'm wondering if people are coming back around to the realization that all the multi-cultural politically correct stuff is not in our best interest?

Glaven

2007-07-10T11:51:00.000-07:00

Wow 0 to 100 in 0.8 seconds??

So does that qualify it as the highest acceleration from a standing start of any vehicle that can carry a person? I am trying to think what else could accelerate from 0 at 5 gee's.

K really laughed at the "rabbid" (she still pronounces like that) with the pancakes on it's head!

I'm tired, lack of sleep.

For No Particular Reason

2007-07-08T19:36:00.001-07:00

A picture of a bunny with a pancake on its head!

You can thank me later for this.

Top Fuel Dragsters

2007-07-08T19:23:00.000-07:00

I don't know if this is a sport over there in the UK. No reason it can't be ... I just don't know if it's the same as it is here.

Here's a picture of a top fuel dragster:

And here's some "fun facts" that came off the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) website:

The nitromethane-powered engines of NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars produce approximately 7,000 horsepower, about 37 times that of the average street car.
One cylinder of the eight cylinders of a Top Fuel dragster or a Funny Car produces 750 horsepower, equaling the entire horsepower output of a NASCAR engine.
An NHRA Top Fuel dragster accelerates from 0 to 100 mph in less than .8-second, almost 11 seconds quicker than it takes a production Porsche 911 Turbo to reach the same speed.
An NHRA Top Fuel dragster leaves the starting line with a force nearly five times that of gravity, the same force of the space shuttle when it leaves the launching pad at Cape Canaveral.
NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars consume between four and five gallons of fuel during a quarter-mile run, which is equivalent to between 16 and 20 gallons per mile.
From a standing start, NHRA Top Fuel dragsters accelerate faster than a jumbo jet, a fighter jet, and a Formula One race car.
A fuel pump for an NHRA Top Fuel dragster and Funny Car delivers 65 gallons of fuel per minute, equivalent to eight bathroom showers running at the same time.

Those are some astonishing figures. 7,000 horsepower? 0 to 100 in 8/10th of a second?

Cardboard Cutout Love

2007-07-08T15:55:00.000-07:00

Although I was expecting a verse or two of prose detailing how the human existence is devoid of all meaning without love. :)

How's this:

All I need is love,
All I need is love,
All I need is love, love
All I need is love.

How do you spell "woo ooo ooo, oo-oo-ooo?" :-)

Would human existence be devoid of meaning without love? Or would its meaning be tragically different? I honestly don't know.

I struggle with commenting on this because I'm not so sure I fully understand what it really means to "love" someone. I know lots of words that relate to the subject, but I'm not sure I fully understand the concept at its core. I'm not trying to sound like someone saying, "Woe is me ... poor me." Honestly, I'm not. I'm honestly surveying my heart and what I'm finding is that I have lots of intellectual concepts that are like cardboard cutouts -- they appear like something from a distance, but up close they don't have any substance.

I'm doing a lot of self-appraisal of late. :-)

* * *
I've been thinking a lot about faith and life and such. I'm coming to realize that a good deal of it is willful mind control. That's a loaded term, and many flee from it. But there's great truth in the notion that what one chooses to dwell on in the mind matters.

Example: if I were to spend considerable time dwelling on the stories of treating others most definitely in ways I would not myself want to be treated ... if I saturated my mind with such things ... then the idea of "Treat others" becomes very difficult for me. I've allowed my mind to be "marinated" in a bad concept. My mind then takes on the flavor of that bad marinade. I can't live my life dwelling on the concept of hurting and cheating others, then with the blink of an eye start doing it with my own self.

The Bible is actually full of this concept. If I weren't so darn lazy I'd pull up the various references. But the Old Testament has quite a few references to "keeping the law before me daily." And the New Testament speaks of "putting out of your mind" various bad thoughts and notions, and "taking on the mind that was in Jesus."

I'm wondering ... the concept of "mind control" has been, I think, improperly maligned. There is such a thing as good mind control, correct?

* * *
I'm in Sacramento, CA this week. I am offering the SOA workshop sans labs to a group of State of CA people, at the request of the lead architect for our employer who covers the state. He seems to feel the message I deliver is of some value. :-)

* * *
I will definitely see "The Simpson's Movie." It'll be a hoot! No attempt at realistic animation there!

* * *
Yes, I do recall Frank Bruno. A name like "Bruno" is a natural for a boxer, wouldn't you say?

Grand Order of Water Rats

2007-07-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

Perhaps because that's what they've been taught to aspire to? Or maybe because, as we've discussed, people order their lives around the avoidance of those things they fear ... and fear of being alone and lonely is a powerful motivator?

Maybe, probably in fact. Although I was expecting a verse or two of prose detailing how the human existence is devoid of all meaning without love. :)

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The Ratatouille is on our list to see this month (I don't think it's out in the UK yet) - along with the new Harry Potter film and the movie event of K's lifetime .. The Simpsons! Thanks for your words on the Rat movie, I had it down as "just another CGI run of the mills kids animation" .. but now I shall look more closely.

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Ever hear of a UK boxer named Frank Bruno? He had a title shot once against Tyson. He was in my local supermarket yesterday (Tesco store), I wonder if he's living up here now, or in some kids panto in the area? I met him when I was a kid he came to our school. He is still an enormous fella.

Darwinian Ratatouille

2007-07-08T06:24:00.001-07:00

Why is getting a life partner such an attractive prospect for most people? Explain please.

Perhaps because that's what they've been taught to aspire to? Or maybe because, as we've discussed, people order their lives around the avoidance of those things they fear ... and fear of being alone and lonely is a powerful motivator?

* * *
We went to see the Disney/Pixar movie "Ratatouille" yesterday. It is a phenomenal piece of work, both technically and artistically. Technically the animation is stunning. In earlier computer animations I was left with a sense of watching animation throughout the movie. With this film that sense of "watching animation" drifted away very quickly.

One of the things I have noticed is that animated film makers are very intentionally not making certain elements of the characters "lifelike." They're maintaining a certain cartoonishness to the facial features, particularly eyes. The eyes are what convey most emotional expression, and with eyes that are intentionally "not real," they're capable of amplifying the expression.

The movie is not, however, a movie purely aimed at little kids. In fact, many of the kids in the theater were bored at about 1 hour. The action slows and the story develops during the "middle bridge."

The writing and story of Ratatouille is superb. It's a very clever story. Some elements could be jettisoned, but overall it's witty and heartwarming. Oh, and the boy does get the girl! :-)

* * *
Apparently "Live Earth" did not quite meet expectations in terms of attendance. And I've seen several stories about how the performers in these shows flew private jets, a heavy contributor to greenhouse gases.

Unlike previous "Live ____" shows, this one labored under the burden of advocating something that asked participants to actually consider sacrificing their own personal convenience. It's one thing to pay money to some abstract starving child in Africa ... quite another to modify my own lifestyle as part of a cause.

Darwinian Puzzle

2007-07-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

Interesting article. Quite saddening (but true) that the whole world seems to be dominated by the desire to reproduce, to dance to the tune that DNA is playing.

Some thoughts as I read ...

It is no coincidence that blond hair evolved in Scandinavia and northern Europe, probably as an alternative means for women to advertise their youth, as their bodies were concealed under heavy clothing.

"No coincidence" vs. "Probably". Hmmm. Which is it? I thought at this point that the authors had fallen into the age old trap of using "It's a well known fact .." (ie. the sure fire statement "It is no coincidence" and then realising they had done that followed up with a back-peddle (ie. "probably"). Either way it left me thinking "maybe these guys are just bullshitting me to make a buck".

True, less desirable men can marry only less desirable women, but that's much better than not marrying anyone at all.

Why is getting a life partner such an attractive prospect for most people? Explain please.

Americans who are rated "very attractive" have a 56 percent chance of having a daughter for their first child, compared with 48 percent for everyone else.

Yes I agree, and I think the "daughter effect" is largely due to attractive, if poor, fathers - nothing to do with women (or Americans :)

Women often say no to men. Men have had to conquer foreign lands, win battles and wars, compose symphonies, author books, write sonnets, paint cathedral ceilings, make scientific discoveries, play in rock bands, and write new computer software in order to impress women so that they will agree to have sex with them. Men have built (and destroyed) civilization in order to impress women, so that they might say yes

This is so true. I learned this in my mid twenties and have done my best to refuse to play this little game ever since. I recall saying to you some years ago (7 or 8) .. "who wants to dance to the tune of DNA?" I think this was outside a Yaght Club in the Poughkeepsie are if memory serves me correctly. We don't have to play, as thinking beings we always have a choice.

10 Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature

2007-07-05T11:15:00.001-07:00

Interesting.

Influences

2007-07-04T21:40:00.000-07:00

And it got me wondering -- what is one supposed to do about things like that?

Yes I think you would need to put some pressure on it. Perhaps a Steri-Strip(tm) across the almost invisible wound, some cotton wool on top of that and then a plaster on top of that. Not being a haemophiliac this would give your platelets a chance to aggregate around the exposure and form a clot, overnight is the best time for this to happen as you won't be using your mouth so much! I had one of those on my chin once that wept for literally days, all healed up eventually and the scar went away after 5 years or so.

K is terrified of her own blood. I have tried to explain to her what it's function is and how she could lose a lot of it and still be ok, like in a blood donation scenario, but still she has a very low level instinctual fear of seeing even a drop of her own blood. Ah, the mind of a child. I explained that when we are young we have many many fears, and that these fears are like the bars of a cage around us. As we grow older, we break down the bars of the cage one by one until - if we are lucky - we are totally free of fear - but it's ok to have these bars they are natural. I also mentioned even when one is eventually free of fears for oneself, one then takes on fears that loved ones may come to harm, so we never get to be really free of fear.

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Some Wikipedia info:

Most of Let It Be was recorded in January 1969, before the recording and release of the album Abbey Road.
Let It Be is the twelfth and final album by The Beatles, released on May 8, 1970
Let It Bleed is an album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1969
... recording for Let It Bleed began in earnest in February 1969
The Stone's Let It Bleed was released months before Let it Be, but it should be noted that most of the song (sic) from Let it Be had been recorded earlier than most of the songs in Let It Bleed, and was a known project.

And from Keith Richards in 1971, who said (to my reading) something like "it had nothing to do with The Beatles - oh hang on maybe it did" ... in the same breath :)

(It didn't have) a thing (to do with the Beatles' Let It Be). Just a coincidence because you're working along the same lines at the same time at the same age as a lot of other cats. All trying to do the same thing basically, turn themselves and other people on. Let It Bleed was just one line in that song Mick wrote. It became the title... we just kicked a line out... We dug that song so... maybe there was some influence because Let It Be had been kicked around for years for their movie, for that album. Let it be something. Let it out. Let it loose.

Let it Bleed

2007-07-04T10:10:00.000-07:00

Today I nicked myself shaving. No big deal, right? Normally it's not. But this morning the cut was right on the edge of the lip, and I must have severed a fairly significant blood vessel right near the surface. It bled fiercely. I thought I had it stopped after about 1 hour of pressure and perhaps a tablespoon or more of shed blood. But then it opened back up and it took 1.5 hours more to once again get it to stop. Now I am sitting nearly motionless, determined to not disturb the wound so that hopefully it will clot properly and start to heal.

The cut was about 1/10th of a millimeter. I'm very serious ... it was that small.

And it got me wondering -- what is one supposed to do about things like that? The normal procedure would be pressure and elevation, which I tried, but to no avail. In both instances where it stopped -- the first, which gave way, and now, which I'm crossing my fingers on -- it stopped for no apparent reason. Going to a hospital would earn me the laughs and guffaws of those there. "It's tiny! Why are you wasting our time?"

Suturing is out of the question ... the wound is too small for that. Cauterization would probably be the course of action if pressure and elevation failed to stem the bleeding.

I wonder if anyone makes a "home cauterization kit?" Probably not. They make "Styptic pencils," which attempt to constrict the blood vessels to assist in coagulation. I tried one of those, but to no avail. I read on Wikipedia that there is heat cauterization, electric (which probably involves localized heat), and chemical (using silver nitrate).

Test Not Worth Conducting

2007-07-02T16:10:00.000-07:00

It would be an interesting experiment, but this is what would happen ... if the result was statistically in favour of a prayer-granting God then non-believers would claim that more data points are necessary. If the result was God-neutral then believers would claim that God knew about the test and didn't want to demean Himself by getting involved.

Your concluding point is spot on: there would be no point :)

There are lots of troubling aspect of such a test:

We wouldn't be able to really discern the true faith of those in the "believer" control group. Can we know that someone who prays with a healthy dose of unbelief underlying their prayers is as effective as those who are true saints?
It would be difficult to know if what people say they're praying for is what's really going on in their hearts.

Plus, I'm thinking God would look down upon such a test and think, "You poor creatures. You just don't get it, do you? I don't want you to try to prove something like prayer. I'd rather you just pray. Come to me in fellowship ... don't turn it into a science project."

And, as you say, regardless of the results, nobody is going to be happy. :-)

Scientific evidence for God

2007-07-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

I agree, the article is ridiculous, you quite rightly point out that the author is suggesting that God is bound and limited by the "laws" that man has so far discovered about our Universe - forgetting that by defintion God is above all of that.

There is one interesting point though, but I don't fully understand the statistics behind it, that is - inferring the existance of God by having two groups .. one group that prayed for things, and one that didn't. Now, clearly the maker would not grant 100% of the prayers, but would He grant a statistically significant portion compared to those that did not pray?

It would be an interesting experiment, but this is what would happen ... if the result was statistically in favour of a prayer-granting God then non-believers would claim that more data points are necessary. If the result was God-neutral then believers would claim that God knew about the test and didn't want to demean Himself by getting involved. In addition, both sides would claim the results were "fixed". So there would be no point :)

More on "The Fuzz"

2007-07-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

The Fuzz, stretched out on the top of the La-Z-Boy recliner in my home office:

The new perch for The Fuzz in the corner of my home office, where the two windows are:

In the past I generally had the shades down. But now that I've lifted the shades so the cat can look out, he's drawn to the spot.

Prayers and Neurology

2007-07-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

This article seems to me a bit silly. Key elements:

The brain, an electrochemical organ, consists of matter and energy, but the mental states that are the epiphenomena of its physiological processes are neither material substances nor forms of energy. Sherrington (1951) expressed this “scientific position” in saying, “Thoughts, feelings, and so on are not amenable to the energy (matter) concept. They lie outside it.” If thoughts—including silent prayers—are not a form of energy, then there is no known natural means by which they could be transmitted beyond ourselves or read within us.

Right there it seems to me the author(s) are drawing a constraining box. They seem to be implying that God is limited to "natural means." This, it seems, gets back to the fundamental question of "natural" versus "supernatural." If God is simply part of the natural, then perhaps this statement makes some sense. But if God is beyond natural -- that is, supernatural -- then it would seem within the realm of possible. I'm deliberately avoiding the issue of whether God exists or is supernatural or merely natural. I'm saying: "Suppose God exists and suppose further God is outside the natural. Therefore, mechanisms outside the natural are then possible."

Though thoughts and prayers are neither transmissible nor readable by any natural means, could they be known to a supernatural being? Evidence for or against this can be obtained by determining whether prayers are followed by what was solicited by them.

This is the "scientific" approach. "Let's test if prayers work. We'll study requests asked and see if they are granted. This measurement will tell if the prayers are transmissible outside the brain." But this notion is built on a misunderstanding, it seems to me: that a prayer request offered necessarily must be granted. Theologically there's much to support the refutation of that. But if we stay within the realm of what we know as humans we can draw a parallel: if you as a parent do not grant a request expressed by your child, does that mean the request was not heard or understood by you? Of course not. You as a parent have a better understanding of what is good for your child than do they. You may deny or ignore the request because you know it to be either foolish or harmful.

Even if this immeasurable activity could be captured, seemingly insurmountable difficulties would prevent its translation into thoughts. To begin with, the translation would need to be simultaneous with the flow of thoughts as well as in the language of the thinker, for a full thought is its verbal expression. In view of what is known of brain development and organization (Harth 1993), the neural patterns underlying any thought, even a formulary prayer, would be unique for every individual. Thus, generic translations from neural patterns to verbal thoughts in any language would be impossible. A supernatural being would need to instantly surmount these difficulties—for multitudes of concurrent supplicants—in order to grasp the informational content of a mental prayer. Moreover, such a being would, logically, need to be with each supplicant while he or she is rotating with Earth at 1,038 miles per hour (if at the equator), orbiting around the Sun at 18.5 miles per second, rotating around the center of the Milky Way at about 150 miles per second, and moving through space with our galaxy at some thousands of miles per second.

To my eye there's a degree of anthropomorphism taking place here. The author(s) are aware of their own limitations to perform the translation they seem to think is necessary, and then project that on God.

Whether they can be known to a supernatural being hinges on the effects of the prayers’ solicitations as judged by proper scientific studies. To date, such studies of intercessory prayer have not shown it to improve health-care outcomes. In contrast to thoughts themselves, the brain activity from which thoughts arise does consist of energy—electrochemical energy within neural circuitry. Reading this teeming energy in millions of circuit neurons and translating it into the thought or prayer arising from it seems theoretically impossible for even a supernatural being.

It strikes me two errors are being committed here:

The first highlighted section confuses the issue of God "knowing" (or hearing, or understanding) a prayer with God's granting said request. The underlying assumption is that if asked, therefore it must be granted. Further, that only a "scientific study" of this will validate it. I understand the urge to scientifically validate such things ... but I think this statement betrays a preexisting bias on the part of the author(s).
The second highlighted phrase is an opinion, not a scientifically derived conclusion. The phasing "it seems" softens it a bit. But still, this "conclusion" is drawn from a constrained view of what a "supernatural being" is capable of.

My guess is there's an unspoken assumption underlying all this: that if a "supernatural being" does exist, that supernatural being was not responsible for the creation of all that is. That all that is has always been, and that any supernatural being is merely something that existed along side the natural. The moment one grants the supernatural being the opportunity to exist before all else, and be the agent of creation for all that we deem natural, then it strikes me as inconsistent to then constrain that supernatural being by saying it can't read the thoughts of its created beings.

I'm really not trying to get into a theological debate about the existence or specific capabilities of God. I'm trying to apply some consistent thinking to this question. I'm not convinced the author(s) have. I believe they have fallen prey to a certain "scientific arrogance," if I may use that term.

* * *
Good observation regarding the selective removal of the "involve me" component of memory. I have no idea how that would be done. Or whether the reported findings are as precise as implied. It could be the initial findings are a bit more rough.

* * *
No, the puppy is not mine. That was on some other website. I just thought it cute. My lovely bride has softened somewhat on the cat. We are not getting rid of him. I have had to take on a more active role in the upkeep of the cat. To that end, I have created a spot in the corner of my home office where the cat can sit on the filing cabinet and look out the two corner windows and survey the world. We also bought a battery operated cat toy that he seems to enjoy batting at. This is all part of a theory that one problem the cat has is simple boredom.

Involvement

2007-07-02T06:41:00.000-07:00

Hmm, the article at one point says:

"As the memory is getting restored, we gave patients a drug that turns down the emotional part of the memory. It left the conscious part of the memory intact, so they could still remember all the details but without being overwhelmed by the memory."

I don't see how that is possible, deleting the whole memory might be, but what is an "emotional part" of a memory and how could that be deleted and not the memory? More to this than meets the eye I think. I am reminded of the Chinese saying:

Tell Me -- I Forget
Show Me -- I Remember
Involve Me -- I understand

It looks like the researchers can remove the "Involve Me" component selectively?

+++

Is that little puppy your new dog by the way?

Selective Memory Erasure?

2007-07-01T17:28:00.000-07:00

See this article in the Telegraph.

I ask you ... shades of Clockwork Orange?

Shrek The Tired

2007-06-30T15:35:00.000-07:00

That's a cute canine you showed there, K said "awwwww" when I showed it to her, it was some kind of instinctual response. Apparently this sense of "awwwww" is a positive which favours us not killing our own young, thus has been allowed to flourish through natural selection.

+++

Tonight we saw the movie "Shrek The Third" .. although very enjoyable I think I've had enough of Shrek. Although K is looking forwards to Shrek 4 already!

Puppies!

2007-06-29T19:16:00.001-07:00

Is there any way to look at this picture and not go "Awwwww" ?

Puppies are wonderful creatures. They're a bear to try to train. But once trained, they're wonderful things.

And beagles in particular are nice dogs. But they need lots exercise!

API Service Classifications

2007-06-26T20:20:00.000-07:00

Wasn't that diesel engine oil? Is a GoldWing a diesel? What's occurring here.

No, the Wing is a gasoline engine. The Rotella T heavy duty truck oil carries the API certification for both gasoline and diesel engines. For gasoline engines it carries the "SM" certification. For diesel engines, the newest certification, CJ-4.

The owners manual for the Goldwing calls for "SG or higher." The classification system provides for the higher ratings to possess all the qualities of the lower ratings as well as additional benefits.

The Wing calls for a 10W-30 oil or a 10W-40 if average operating temperatures are in the range of 80 to 100 degrees F. Well, that's me. Rotella is a 15W-40 oil.

Some people get nervous because Rotella is not "JASO MA" rated. JASO is the Japanese association that does oil rating. Honda doesn't mandate a JASO MA ... their literature says "API SG or higher or JASO MA."

There is almost no topic that stirs up passions on the motorcycle forums like oil. Some people hold that oil is the magic elixir of life. They swear by certain brands -- Mobil 1, or Amsoil, or whatever. They claim their engines perform horribly with anything but their brand of oil.

I'm beginning to settle on the opinion that as long as the oil is halfway decent -- in other words, not some cheap no-brand stuff -- and changed at a reasonable interval, the engine will do just fine. Some people like to stretch their oil changes out to 8K or 10K miles. Supposedly the synthetics are capable of doing that. I'd prefer to change mine every 3K to 4K just to be on the safe side. And that's where Rotella is nice at $9/gallon ... the Wing takes a gallon of oil. Throw in a $10 filter and I've changed the oil for $20.

* * *
L has softened a bit on the Fuzz. She's now less eager to get rid of him. But she seems insistent that I am to take on a greater role as caregiver so the cat does not see her as the primary person to retaliate against.

let me ask ... would she have been ok with Le Fuzz doing the dirty deed on your side?

Not okay, but a bit less upset. This is not just about the mess created. It's also about the perceived direct slight of L personally.

* * *
No messages waiting for me from the doctor's office today. I take that as a good sign, in that if the blood work turned up something dire I'd have a call saying "Call the office." No such call. I was told that if things came up normal then I'd get a call, but perhaps not right away.

Still no explaining the headaches and slight dizziness. Food allergy of some kind?

Then of course there's the ubiquitous "stress" factor.

Animal Forgiveness

2007-06-26T17:27:00.001-07:00

Sorry to hear about The Fuzz taking a dump on L's side of the bed (for the second time nontheless!) ... let me ask ... would she have been ok with Le Fuzz doing the dirty deed on your side?

I'm not really an animal person myself, although the goldfish have survived for two years now, I bought them a big bio-orb tank to swim around in, they are enormous now, and Shelley the Syrian Hamster still gets her daily run. Personally I wouldn't have a cat (not just because it would try to eat Shelley) but I would have a dog however and if I ever get to retire then I will get one .. I love dogs. Cats on the other hand .. well, they shit on your bed :)

It is a great song and unfortunately as Gay as The Gordons, but "The Pet Shop Boys" were right on with "I Want A Dog":

I want a dog
A chihuahua
When I get back to my small flat
I want to hear somebody bark
Oh, you can get lonely

Don't want a cat,
Scratching its claws all over my
Habitat
Giving no love and getting fat
Oh, (oh oh) you can get lonely
And a cat's no help with that

I can't really relate to folks who keep cats. K's mother has always kept them, but that is what one would expect of a witch no? :)

I agree with you here though, once the responsibility has been taken on, you can't shirk it. The right thing to do is to forgive the cat and tend it til it dies, then at that point decide never to get a cat again! But that's just me.

+++

Wasn't that diesel engine oil? Is a GoldWing a diesel? What's occurring here.

The Fuzz

2007-06-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

That's our cat. I'm not much a fan of cats, but I have a certain fondness for this one. But, that said, he has done something that has earned the enmity of my lovely bride. And that is a position no mortal wants to be in.

He defecated on her side of the bed today. This is the second time he's done that. The theory is he's rebelling against something. The cat views my L as the "alpha". I barely exist in the cat's eyes, except when L is not here.

L is now determined to find the cat another home. That makes me sad. Not only for the loss of the cat, but also because of what it demonstrates about her unforgiving nature. I'm not a fan of cats crapping in my bed either. But there are measures that can be taken, such as putting a plastic tarp over the bed, to try to correct the behavior. But L will hear none of it. Her mind is set. And that makes me sad.

Food

2007-06-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

What? You don't overindulge in the egg-and-beans on toast?

I really must try that. I'm quite certain I would find it good.

But the society we live in really does encourage obesity, so it's kind of an acceptable way to be now I think.

For all the talk about how society and fashion dictates an unhealthy underweight image for girls, what I see is a remarkable number of girls at the mall who are plain fat, and make no effort to disguise it. They have rather large belly rolls oozing out over the top of their jeans and they wear a midriff-bearing tight shirt. So I think you are correct ... there is a degree of acceptability to being fat. I don't think I'd go so far as to say it's desirable. Just not as discouraged as before.

As I get older, my ability to maintain my "ideal" weight -- 162 pounds -- gets harder and harder. Right now I'm hovering around 167, which for a 6'0" tall man is not at all bad. Except that most of that extra five pounds is smack in the middle of my belly. And I don't like that.

The culprit is pasta and bread. I love the stuff. Absolutely love it. But I can demonstrate through a few weeks of disciplined dieting that I can lose the belly by simply cutting out breads and pastas. I don't have to go on a severe carbohydrate-restricted diet. Just cut back on pasta dishes and bread ... and within two days I'm craving the stuff and within two weeks I'll have lost those five pounds.

My problem is this -- my lovely bride mixed up a big batch of this absolutely yummy pasta salad. It has cheese tortellini and tri-colored rotini, along with broccoli, carrots and celery, mixed up with a nice balsamic vinegar dressing. Hmmmmm ...

I love the stuff. It's like crack. I'm completely addicted.

* * *
This has absolutely nothing to do with food, but my mention of "rotini" made me think of it. I have settled on my preferred motor oil for my Goldwing. No, not some fancy synthetic motorcycle-specific oil like Mobil 1 or Amsoil, but ...

Shell Rotella T Heavy Duty 15W-40 Diesel Truck Oil

It turns out this stuff is nearly ideal for motorcycles with a shared engine/transmission design. The additive package of this has anti-wear (phosphorus and zinc) and anti-oxidation (calcium) capabilities that work quite well in a motorcycle.

Here's the best part ... a quart of Mobil 1 motorcycle oil: $9

A gallon of Rotella T ... $9

There is a huge community of oil-geeks out there. Huge. Check out this site.

:-)

Medical Dilemmas

2007-06-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

What are you thoughts on the trigger to consulting a doctor? Do you err on the side of caution? Or do you wait to see if a symptom persists and worsens?

Well in the case of my cancer I think there was a trigger involved but of course I can never be sure. I don't know if you recall but between June and November 2001 I was seeing a young lady, during this time I wasn't really looking after myself and certainly over indulging in the pleasures of life :) I think my tumor first made itself known around 9/11. I can't be sure but I think my lifestyle then could have been the trigger.

I had symptoms for sure but they were confused by the doctors with a kidney problem I had leading to left nephrectomy (kidney removal) in Feb 2002 (the kidney having exploded due to a stone in 1998, again mis-diagnosed by doctors as something connected with my genetic condition).

In the few months following completion of my chemo and radiation therapy in 2003 I had two emergency trips back to the hosiptal (>100 miles away) because I was fearful that the tumor was growing again. I could see that they didn't really take me seriously so I just gave up. At my last check-up they said "we're not going to do any more scans unless you tell us we need to", which I thought was quite humorous.

So you almost have to be your own doctor in the UK. I would have to get very sick before doctors would take a serious look to see if anything was wrong. As a result of all this, I have very little faith in >99% of doctors, but there are a group of far less than 1% who lead the way and save lives, you just have to find them! (PS. The nurses are on the whole just great).

One thing that is clear is that worrying is not going to help you, but it's hard not to when you are feeling off. I think you'll be ok - please keep me posted !

When is a Doctor Visit Warranted?

2007-06-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

I leave for a doctor appointment in a few minutes. I don't have any pressing symptom that needs immediate attention. I called to schedule an appointment because over the last two or three weeks there's something -- I can't quite pinpoint it -- but something that's different. I have a vague sensation as if something is out of kilter. But, as I said, I'm definitely not in dire need of medical attention.

Now, that said, here's what I'm pondering:

Where is the line between prudent consultation with a doctor and hypochondria?
Isn't it true that some of the more serious illnesses are in fact signaled by a change in habits or symptoms? Was that not the case with your cancer?

Twice in my life I've had doctors chastise me for "wasting their time." Once was a dentist. The other the guy who administered my colonoscopy last year. The latter's comments: "What are you doing here? You probably just have irritable bowel and nothing more." In addition, when I was younger my father was fairly set against going to the doctor unless "you're bleeding." That was probably a reaction on his part to the fact my mother, in those days, probably was a hypochondriac.

What are you thoughts on the trigger to consulting a doctor? Do you err on the side of caution? Or do you wait to see if a symptom persists and worsens?

Largesse of another kind

2007-06-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

Hello my friend. I can imagine what it's like to be in those temperatures you mentionfor maybe a week or two maximum .. I can recall holidays to the sun in my youth .. but to live like that for months is not something I have experience with. Being an ectomorph I generally thrive in the heat though so I think I might like it, at least a little. Tiring though for sure.

Most of my focus is still not work related, having a couple of kids running around does take some energy, and I also spent the weekend in an internet chess tournament (came 2nd again) while the kids went to their mothers house.

+++

Overweight folks, I just don't understand why they take the food (and in the west it is plentiful and easy to get hold these days) and eat too much of it. Some people seem to just want to eat and eat and are not happy until everything that is outside of them is inside of them. I have heard so many excuses from overweight people. I am underweight and I give no excuses, even though I have a genetic condition - I am underweight because I do not consume enough food, period. Even if my metabolism is broken and can only turn say 30% of food into flesh, where a normal ratio might be 50%, this still means all I have to do is eat more. Overweight people consume too much food for their size and do too little exercise. This is not a way I'd like to live personally, whereas I don't care if I am underweight as long as I don't get sick.

Someone who willingly feeds these enormous people of course does them no good, it's a classic example of "spare the rod and spoil the chil" -- the rod in this case being not giving into an overweight persons demand for food.

But the society we live in really does encourage obesity, so it's kind of an acceptable way to be now I think.

+++

There has been much thunder and lightning in the UK recently. My router keeps dying. The end is nigh !

+++

I will try to get your SOA labs sorted out in the next two weeks. I hope you and the missus are thriving in Tucson my friend!

400 Miles in 100+ Degree Heat

2007-06-24T06:16:00.001-07:00

That was yesterday. I left the house at around 7:00am with the temperature reading 89 degrees Fahrenheit. Throughout most of my 400 mile ride I saw temperatures around 99 to 102 degrees, but it spiked to 109 degrees on my approach back into Tucson.

Let me tell you, riding in that kind of heat takes all the energy out of a person.

* * *
How are things on your side of the pond?

Humble Talent

2007-06-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

Yes, I do have a soft spot for those reality TV shows. That particular show has an American counterpart as well. I particularly like it when unassuming people demonstrate extraordinary skill and maintain a kind of quiet humility about it. This fellow seems to be that in spades. His performance there was quite extraordinary.

Thanks for sharing that.

* * *
I am currently in Columbus, Ohio ... getting ready to go home tomorrow. The inaugural launch of the SOA workshop went well ... except for a problem with the Broker lab that I'd never seen before. It turned out to be caused by a loss of connection between CICS and RRS. That made the call from Broker to CICS fail, throwing an error of .

It bothers me greatly when the labs go badly. :-(

* * *
I am watching a show on television right now about obesity. They're profiling a poor soul who consumes 14,500 calories a day, including 700 grams of fat. He's in horrible physical condition, of course. What's sad is that the profile shows his family enabling his "food addiction" by preparing meal after meal for the man, who eats his food in his bed.

Sad ... and somewhat maddening. It's one thing for someone to be obese and try hard to maintain their weight. But to see someone morbidly obese laughing at the vast quantities of food they eat per day is hard to take with much grace.

A Star Is Born

2007-06-19T05:25:00.000-07:00

You seem to be a fan of these awful talent shows on the TV? K made me watch last week as TV looked for talent in Britain. The overall competition was won by Paul Potts, a young cell phone salesman from South Wales.

Here is his first performance on the show -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oxTy7KIAaA

Aside from being a great tenor, the human part of his story is appealing, that of a hidden talent born to sing but never being discovered - suddenly bursting onto the scene to achieve his destiny, saved from a lifetime of mediocrity. Perhaps that is the hook for all of these shows?

Couple that to the fact of presentation ... a small unassuming not particularly handsome fat bloke walks on in an ill fitting suit and does that ! Talk about not judging a book by its cover :)
Did you ever see the TV show Columbo? The power of underestimation is very significant, people like to be surprised don't they (we)? Lots of important "life" stuff to talk with K about from that clip.

It's kind of linked to the fact that we humans have some kind of natural tendency for mercy, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

Legal Repercussions

2007-06-10T15:37:00.000-07:00

There seems to be something of a desire to "worship" built into us humans - it's just that sometimes we worship the wrong things don't we? Like "celebrities" - I mean what is that all about? Still, I understand now that Paris Hilton has buckled down and will serve her 40-odd days on the 5-star celebrity wing like a good girl.

I think short term jail sentences for this kind of thing are a good idea. Judges have great powers, and it's good to see them exercised in this case. Where they are not exercised but should be, is when it comes to fathers seeing their children. For instance, a mother can be jailed for deliberately and repeatedly obstructing contact - but rarely will judges incarcerate these women. It's not "in the best interests of the child". I would disagree with that to an extent.

There were some awful liberals on the chess server saying "Ohh that judge will regret it if Paris commits suicide in prison - the nasty judge". This is so indicative of a major problem with many young people today. "It's not my fault" and "I should be allowed to do what I want" and "THE MAN has ruined the ozone layer ... etc" (Spot the reference :)

Incidentally, what would these liberals say to a father who was told by a judge that he could not see his children, and then had to pay the mother 75% of his salary to live in the house he slaved all his life to buy with her boyfriend that he had been replaced by? If this father decided to commit suicide then I bet it would not be the fault of the judge in that case - I mean, the father had it coming to him didn't he :) Most normal folks would say "bad luck". But "bad luck" is not correct, "it's a travesty of justice" is closer to the mark.

So yes I think there are times you should hold judges accountable for the consequences of their bad decisions - but not in the Paris Hilton case.

Thoughts?

Autodraft

2007-06-09T14:47:00.000-07:00

I didn't intentionally save that draft ... apparently Blogger has an autosave facility and that's what you saw. Good thing I didn't call you an S.O.B. in that draft! :-)

* * *
I doubt very much that the ultimate adoption of SOA will be anything like what's being proposed now. There is great risk in carving up the universe into a blizzard of small little services. It'll quickly get out of control, regardless of the "repository" one puts in place. I've seen enough consulting presentations now to know that the danger is present -- and very real -- for this thing to spin out of control due to lack of discipline.

* * *
If I remember correctly, Microsoft early on wasn't all that keen about TCP. I think they bet early on their own version of NetBIOS. So did our company ... as a short term stopgap prior to realization of APPC/APPN, which of course never caught hold. Oh, if only we'd provided a free file transfer program! It might not have made a difference ultimately, but it it would have made the fight interesting.

* * *
Have you seen the new "Google Street View" (or whatever it's called)? They are building up an inventory of close up shots that can be zoomed to view. Apparently there's a row forming over invasion of privacy and all that.

* * *
Interesting goings on over here regarding Paris Hilton. I suspect you know the gist of it -- convicted of a "driving under the influence" (DUI), her license is suspended. But she drives anyway, and it caught again. She gets a sentence of 45 days in jail. After 3 days she's released to complete the remainder of her sentence at home. But the original sentencing judge demands a hearing and orders her back to jail. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth.

She is getting a much needed dose of reality in her life right now, painful as it may be. She will be a better person for it if she completes her term. I told my lovely bride, right after Hilton had been released after only three days, that if she truly is out of jail after only 3 days then she will rue the day. She will instantly become a reviled celebrity, along the lines of O.J. Simpson, booed at every appearance. But, if she serves her 45 days with dignity, comes out of it with a contrite spirit, she can leverage that into a new burst of time in the limelight.

Hollywood ... what a place to grow up rich and famous, huh?

Why SOA?

2007-06-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

Apparently the SOA charts I put together tell the story better than they'd seen anywhere else.

Yes I too have stated this. The question I have is "Will customers really embrace SOA or will they stick with monolithic applications?"

I like to think of the Linux kernel, it is monolithlic, although well structured. Other kernels, such as the one in Apple's MacOS are "microkernels" they have a small basic kernel and you plug higher level functions (eg. I/O) into it.

Which is the better architecture? I don't know. Although Apple do have a prettier GUI :)

+++

I was speaking with someone who said he has made a mint in property investment, he said he uses Google Earth to assay (assess?) the value of a proposed investment. He has a simple algorithm that takes into account how many major roads pass by etc. Interesting use of Google Earth I thought!

+++

PS. I can see your previous draft! My guess is that you didn't want to risk disheartening me .. don't worry I am quite cognisant of my chances should A try to get K back, in that case I can only appeal to God to soften her heart and let her see the wishes of her child. I am confident :)

PPS. Ubiquitous protocol required yes, but also a PC in every home too (otherwise there is nothing to connect together). What was the sequence ...

1. Computers came into existence
2. The military and academia connected them together (TCP/IP)
3. Microsoft put a PC in every home
4. The network from (2) extended to (3) - like a creeping virus?

?

Letting Loose Control of Outcome

2007-06-09T06:54:00.000-07:00

I'm just going to carry on as if all is the same and see what happens.

I admire your ability to take this viewpoint. But it must be hard ... at least it would be for me ... to sit back and not try to control the events you can't control. That is the root of much of my trouble ... since I don't trust anyone or anything, I try to ensure at least a safe outcome for me. But this means expending unbelievable quantities of energy on worrying. And that's hard. And I'm tired.

So bravo to you for being able to hold onto a much better outlook on things.

Monday nights when E is over and we all go out for a curry - you know, curry, that hot stuff that you used to be able to scoff down!

Ah, I remember well. I doubt very much I would attempt anything like what I did before. And certainly not on the night before a long airplane flight. ;-)

Other than that I managed to qualify for the final of the freestyle chess tournament (http://www.freewebs.com/freestyle-chess/ see if you can spot my surname) so now I am officially in the top 5 on the "most advanced chess players in the world" list :)

Congratulations! I do indeed spot your surname!

In my SOA class I usually mention that in my opinion the most significant computer-related development of the last 25 years was the adoption of TCP as the universal networking protocol. I still believe that ... and your chess competition thing is another piece of evidence. Could that have been done without TCP? Sure. But uniting the planet around a common networking protocol allowed the focus to shift to things like this. Fast, plentiful bandwidth had something to do with it too. :-)

* * *
I am back from Sacramento. One week here, then off to Columbus to teach my SOA workshop. While in Sacramento I had the opportunity to quickly review my material with two senior architects who cover the state of California. They very much liked what I had. They very quickly asked if I could come back to Sacramento and present the material to a gathering of state agency personnel. Apparently the SOA charts I put together tell the story better than they'd seen anywhere else.

It was nice to get further validation from two people who have enough background to meaningfully compare my material to other material available.

How's the weather?

2007-06-05T16:59:00.000-07:00

I've been ignoring you - but not deliberately pal!

Yes we have those dressing up affaires in the UK too, I've never personally been a major fan of that stuff. It's just not my cup of tea. I like to discover new things rather than cherish the old, that has been a problem for me all of my life I think, and a blessing in other ways.

Yes Google are liberals without a doubt, I suspect they don't like to back anything other than a minority cause. Pinkos? :)

+++

E kind of moved in for a while then moved out, then came back, she flits in and out like a teenager. There have been some developments ... a) her mother and her beau have "split up" (why am I not surprised?) and b) the mother has come to realise that she now wants her children back, and is moving back into the area that I live in.

You know a friend in Hursley warned me about a month ago ... "I hope your ex doesn't split up with this fella or she might decide to go looking for her kids".

K is adamant that under no circumstances is she going to live with her mother, and I hope K gets her wish. E on the other hand is delighted. I'm just going to carry on as if all is the same and see what happens. So for me and K it is business as usual, except on Monday nights when E is over and we all go out for a curry - you know, curry, that hot stuff that you used to be able to scoff down !

+++

Other than that I managed to qualify for the final of the freestyle chess tournament (http://www.freewebs.com/freestyle-chess/ see if you can spot my surname) so now I am officially in the top 5 on the "most advanced chess players in the world" list :) To give you an indication of the standard of play in this tournament, the #19 placed player Baadur Jobava is one of the strongest chess Grandmasters in the world and was using his computer to assist him in his games (it's allowed). It's being hailed as the strongest chess tournament ever held, way beyond the level of Fischer, Kasparov or Deep Blue 2, so I'm extremely glad I got lucky. Now to win the final :)

Memorial Day

2007-05-28T06:34:00.000-07:00

It's 6:35am here in Tucson and already 70 degrees F. I would imagine it's supposed to get to near 100 today. I am home by myself this weekend as my lovely bride has gone back to West Virginia to be with her mother for a few days, then off to her college 25th reunion. She asked if I wanted to join her; I declined. I had a strong need to return home and put down my landing gear for a spell.

Yesterday I had a rather informal dinner with my next door neighbors. They are an interesting couple. They're both between 55 and 60. He has a PhD in high energy physics and was once a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He left that 20 years ago and went into the IT space in the financial services world. Of late, he's working as a contractor doing some IT project management stuff to pay the bills so he and his wife can pursue their preferred avocation: being a vendor of period apparel at Renaissance Festivals.

Have you ever heard of these things ... and do you have them in the U.K.? Here they are massive events, spanning weeks upon end. The create an English medieval setting and people come to "experience" this ... seeing period crafts, food and clothing. I've been to one once before ... not my cup of tea, so to speak. But it's a big business. My neighbors own vendor booths in two festivals -- the one up in Minneapolis and the one down in Texas. They are looking to expand that list and become, in essence, full-time festival vendors. Here is a picture of them and their website. :-)

The occasion of our impromptu dinner was he coming over to offer a cigar in appreciation for collecting their mail recently, and me asking if he'd like to split a bottle of Zinfandel I'd purchased recently.

* * *
Google, which modifies their banner page to commemorate all sorts of holidays -- today fails to do anything to commemorate Memorial Day. Here's a bitmap of their banner today:

They've ignored Thanksgiving and Easter as well. They seem never to fail to commemorate Earth Day or Halloween. The founders of Google, and their minions, are famously liberal.

* * *
Do you now have both K and E living with you most of the time? How many days a week do you have them? How is that working out for you?

Decoration Day

2007-05-28T05:04:00.000-07:00

I will be very interested in hearing what you thought of that.

Apocalypto .. well I would agree with your friends who said it was a feast for the eyes, it appears to have been filmed in a jungle somewhere with minimal use of computer graphics - so it's real and looks real. The cinematographer has a sharp understanding of using low lighting levels to make bright objects like flames in fires jump out of the screen. Some of the scenary really is breathtakingly beautiful. The characters in the movie are well described and you find yourself siding with the "white hats" and intensely disliking the "black hats" - the plot however is paper-thin, and unfortunately (?) Gibson can't resist getting his religious views in there, but hey I like Mel Gibson and would expect no less :)

Watching I realize again that films in which people do a lot of running leave me very unsatisfied and frustrated. I noticed this is myself with The Lord of The Rings 2 but not The Lord of The Rings 1, between those two films debuting I loss the ability to run ... now whenever I see a lot of it on the screen I feel a sense of loss.

That said, I can thoroughly recommend Apocalypto to anyone over the age of 18 - no younger as there is some gratuitous violence in it for sure.

+++

Thanks for your birthday wishes for K, she is currenly snuggled up in bed on the internet, it's a cold Bank Holiday in the UK. Your USA has many to remember today also.

Parenthood

2007-05-26T13:11:00.000-07:00

Next week on Saturday June 2nd, K will obtain 10 years.

Yea! Happy Birthday K!

You, good sir, are getting to be a right proper old man. :-)

The movie stripped some of the struggle and the fears involved with parenthood down to the nub, wanting to do well for your child (and yourself) and fears of not being able to provide, along with keeping the whole thing magical (ie. "the cave") so that your child gets to enjoy being a child without having to take on the cares of adulthood too soon, which they will have to do all too soon really anyway. (emphasis added)

What I emphasized might be my number one reason for not having children myself. The thought of not being able to provide, and watching helplessly as my children suffered and perished, was utterly terrifying. My rational brain knows the probability of that happening was small. My emotional brain, which rules, thought otherwise.

Tonight I'll take a peak at Apocalypto, K is at her mothers.

I will be very interested in hearing what you thought of that. I did not see it. But I've spoken with others who have, and they pretty much all raved about it being a visual/cinematic feast for the eyes.

You know, it's possible that you and your missus are turning English mate. Lessons in high tea and Wuthering Heights are clear indicators :)

Perhaps!

When I started reading Wuthering Heights, I couldn't help but remember Monty Python's skit which had a theatre group performing the work in semaphore. Heathcliff stood on one desolate mountain peak with two flags, Catherine on another. They commenced to issuing semaphore code to one another:

O-h-H-e-a-t-h-c-l-i-f-f-!

O-h-C-a-t-h-e-r-i-n-e-!

:-)

* * *
We watched "Dreamgirls" the other night. It was an okay movie ... I'm not much a fan of musicals. Songs that are part of the storyline, as was the case for Dreamgirls, were fine. Songs that become part of the dialog between characters I don't care for.

Beyonce Knowles looked very nice.

* * *
In case you missed it, Jordin Sparks won "American Idol." She is 17 years old. She's a very good singer and her winning provokes no sense of injustice.

The second place winner was Blake Edwards. His schtick was "beatboxing." He was creative and original, but very limited.

Movie Night

2007-05-26T11:16:00.001-07:00

You know, it's possible that you and your missus are turning English mate. Lessons in high tea and Wuthering Heights are clear indicators :)

+++

On Wednesday my daughter and I got to see "The Pursuit of Happyness", ok now I get the mispelling. We both loved it, my favourite moment was the shining almost star-like light coming on on the bone density machine in the dark and dank mission ... what a relief and it was interesting to see the Chris character played by Will lift up a silent prayer. Light is, and has always been, a powerful metaphor for goodness and hope.

The movie stripped some of the struggle and the fears involved with parenthood down to the nub, wanting to do well for your child (and yourself) and fears of not being able to provide, along with keeping the whole thing magical (ie. "the cave") so that your child gets to enjoy being a child without having to take on the cares of adulthood too soon, which they will have to do all too soon really anyway.

Tonight I'll take a peak at Apocalypto, K is at her mothers.

+++

Yes I think you're correct about the diesel nozzle not fitting in the gasoline tank - I never really thought about the problem being asymmetrical though, I assumed the wrong fuel would break the right engine, and didn't conciously think about the smaller nozzle being able to fit into the larger hole.

+++

Next week on Saturday June 2nd, K will obtain 10 years. On Friday June 1st we'll have a party and I will take the troupe to the local lake for boating and rope swinging (not me on the ropes) and then for a sleep over at our house. K and the girls will take over the lounge and DVD player/TV. We even have a movie camera shaped whack-pinata! How old is K going to be ... TEN !! Double figures.

Petrol

2007-05-25T09:30:00.001-07:00

I was fearful that the engine would be damaged, but apparently that is only the case when you mistakenly put diesel into a car with a gasoline-driven engine. I guess diesel explodes with more vigour?

Here in the United States, the nozzle for unleaded gas is slightly smaller than the nozzle for diesel, and the cars are fitted with receptacles that will accept the smaller one but not the bigger. I suspect you have the same over there. So it makes it very difficult to put diesel in a gasoline car, but it's quite possible to put the smaller nozzle in a diesel tank, as you found.

My previous motorcycle's gas input was not built to the "small input" standard. It would accept a diesel nozzle if I wasn't careful. I almost did that once.

Diesel engines are odd things ... ignition occurs mostly due to extreme compression. I think ignition is aided in some instances with a type of spark plug -- a "glow plug" if I understand correctly. Because the engines are subjected to extreme pressure, the blocks tend to be bigger, heavier, and made of steel rather than aluminum. But they run forever.

* * *
Mr. Heathcliff's behavior in Wuthering Heights would clearly be the antithesis of "Treat Others." You're absolutely correct about that. One might argue that Heathcliff was engaging in "Treat other as you were treated" (as opposed to how you might want to be treated), and indeed vengeance is the animation behind his actions.

I'm nearing the end of the book and it appears there's some redemption offered. I've not yet finished, so I can't say for certain what that might be. But it struck me as a very odd book indeed if Bronte had Heathcliff being victorious in his vengeance and then letting the story just end there. The sense of disappointment would be great.

Note: In the movie It's a Wonderful Life, the chief complaint offered by viewers at its initial screening was that Mr. Potter did not meet justice for his "stealing" the money that almost drove George Bailey from business. The movie ended without Potter having to face punishment for that deed. That was 1946 ... a different era ... but still, I think there's a part of the human heart that desires that justice be served.

* * *
Yesterday I had the "abutment" placed in my jaw, bringing to near completion the long process of getting a dental implant. So far the process has been:

Fracture tooth so severely that root canal would not save tooth
Have tooth extracted
Three months later, have a hole drilled in my jawbone with a titanium implant with threaded receptacle placed. A small metal plate then placed over the receptacle of the post and the gum stitched over the top.
Two months later (yesterday), reopen gum, remove small plate, and place a small post into the implant. That post now sticks up above the gumline, and will be where the crown will be glued.
Two weeks from now: go into general dentist to get impression so fake crown can be fashioned.
Two weeks after that: go back into general dentist and have crown permanently placed on the post.
Two weeks after that: go back into oral surgeon so they can do final follow-up.

Were I to fracture another molar I would simply have it extracted with no implant placed. I learned it's quite easy to get along without a rear molar. Chewing habits are adjusted. A front tooth would be a different matter. But a molar can be lived without.

Misdirection

2007-05-24T23:11:00.000-07:00

.. or, on the importance of concentrating when filling up your car with gasoline.

Yesterday I had a meeting in Warwick and re-fuelled the car in Buckingham whilst driving home. Unfortunately I filled it up with unleaded gasoline rather than diesel fuel. I managed to drive it 200 yards before it conked out. I was recovered to a garage where the tank was drained of the contaminated fuel and re-filled with diesel. After a few goes it started and all is ok.

I learned that you can put gasoline in a diesel car, drive it, and get away with it. I was fearful that the engine would be damaged, but apparently that is only the case when you mistakenly put diesel into a car with a gasoline-driven engine. I guess diesel explodes with more vigour?

Fortunately K had gone to a friends after school for tea and then on to a school disco that finished at 8:30pm. The mother of her friend had even offered to keep K overnight if necessary - but I was home before 9pm, having broken down at 5.30 pm, only 20 miles from my door.

Mobile phones are a real boon in such emergency circumstances!

+++

You are looking well, if not slightly insane with the beer breakfast creation! :)

Seeing those pics reminds me of the heady days where it was just me, with no child or partner. I used to go on skiing holidays with "me mates" and we'd usually be getting an early flight out of Heathrow, and have had at least two pints of Guinness before getting onto the plane.

I like the look of your cottage (if indeed that was your cottage) and aim to get up there with you one day.

+++

Ah the output of the minds of the Bronte Sisters. Unfortunately there is something in my brain that shys away from the particular weaknesses portrayed in the characters of the Bronte Sisters. I think those weaknesses are there in all of us of course, but they are the anti-thesis of treat others as you wish to be treated. As K pointed out to me on one occasion "revenge is wrong isn't it daddy?"

Still I agree a good book-read beats most TV, maybe not The Simpsons though :) You have no TV in your cottage right?

Welcome back, the alarm clock will ring in 6 minutes and it's time to get K ready for school, a happy feeling for what might be a happy day, thank you Lord.

Oh, Heathcliff!

2007-05-24T11:06:00.000-07:00

I am back from my excursion to the wilds of Canada. Here's a picture of me, greatly deprived of liquid sustenance:

In four days me and one other consumed 56 bottles of beer. It requires some pacing to do that. I can attest that beer with breakfast is a combination that works.

And I darned near starved, too:

That is our breakfast creation, consisting of eggs and potatoes as a base, with SPAM, cheese and -- yes -- sauerkraut as filler. Oh, and hot sauce and jalapeño peppers. It was, despite the list of ingredients, quite tasty.

I had two of those at one sitting. I did not eat lunch.

* * *
Why did I choose the title I did for this post? Because while up there, I came across a 57 year old paperback copy of Wuthering Heights. I had never read that before. I have now read it. Some comments on that piece of literature:

Strikingly dark and ferocious ... particularly for that time era.
The role of Heathcliff would seem to me one most "serious" actors would relish
I disagree with the way young Linton became married to young Catherine, thus turning ownership of Thrushcross Grange over to Heathcliff, completing his act of vengeance. It didn't seem plausible. Expeditious, yes; plausible, no.
I would love to visit York just to see the scenery I now have in my mind.

I can see similarities between this work and Pride and Prejudice, particularly in the way society is ordered. But from there the similarities end. In Pride, the importance of civility is held manifest; in Wuthering it seems presented as a thin facade.

Still, an enjoyable book to read! :-)

Goodbye Minneapolis

2007-05-17T02:33:00.000-07:00

You'd be surprised at how few reviewers successfully make 100% of the supposed pre-requisite calls to the people acting as references.

Just curious ... are you just guessing? Or do you have some experience with this?

* * *
I finished the write-up ... I was able to interview one of the people who offered a letter of endorsement. She was a sales rep, and she was concerned about the time it would take. I said, "5 minutes." And that's all it took.

* * *
Thinking of the "sexual chemistry" thing and how it relates to those who feel strongly about holding off on sex prior to marriage. Is it possible to gauge the sexual compatibility with another without actually having sex? It's possible, certainly, to gauge whether there's sexual attraction. But does attraction necessarily equate to compatibility?

I suppose it would be wise for the celibate couple to discuss preferences and desires prior to marriage. If one is into bondage and other fetishes, and the other thinks anything other than missionary is "just weird" ... well, then trouble awaits them down the road.

My fair bride, prior to meeting me, was engaged to another man. They met in a church singles group and both felt it important to refrain from sex prior to their marriage. The engagement fell apart one month before the planned wedding due to all sorts of issues, mostly related to the groom's fear of responsibility (or so I'm told). At any rate, I got the impression that though they refrained from sexual intercourse, their beliefs did not preclude them from other acts of sexual expression, so to speak. So it appears the creative mind finds a way to explore the sexual chemistry angle without "going all the way."

* * *
On "American Idol" last night the most talented singer was eliminated, bringing the competition down to the final two. It was not a complete surprise or complete travesty of justice. In the early rounds it might be about "just singing ability," but in the later rounds other voting dynamics come into play. The contestant eliminated last night was 29 years old and just appeared older by the way she carried herself. The two remaining contestants are 17 and 26 respectively; both are more "youthful" and "hip."

I predict Jordan Sparks will win. She's 17, has a bright personality, and a very good singing voice that will only get better. The other finalist is Blake Lewis, 26, probably gay and is into a style called "beatbox" which I'd never heard of before. He has been the most risk-taking contestant in several years ... taking familiar songs and rearranging them to be more contemporary.

The contestant eliminated last night, Melinda Doolittle, 29, has nothing to worry about. She no doubt has a music contract waiting for her and she'll be just fine.

* * *
The motorcycle forum I frequent had a thread about a fatality accident that occurred in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A sport bike rider traveling at an estimated speed of 120mph changed lanes and slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer traveling at the posted speed of 60. The rider of the motorcycle was thrown into the back of the truck where his head became impaled in the door of the trailer, his body lying limp. The driver of the truck heard and felt the impact, saw the debris continue past his truck, and pulled over. That's when he discovered the dead body impaled in the back of his truck.

Rather gruesome pictures here. Careful, that site carrying the picture has porn references as well, so don't click this if going through company network.

Traveling at twice the posted limits on a road with other vehicular traffic carries with it great risks. I'm sorry someone died. But is it wrong to have a sense in my heart that the rider "had it coming" in some way and that he should have been more careful?

* * *
Weather for this weekend up in Canada looking nice! See ya on the flip-side.

Inverted Responses

2007-05-16T15:53:00.000-07:00

Truth is, I'm angry with myself for dropping the ball on this ... I should have been more diligent but I wasn't. And now time is up and I have to admit failure.

You'd be surprised at how few reviewers successfully make 100% of the supposed pre-requisite calls to the people acting as references, sounds like he's a good guy who will make it through, and that you've made a fair assessment. I too think this is an archetypal management role - ah this is a good topic of conversation over a beer.

Maybe. But my problem is I don't know where the off switch is. Guess what happens when a 50 watt bulb burns at 100 watts for too long.

SO HAVE A RELAXING TIME OFF OK?? Sorry for the shouting :)

Sure. But depending on the nature and extent of the change, might not a cautious approach be indicated?

Agreed, indeed.

"Dispense with the first date nonsense. That can come later. Let's have sex. If that works, then we'll find out a little more about each other."

I mean how do you know you even want to have sex with someone until AFTER the first date, or at the very minimum at the end of the evening of the first date.

I look upon this whole sex thing as something I once did in the past - I'm interested in it now not from a personal perspective but to learn how best to advise my daughter. I know she'll go her own way and make her own mistakes, but my desire for her to lead a happy life means I need to find something to say to her in this area. The best thing I have come up with so far is along the lines of:

"We spend too much time looking for the perfect lover and not enough time building the perfect love"

Having said that, if the sexual chemistry is not there between two people then I think the relationship is ultimately doomed to failure because at some point either party will find someone else - someone with whom this chemistry does exist - and this is often enough to convince them to move on. So clearly, sexual chemistry is very important.

I was talking to some chess folk on the server this evening and a few of them had avoided getting married in their lives - and they gave similar reasons - they didn't like the odds of their partner betraying them. Such probability hounds are chess players!

Inverted Priorities

2007-05-16T03:58:00.000-07:00

In the May 14th edition of "USA Today," in the "Life" section, there's a little snippet titled "Post-divorce Barkin wants more." The piece is about actress Ellen Barkin, 53, who in early 2006 divorced from Revlon chairman Ron Perelman. The last paragraph struck me:

Barkin has even started dating again. "I go out with men," but the actress tells More that she does not appreciate being set up by friends and refuses to have dinner with strangers. "You think, 'Why am I here?'" she explains. "And if it's a great dinner, why are we having dinner? why don't we just go home? I mean, isn't that the more important question?" She continues, "Let's first see if the sex thing works, and then we could go have dinner."

That struck me as oddly inverted. It's as if the physical chemistry of sex is more important than the interpersonal chemistry one finds through conversation and being in one another's presence. Or, perhaps more to the point, that she's suggesting that sex can't be enhanced by the spark of a positive interpersonal connection, but that the interpersonal can be diminished by poor sex.

I know full well where she's coming from. And I recognize that it's quite possible that two people who get along well outside the bedroom can be awful together inside the bedroom. I recognize the desire and need to establish the validity of the sexual connection before committing to anything more serious. But the harshness of Barkin's statement caught me: "Dispense with the first date nonsense. That can come later. Let's have sex. If that works, then we'll find out a little more about each other."

* * *
Question: Should wealth be hand-down-able to your offspring? It's all time-related because in one million years time I doubt anyone rich today will have any influence on anyone living then - through inheritance.

It should not be prohibited. But I don't think your question is related to social policy so much as it is a more metaphysical question about the enduring value of it.

It's interesting to note that some very rich people recently have eschewed passing the bulk of their estates to their children. Warren Buffet gave away a vast portion of his billions, leaving his children with "only" a few hundred million.

I believe there is tremendous value in having a child learn the value of striving for and earning their way in this world. Being bequeathed a fortune makes learning that lesson difficult. (See: "Hilton, Paris") I stand to inherit nothing ... in fact, in real terms a negative inheritance. I don't resent that. I am grateful for having learned the value of work.

* * *
I think change for the sake of change is not necessarily a good thing, especially where you can see that the change will make things less optimal than the status quo. However, when a change looks to be very promising (better than current) then it might be worth having a punt might it not?

Sure. But depending on the nature and extent of the change, might not a cautious approach be indicated?

* * *
I feel like a 50 watt bulb trying very hard to burn at 100 watts.

Very descriptive. But perhaps this is what drives you. People that do anything that others cannot do must be driven by something must they not?

Maybe. But my problem is I don't know where the off switch is. Guess what happens when a 50 watt bulb burns at 100 watts for too long.

* * *
These people just seemed more relaxed and human. Not scared to say the wrong thing, or do the wrong thing. The lower echelons can be such robots don't you think?

Yes they can. At the same time, the higher-ups can be bulldozers. There's a balance in there somewhere, I think. Or should be.

* * *
I have been assigned the task of reviewing the package for a Senior Certification candidate. I've interviewed him and his manager, but not the people who completed endorsement letters. I've tried contacting several of those people, but my phone messages and e-mails have gone unanswered. My patience is chasing down these people is utterly absent. I will hear nothing from them that will augment or detract from what they wrote in their letters. It is next to impossible any of the letters are forgeries. And someone who writes such a letter will not then contradict it in conversation. So what exactly is the point of calling them and speaking with them?

My view of all this is tainted by my general disregard for the whole certification process. In my mind, if a persons management chain feels the person has earned a "10," then the person should get a "10." Having three strangers -- novice investigators and only barely familiar with the candidate's work through package review and a few phone conversations -- act as the gatekeepers to that strikes me as foolish. And possibly within the boundaries of fodder for a lawsuit if rejected.

The candidate in question has these characteristics: he's quiet but thorough. He gets things done. He works hard. He leads by example, not by dictate. He is a leader not because he orders people around, but because in times of stress he seems to be the one who knows what to do and helps others accomplish the goal. More important, he's a man of quiet integrity who earns and does not betray trust.

I learned that by reading his package, speaking to him and his manager, and doing my best to read between the lines of the endorsement letters. What am I likely to glean by playing phone tag for a week just so I can hear the authors of those letters say the same thing?

Truth is, I'm angry with myself for dropping the ball on this ... I should have been more diligent but I wasn't. And now time is up and I have to admit failure.

Ghost Rider

2007-05-14T15:41:00.000-07:00

I heard that Helen Mirren snubbed The Queen recently, she was invited for tea at The Palace but couldn't make it due to filming schedules. She's a very versatile actress, I recently saw her as the granny getting off with Cuba Gooding Jr in Shadowboxer, a stylish but pretty violent movie. I will catch The Queen at some point no doubt.

Question: Should wealth be hand-down-able to your offspring? It's all time-related because in one million years time I doubt anyone rich today will have any influence on anyone living then - through inheritance.

I think change for the sake of change is not necessarily a good thing, especially where you can see that the change will make things less optimal than the status quo. However, when a change looks to be very promising (better than current) then it might be worth having a punt might it not?

+++

E coming to live with us is something she asked for and is gladly met on my part. I hope I can give her shelter. It's kind of circular that both girls were just taken away (aged 2 and aged 5) with no say in the matter whatsoever and have both come back on their own initiatives. It really is an advertisement for separated fathers to just hang in there. It does re-affirm my faith in the goodness of God too.

I'm thinking of converting my garage into a study, as I'll need to convert the study back into a bedroom to fit E in. Until then I'll be working in the lounge.

+++

I feel like a 50 watt bulb trying very hard to burn at 100 watts.

Very descriptive. But perhaps this is what drives you. People that do anything that others cannot do must be driven by something must they not?

+++

Children are learning machines

Another great phrase!

+++

I recall at my first really senior technical meeting that it felt like these people were far more my type than all the rule followers I had been dealing with up to that point. These people just seemed more relaxed and human. Not scared to say the wrong thing, or do the wrong thing. The lower echelons can be such robots don't you think?

+++

Have a great week off and a successful cottage opening sir.

"The Queen"

2007-05-13T05:39:00.000-07:00

Last night we watched the movie "The Queen," starring Helen Mirren. It was one of those quiet, understated movies, so I was inclined to watch it and like it. I was left with an odd sense of sadness over the portrayal of the Royal Family and, particularly the Queen. Thankfully the movie set about correcting the overly critical portrayal early in the movie and in the end gave the Queen back some dignity and grace.

I am, as you know, politically "conservative." That does not necessarily mean "Republican" and it does not necessarily mean I align with specific policies. The term is difficult to define precisely, but the root of the word is "conserve" ... that is, the preservation of tradition and what has historically been good. "Progressives" seek, to my eye, to change for the sake of change, even when what is being changed is working quite well. There is, of course, opportunity for enormous debate within all that.

Anyway, the point being ... the British Monarchy represents a link to the past; an embodiment of tradition. To that end I have a soft spot in my heart for it. Much of that soft spot is due to Elizabeth II, who I think has been wonderfully dignified for decades.

I'm not so sure the Monarchy can long survive her passing, though. Perhaps, but I'm not certain of it.

* * *
So E is coming to live with you too? Was that something you asked for, or something you accepted after having been asked to do it? What in the world would be the motivation in A's heart to allow this ... removal of a "burden" from her? Or is it possible she was thinking of E's best interest?

I can't believe the audacity of A to expect and demand a continuance of "child support" payments when in fact she's no longer supporting the children. On the surface I would think you'd have a good case for discontinuance, but at the same time I agree that it would be dicey ... some feminist judge who hates men could easily dictate otherwise. The old saying, "Don't rock the boat" may well apply here.

* * *
You know me well. Your list of things you figure would be my "formative events" was nearly spot on ... in fact, you had things on there I'd overlooked.

Counselors in the past have urged me to "forgive" the transgressions. I've thought a lot about that over the years. I'm not so sure my focus is on the events of the past themselves, but rather the effects of those things on me now. (I'm sure counselors would say, "Work on forgiveness first, and then you can work on transformation of your current self." I know the game.)

I am, like most I think, a bundle of neurosis. Yes, I have been "successful." But the turmoil in my heart is taking a toll. I feel like a 50 watt bulb trying very hard to burn at 100 watts. I doubt my ability to accomplish that, and when I do accomplish it I feel I did so poorly and will not be able to repeat. Appeals to my rational brain do not work. This is something operating at a level different from that. My rational brain can clearly see the inconsistency of the thinking. My emotional brain (if indeed that's where this all is operating) can not, or does not, listen to rational arguments.

* * *
And the fact that you have mentioned it (even if only in passing) helps me a great deal - it's a warning to not cut off when I am stressed, but instead to engage with my children.

Wonderful. What is it they say ... "God is able to work good from bad things," or something to that effect.

I firmly believe children look to adults (and parents in particular) to offer insights into coping with the difficulties that surround us. Children are learning machines ... they observe and take in all that is around them. Your daughter and her half-sister have endured much ... more than two little girls should have had to. From what I can gather, you are about the only sensible person in their worlds.

Heck ... can I come live with you too? :-)

* * *
The meeting in POK last week was interesting from an observational point of view. The room was filled with some big name people from our employer. Two DE's and a host of other higher-ups. It was good to just observe ... to see how their mind works, and to see how to formulate and offer their advice. It wasn't nearly as crisp and authoritative as I'd imagined. Clearly, though, they were operating from a deep well of technical insights.

There is no chance whatever that I am qualified to be a DE, nor do I want it.

Heck, acquiring Band 10 has stirred up in me all manner of issues, mostly having to do with a heightened sense of new responsibilities that I fear I can't perform. (See my earlier comment about 50W vs. 100W.) Why I'd aspire to more still is beyond me.

My ascent has reached its apogee. :-)

* * *
Your string of "good luck" on your recent trip used up a good portion of your stored karma. Watch out. :-)

* * *
Went out for a 200 mile ride on the Goldwing yesterday. I was feeling fatigued and I couldn't figure out why. I hit the "Info" button which provides a readout of the current air temperature. I figured out why I was tired ... 102 degrees F. It was a hot one yesterday. I think I was mildly dehydrated.

* * *
My "SOA" presentations on Techdocs has been hit over 600 times in two months. How many were downloads I do not know. But the second month's total was 400 ... and that's a high number compared to other papers. I wonder if that stuff is finding an audience?

* * *
I am off to Minneapolis to teach, then to Detroit where I'll meet up with my friend from Michigan. We'll drive to Canada to open my cottage for the year. I "go dark" from this and other work stuff starting this Thursday through the following Wednesday.

Back Home

2007-05-12T15:25:00.000-07:00

Returned from a very successful business trip in Croatia. On the business side I achieved about 90% of what I went out there to do, with the remaining 10% going to be achieved once the client gets into production in the August timeframe.

Not only that, but after dropping K off at school on Weds morning I was insanely late for Heathrow, after being stopped and checked at security (grr, embarrassing!) I arrived at my gate at 11:50 for a flight that was due to depart at 11:50 ! Fortunately the flight was delayed and I got straight on and it took off.

Everyone was very welcoming in Croatia, taking me out for dinner and lunches, one of which I stumped up for. A critical situation got resolved whilst I was on the plane going out there - if it hadn't the entire trip would have had a different feel.

Coming back, I was late meeting a connecting flight in Vienna due to delays in Zagreb, so I was informed (with great regret) that my bag would not be on my flight and would be Fed-Ex'd to me in a few days. Fortunately I had remembered to take everything of value out of it (like keys, money, thinkpad, pcmcia GSM card etc) so I wasn't too worried, I could afford to lose some used undies! At Heathrow I took a punt to look for said bag on the carousel and there it was with a "HOT" sticker on it! Haha.

Usually when things go so right in my life something really bad happens, so I'm worried.

+++

Not bad but good. K's sister E is coming to live with us in 1 week! I have many preparations to make, I need to unconvert my study back into a bedroom for starters. I wonder how their mother must feel? Although I have to say she seemed quite pleased on the phone, "Oh but don't forget to keep sending me the money". I am reminded of the song that John Lennon wrote about Paul McCartney after the acrimonious divorce of The Beatles. The song was called "How do you sleep?" and it eventually appeared on Lennon's Imagine album.

I wonder if I can push UK law, but is it worth it?

+++

[ I had some things here, but upon reflection I decided it was best to remove them]

So I go away and miss all the juicy stuff!

Thanks for your words of support for me. I am not sure what you had written but I can take some guesses, the words that come to mind are:

1. Mother
2. Walking on eggshells
3. Girl on bus
4. Hooters
5. Divorce
6. Turn left or right?
7. Your missus
8. Guinness
9. Betrayal
10. Sales

and the last one ..

11. A father who could not cope

Am I anywhere close?

The last one I remember most about your formative-year descriptions, because it is my greatest fear. And the fact that you have mentioned it (even if only in passing) helps me a great deal - it's a warning to not cut off when I am stressed, but instead to engage with my children. Your experience taught me that. I'm sorry that you had to go through it but thank you for sharing it. It helped one family at least :)

+++

For posterity:

"How do you sleep?" -- John Lennon

So Sgt. Pepper took you by surprise
You better see right through that mother's eyes

Those freaks was right when they said you was dead
The one mistake you made was in your head

Oh, how do you sleep?
Oh, how do you sleep at night?

You live with straights who tell you, you was king
Jump when your momma tell you anything

The only thing you done was "yesterday"
And since you're gone you're just another day

Oh, how do you sleep?
Oh, how do you sleep at night?

A pretty face may last a year or two
But pretty soon they'll see what you can do

The sound you make is muzak to my ears
You must have learned something in all those years

Oh, how do you sleep?
Oh, how do you sleep at night?

+++

Pretty caustic. The reference to Paul being dead is because some fans thought that

a) because Paul was the only one with bare feet on the cover of Abbey Road

and

b) At the end of "Strawberry Fields Forever" John says "Cranberry Sauce" into the mike which was translated by some fans as "I buried Paul".

For me, the kicker of a line is "You must have learned something in all those years" which is a reference to the fact that John thought he taught Paul everything about music, but it was probably not quite like that :)

"The Passions of the Mind"

2007-05-09T04:15:00.000-07:00

That's the title of the book I'm currently reading. It was written by Irving Stone in 1970 and is a historical novel about Sigmund Freud. If I'm understanding correctly the structure of Freud's theoretical framework, the kinds of events you describe might well play into the formulation of your psyche.

Are these overly bad experiences? They seem pretty tragic to me, but I think many have similar or worse stories to tell. I've tried to not let them colour my outlook on life but I think they must have.

They are tragic ... and they have coloured your outlook, as all your experiences have. Others may have "worse stories to tell," but that doesn't mean yours are any less formative.

First bride walking down the isle knowing she'd been at it with some other fella during the last week.

Ouch. The betrayal of trust might be the single most damaging thing that can happen to us. More in a bit. The heartache I suffered in my present marriage some 10 years ago now involved something similar, only after the wedding rather than before. It makes me wonder if "trust" is the one thing that is truly ours to give, which is why a violation of that trust is so painful.

Second wife trying to convince K's older sister to tell the authorities that I was abusing the children, just so that she could get me kicked out of my own house.

The element of this that triggers the strongest reaction in my heart is the sense of injustice about this. The "second wife" should not have done this, clearly. But more, she should not have been able to do try this. The fact that she could simply state a falsehood and invoke the mechanism of the state against you is a terrible injustice. The use of power against the powerless is a major theme in the Bible. I'm sure it's a dominant theme throughout human history.

What are some key moments in your life? Well that you'd be willing to share here anyway.

[ I had some things here, but upon reflection I decided it was best to remove them]

Trust

2007-05-08T16:34:00.000-07:00

The list goes on ... all based on some basic notion of physics.

Hehe. Some people have just got too much time on their hands :) I like the option of us humans unintentionally instantiating a new super-particle, maybe some massive boson, during some high energy physics experiment at CERN or somewhere and the particle starts a chain reaction which devours the Earth by converting all the bosons in matter.

+++

Whilst ironing, I was thinking of defining moments in my life and for some reason I thought of bad stuff. Two things in particular 1) First bride walking down the isle knowing she'd been at it with some other fella during the last week and 2) Second wife trying to convince K's older sister to tell the authorities that I was abusing the children, just so that she could get me kicked out of my own house. K's sister, who was 5 at the time was confused and just told the truth, eventually the second wife moved out of the house on her accord, after months of misery. The authorities were pissed at her for time wasting also.

Are these overly bad experiences? They seem pretty tragic to me, but I think many have similar or worse stories to tell. I've tried to not let them colour my outlook on life but I think they must have. I only hope I can show my daughter how we humans really are and still encourage her to love and trust.

What are some key moments in your life? Well that you'd be willing to share here anyway.

+++

Off to Croatia for two nights in the morning after dropping K off at school. Ho hum.

Eye Candy for Physics Geeks

2007-05-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

That's you, pal.

Check this out. It's titled, "How to destroy the Earth," and it's a rather detailed list of possible ways to physically destroy the planet earth. For example, the first one listed is "Annihilated by an equivalent quantity of antimatter." The list goes on ... all based on some basic notion of physics.

Shaken or stirred?

2007-05-06T09:03:00.000-07:00

This time though, when asked about how he takes his martini, Daniel Craig's James Bond says "Do I look like I give a damn?" -- which is probably far more accurate a reply, but poor show !
I saw the movie just over a week ago, I very much enjoyed it - but in my opinion it wasn't really a James Bond movie, it was more like Mission Impossible 4.

For me, James Bond will always be Sean Connery in those early movies with Miss Moneypenny and Pussy Galore. In fact, my dad used to work in the same factory in Scotland as Sean, whose birth name is Tam (Tom) Connery. Old Tam used to French Polish coffins according to my dad!

I'm old fashioned I know, but I think even Pierce Brosnan was more, well, British - even though he's Irish. The old boy Eatonian/Oxbridge network of Bond is to me an enjoyable ingredient of the genre and I didn't get this from Criag at all, he's too "street wise"- but a great movie anyway.

I think the beautiful girl taking her own life near the end is one in the eye for the impetuesness of youth is it not? She looked like she might have changed her mind though right before she passed out/on?

+++

I'm sorry about your negative experiences in your formative years. What is done is done and they make you the person you are today. It's a shame, we parents are just animals after all, and often not well suited to the care and love of young ones. You're doing ok though pal, I mean you made a success of your life nontheless.
I don't know what Ellen will do, but I told her my door and house is open to her always, and that no matter what she decides she too will make her life a successful and happy one. So I'll see what she decides.

+++

K returned from school journey on Friday, I met her from the coach and she gave me such a big hug and she then started singing that song "Reunited and it feels so good ... " ! The poor thing didn't really get on too well, there were some tears, she didn't wash herself all week - well none of the girls did because of the see-through shower doors - apparently boys could have walked in. She conquered some fears though (or "punched out a few Biffs" in her Back To The Future parlance). So it was straight in the bath for a clean and hairwash and then out to see Spider-man 3 which we both loved. Anything Marvel Comics I love - there are more movies to come with Iron-Man, Thor and The Avengers, not to mention Hulk 2. The stories I loved as a kid are being told again, except this time on the big screen.

+++

I've been playing with Windows Vista Ultimate x64 on a new T60 2007 Widescreen I got from work, it's the only 64-bit Windows OS that has drivers for the disk and wireless, Win XP 64 does not have them unfortunately. I'm reasonably impressed I'm sorry to say! Still can't make a VPN though :( (Thus the Windows 32-bit running in a VM - the back window) Things will catch up no doubt, I'd say it's still very early days for Vista. It's pretty for sure, check out my desktop, some shades of OS/2 in the icons ... although not as pretty as Ubuntu Linux with Beryl.

Post post: VPN does work with Lotus Mobile Connect. Windows Vista x64 is a lot faster than Win XP 32 on my machine, so now I have a quandry, stick with Win XP 32 bit, not using the full capabilities of my h/w or switching to Vista full time? Decisions decisions :)

Casino Royale

2007-05-06T07:01:00.000-07:00

My lovely bride and I watched the Bond movie "Casino Royale" last night. In general, I am not much a fan of Bond movies, or action movies in general. The onslaught of sound and fury that marks those movies disturbs some deep part of me.

Casino Royale was, however, an excellent movie in my opinion. It does what other action movies should, but don't: take time away from the bombast to provide some quiet character development. It is from these quiet times that tension is born. The high-stakes poker game in Casino Royale was one of the best tension sequences I've seen in years ... and it was done in a very quiet and understated way.

James Bond as a goofy cartoon character was amusing but does not make great cinema. James Bond as a scarred human hiding behind a tough veneer is compelling.

If you've not yet seen that movie, I'd recommend it.

* * *
Sorry to hear about K's half-sister phoning for rescue. From such people as her mother come the wreckage of many lives. My life is in many ways broken by the vestiges of my mother, who is a deeply flawed person. K is very fortunate that she has you to be her anchor point. I did not have that. It is very sad to think of E desperately treading water in the storm-tossed sea that is life with A.

* * *
A friend said about my daughters mother "It could be that the purpose of her life is only to serve as a warning to others".

A warning to what effect, for for what purpose? As someone to avoid? Or someone to avoid being like? An "anti-pattern," in the parlance of our brethren over in services? :-)

* * *
I have read news accounts of late that some of this "carbon offsetting" is turning out to be a bit of a scam ... money is paid but nothing is really done with it. It seems this whole notion of "carbon neutrality" is more a tool to offset guilt -- or provide a platform for moral preening -- than to really address the issue. No surprise there.

Carbon offsetting

2007-05-04T03:33:00.000-07:00

This is where you use as much energy as you like but donate some money to a tree planting enterprise in Bolivia or somewhere. The thing is, we think we need our energy, well I know I do.

The only answer is to change our values, or (better) use technology/science to allow us to use unlimited energy.

I think I followed your Nissan once around the Washington belt to a restuarant? Is it the one with the personalized :) number plate? Incidentally, that restuarant was the only one I have ever been to in my life that had valet parking.

+++

Sorry I have been inactive for a while, Katherine has been on her first school journey this week, I packed her off on the coach on Monday morning (only a few tears) and will pick her up this afternoon. She's been to an activity center, Manor Adventure, Shropshire UK - I think she got on OK, parents were allowed no contact, well, only in case of emergencies so I assume there have been none.

So I've been down in Hursley working for the man during my "time off" from being a parent.

Incidentally whilst I was in Hursley I got a phone call from K's older half sister asking is she could come and live with us. It was a real "Gimme shelter" phone call, not sure what to do as I don't want to anger the monstrous regiment. Prayer is the answer.

A friend said about my daughters mother "It could be that the purpose of her life is only to serve as a warning to others". I wonder if that is why we have evil in the world? To serve as that warning? Well she did give birth to our daughter so that's a good purpose I hope.

+++

We would fairly quickly become exceedingly arrogant and selfish. Fear is a check on those behaviors

I wonder why we like to behave in this fashion? Behaving like this must have some kind of feedback loop that makes our glands emit happy chemicals I suppose?

Might "artisan" be a now obsolete term for any service person -- plumber, carpenter, painter, etc.?

Yes, and still used in certain upper class circles so not so much of the obsolete.

Old Car Blues

2007-05-03T17:24:00.000-07:00

My 1995 Nissan Altima, which I truly do enjoy, has once again fallen prey to the gremlins of auto breakdown. I think the problem is related to the water pump or some other belt-driven peripheral device. It started making a noise about a week ago, and today whatever it was finally seized up and stalled the engine. I think the main engine is fine -- pistons, valves, drive train, etc. It got towed to the auto repair guys and we'll see what they say.

The funny thing about that car is that I've become quite emotionally attached to it. I can't explain why. It's not my first car. It's not my dream car. It's just a plain 4-door sedan. But it's been a good car for the 10 years I've owned it, only letting me down once when I was far from home. It has 170,000 miles on it.

I suspect the time may have come to replace it. Then the battle begins. My lovely bride insists on massive power -- 6 cylinders minimum, 8 preferably. I insist we have that in the pickup truck, and what we need now is a small sport-about car, something to get us around town economically.

No Fear

2007-04-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

Hypothetical question: How would we be right now this minute if we had no fear? What would we do, how would we act?

We would fairly quickly become exceedingly arrogant and selfish. Fear is a check on those behaviors, I think. Paradoxically, fear is also a fuel for those behaviors. Then again, perhaps I don't really know? :-)

* * *
Might "artisan" be a now obsolete term for any service person -- plumber, carpenter, painter, etc.?

Artisans

2007-04-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

If we can never find the truth why do we desire it?

Because the thought of this existence truly being without purpose, without an underlying truth, is deeply frightening to us

So we are back to fear, specifically the avoidance of it. Hypothetical question: How would we be right now this minute if we had no fear? What would we do, how would we act?

+++

Yes I like your plumbing analogy a lot. That's what we do, we're artisans. I used to think artisans were painters, I once saw the sign "artisans entrance" above a back door into the clubhouse at a golfing club and wondered what it meant and why it was there.

Mid-Life Purpose

2007-04-24T07:32:00.000-07:00

This is where I think contemporary society lets us down. In years past, the notion of working at something that provided meaning and purpose to one's life was probably never considered. Working was a means of supporting the family and little more. The possible exception to this was the higher professions such as medicine or academia.

I suffer the same thing you write of. I am finding it increasingly difficult to care. I've long since abandoned the notion that this software stuff is life-altering. It's more akin to the way a plumber approaches his craft ... the homeowner cares about his plumbing because it helps him lead his life in a more comfortable way. So the plumber is providing a service to the homeowner -- money in exchange for something that makes the homeowner more comfortable.

The risk for me is thinking there's a greener pasture out there ... that if I only did X for a living I'd find fulfillment. I won't. Sometimes I wonder if there truly is fulfillment to be had? How's that for pessimistic?

* * *
One thing though, isn't the writer making the assumption that there is something called "truth"?

I think so. We seem to yearn for an anchor point, which is what an objective "truth" would be. It seems we don't necessarily want to live by the constraints of such an anchor point, though. So we are caught in this sort of limbo -- in today's society we go about as if "there is no truth" because that affords us the maximum latitude to pursue our wants and feelings, regardless of where that may lead us. But at the same time there's a part of us that is deeply uncomfortable with such an "un-anchored" reality.

How can we, the programs running on the RAM, find out the true nature of the RAM? We can't can we?

No. Unless the RAM tells us about itself. But if the RAM withholds that information, we can't know about it. How can we know if a revelation is true? Ah ... well, we're back to our dilemma, aren't we? :-)

If we can never find the truth why do we desire it?

Because the thought of this existence truly being without purpose, without an underlying truth, is deeply frightening to us. Lots of people claim that's what this existence is all about. But I don't believe they believe it. What I see is they substitute in various surrogate purposes. Right now the "Global Warming" thing is the purpose de juour. That's why people are flocking to it with such passion -- they believe it to be something that gives their lives (and this existence) an anchor, a grounding, a purpose and truth.

Why would a purposeless existence be frightening? What's frightening about our being nothing but molecules that dictate our behavior and existence? And that when we cease to function we just cease to be?

Isn't that fundamentally the root of nearly all religion, art, poetry and literature?

Motivation

2007-04-24T01:21:00.000-07:00

My motivation for life is very high but my motivation for working for the company is maybe at an all time low. Everything I seem to do there is pointless, even the stuff that helps clients make a profit, I mean -- what's the point ??

Well of course the point is that I need to work to pay the bills, even if the work is of no intrinsic value. Perhaps this is my mid-life crisis? :) That would be funny but I had the middle of my life a long time ago.

+++

Are you still out there in the Palisades, teaching SOA? Thanks to your efforts I am beginning to get my head around what it is all about, your presentations are much appreciated !

+++

I found some resonance in this passage about the benefits of the scientific method and living with quantum mechanics in particular:

When we see an insect being tricked into thinking an orchid is a female insect we think "That orchid doesn't look anything like an insect, what a strange mistake to make", and a bat might use echo location and see us being aroused by something that simply has the texture and shape of a piece of paper but which doesn't resemble the texture or shape of a female human and wonder how we could make such a mistake.

Our common sense and intuition don't necessarily tell us what's true, especially when it doesn't relate to the world we evolved in, so we have to rely on experiments, and quantum theory constantly makes accurate predictions. If it's beyond our common sense and intuition then that's too bad for us.

One thing though, isn't the writer making the assumption that there is something called "truth"?

How can we, the programs running on the RAM, find out the true nature of the RAM? We can't can we? We can't use the tools we have been given to discern the nature of the place those tools exist in any more than M$ Word can tell that it's a sunny day outside. If we can never find the truth why do we desire it?

Bus vs. Hub

2007-04-18T18:29:00.000-07:00

In one of the classes last year, we got into a discussion over whether ESB is a true bus or a hub architecture. I thought, "Oh, what does it really matter as long as it works?" But that's just me.

Truth is, the ESB is really more of a interconnected hub structure. It's a hub within any instance of the implementation ... and a kind of channel structure between hubs.

Even one of our true bus architectures -- Ethernet -- is not really a bus anymore, it's a star-hub structure with a high-speed switch fabric at the center.

* * *
The concept of "application" really is morphing, isn't it? The concept of a monolithic application is nearly dead ... and perhaps has been for 10 or more years. But more and more, an "application" is becoming a kind of logical collection of services stitched together.

* * *
I'm in Pallisades, NY right now. Lots of quaint villages. Lots of green and budding spring. Lots of gray overcast skies.

Buses

2007-04-18T08:48:00.000-07:00

Reading your stuff in a desperate attempt to grok (or understand) exactly what an ESB is ... a thought comes to mind - is the term "application" now dead? Ie. Everything is a service. So the client does not have applications any more, but has services? Is that the mindset we are looking to?

Interesting, there are times when buses are good and times when not so. Since year dot Intel have been making CPU's that connect to their memory (RAM) through a bus, sometimes referred to as the FSB or "Front Side Bus". AMD (the major competitor to Intel in the x86 CPU space) came up with an alternate architecture a few years ago, a direct connect architecture (DCA) called Hypertransport. It worked, it was a lot faster than FSB and memory latencies were greatly reduced, giving a tremendous boost to application performance, a supreme innovation which led to them stealing 20% of the market.

Intel in their next generation processors out this year will also be moving away from FSB to a DCA :)

So in a time-critical performance sense, buses aren't so good.

Gay Deceiver

2007-04-18T05:34:00.000-07:00

I saw a picture of the kid who shot 32 and I think it's the latter "detached and numb". Cold. Something went very wrong in that kids life or creation or somewhere. He does look archetypically evil in the shot. Evil does exist doesn't it? Very sad.

+++

+++

Recall our discussion of things supernatural in origin .. well now a mathematician has come up with a theory based on Einstein's equations that is quite neat.

The theory is derived bottom-up rather than top-down (like string theory) so should be more attractive to those of us with a more pratical nature, or from missouri.

He's saying that the Universe might be 6-D and that the two extra dimensions are time-like.

I say, these extra two dimensions are a superb place for Heaven and Hell to exist.

I like the theory - a) there is a trinity involved (space time interacting with the two new dimensions, called twistor spaces - what a great name!) Picture of that here:

b) it's also the same idea as in a Science Fiction book (so must be correct) I read in the mid 80's (around about same time that I read "Enders Game" by Orson Scott Card - the one your missus adores) called "The Number of The Beast" by Robert A. Heinlein. In there two couples travelled around these six axes in a ship called Gay Deceiver - fantastic book - you get the 666 connection?

It must be correct else why else did I read that book? :)

I like it much better than the m-brane 10-D theory that Hawking is associated with, I do so hope it's falsifiable then it has some merit as a scientific theory.

One thing that does annoy me in the article is the following sentance:

"There are also non-spinorial particles, called bosons, such as the photon, graviton, pion, mesons, the W and Z bosons, the Higgs, (if it exists) and so on, which have an integer spin, Sparling explains."

Why does the Higgs boson (which is meant to be the particle mediator for mass) get an "if it exists" whereas the graviton does not? Nobody ever found a graviton and I suspect they won't either. I'm such a fan of General Relativity due to it's beauty (as opposed to Quantum Gravity). I do so hope it's "correct", ouch my prejudices are showing. If the Higgs boson doesn't exist then we humans need to re-invent standard particle theory so my guess is that the Higgs does exist, as standard particle theory has been pretty successful so far.

Virginia Tech

2007-04-17T03:22:00.000-07:00

What must be the state of someone's mind to deliberately and intentionally massacre people? Is it a crazed state of mind? Or just detached and numb? Do you suppose the gunman had a rational awareness of what he was doing? A rational awareness of right and wrong, with a deliberate intent to do wrong?

The right to bear arms

2007-04-16T14:26:00.001-07:00

BLACKSBURG, Virginia.

Thoughts to the families. Keep going.

Motorcycling

2007-04-15T13:14:00.000-07:00

One day I may drive again! Although probably not in the near future as knowing my luck I would end up having an accident and orphaning my daughter earlier than I should.

It's a sobering thought that all things being as they should be, all of us will get orphaned some day.

+++

Ah ok I get the cable thing now, thanks, that picture paints a thousand words.

+++

Nice joke, I have something similar, probably from the same batch ...

:)

Yahama FJR 1300 - No Shift With Foot!

2007-04-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

Yahama has a really nice Sport Touring bike called the FJR. One model of it has "electric shift," with controls on the left grip to shift up or down. Here's a quick review.

There you go!

Concrete

2007-04-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

I don't have a clue what the true distinction is between pre- and post- stressed concrete. Here's a picture of what they do with the concrete slabs they pour:

The effect is to compress the concrete such that cracks are less likely to appear. In a sense it's like leaving a spring-loaded cake ring on the cake, as opposed to taking the ring off. With the spring-loaded cake ring left on, pressure is exerted around the edges of the cake. That holds it together. Take the ring off the cake may well hold together ... or it may crack if the cake is touched or moved.

I think the meaning of "post" is that they wait until after the concrete has set before they stretch and tie off the cables. If they did that when the concrete was wet, it would require a very rigid frame. As it is, I think what they do is this:

Lay temporary wood or steel frame for slab outline
Lay cables in place, but do not put tension on them
Pour concrete and allow to set
Remove temporary frame
Tighten cables ... hence the "post"

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For giggles:

Post vs Pre Stressing

2007-04-13T01:13:00.000-07:00

When the concrete hardens, they come out and stretch the cables, putting the whole concrete slab under internal tension ... it essentially holds the concrete in place.

Hmm, wouldn't that have the effect of pulling the concrete apart? Or do the cables somehow weave in and out of holes in the concrete? So that when you pull on the ends of the cables they compress the concrete like a sewing thread you might pull in a garment?

On the other hand, if they stretched the cables before pouring the concrete around them, and then once the concrete had set released the tension on the cables, then I can see how that would also compress the concrete.

Looking at the Wikipedia article you referenced it does seem that there are these two methods, "post" and "pre" tensioning, but it's not clear to me from the article how the stretching of the cables in the "post" mentod leads to compression of the concrete, or even if it has to! And it seems that the "post" method is used (rather than "pre") in the field, and in your house, due to lower cost.

I find construction a fascinating topic also.

Forever Learning

2007-04-12T11:01:00.000-07:00

Today I learned about termites. We had our pest control contractor come out and inspect our home for termites as our original 5-year construction warranty on termites is about to expire. Here's what I learned:

Arizona is full of termites. There's no practical way to guarantee a house will never get termites. It's a question of minimizing the risk.
Arizona homes are largely built on a "slab" -- that is, a solid concrete pad with no basements or crawl spaces. Our home is like that. About 10 years ago they perfected a way of pouring that slab called "post tension." Wikipedia, of course, has a write-up here. In short, it's a process by which a mesh of cables is placed in the wet concrete. When the concrete hardens, they come out and stretch the cables, putting the whole concrete slab under internal tension ... it essentially holds the concrete in place. It prevents cracking. Termites love cracks. That's how they enter the homes ... through cracks in the slab. But with post-tension concrete slabs, there are almost no more cracks, which means far fewer termites.
The pesticides used by the industry are almost all manufactured by pharmaceutical companies, and they often manufacture those chemicals right along side products meant for human consumption. Ultimately, the chemistries are very similar.
My house has no evidence of termites.
A treatment and re-warranty would run about $600 to $1000.
Doing nothing is an option. Given we have the pest control guy come out once a month -- a near necessity in Arizona, given all the different types of crawling critters -- he watches for external evidence of termites. We could just wait to hear word from him, which would be an early warning of termite trouble. We could then treat just that localized termite infestation.

So there you go ... your "what did I learn today" report. :-)

Robin Hood

2007-04-11T03:23:00.000-07:00

What's your impression of the mood over there? Positive, negative, or indifferent?

It seems to depend on who you are and where you are coming from.

Those who have lost relatives in war appear to be anti the sale of the stories.

Those who value "dignity" appear to be against the sale.

Those who love money and "news" seem to be pro the sale.

Some people who do not have much money seem to be pro sale but having said that some people who do not have much money also seem anti the sale, so maybe they cancel out.

Personally that's not the kind of story I would read anyway, so I don't really care. I do think that the media hype is a waste of time and energy though, I don't see that any story is worth 200,000 dollars or so when there are people starving in the world. Perhaps a good solution would be for all of the sailors to sell their stories to the highest bidder and them immediately donate the proceeds to Bob Geldof's fund? So take from the rich and give to the poor.

From England's Perspective?

2007-04-10T19:44:00.000-07:00

There is much commentary here about the way the 15 Royal Marines conducted themselves, particularly since being released. The feeling is those 15 participated a bit too willingly in the propaganda exercise. And their eagerness to sell their stories upon return really hit a raw nerve.

What's your impression of the mood over there? Positive, negative, or indifferent?

Loosey Goosey

2007-04-10T03:28:00.000-07:00

"Born On" date is entirely ambiguous -- it leaves it to the person to determine how long is too long."

Hmm I am surprised that is legal. Doesn't beer spoil after a certain time? Could it be a health hazzard to drink it after that? I can see the benefit of the retailer not having to throw the stuff out though. Maybe some folks think that beer is like wine? And look for aged bottles? I once opened and poured a can of lager that was 7 years past its "sell by" date. It had red lumps floating in it and looked absolutely foul! Not to be consumed.

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What is it about the Wii that's so good?

It's far simpler to use and the game playing experience is much more interactive. I can now actually swing the tennis bat or golf club. There are still a lot of improvements to be made, it doesn't quite match your body movements exactly enough to be ultra compelling, but I am sure they will come. The PS3 has better graphics but the PS3 six-axis controller is stuck in space, you can't go forwards or backwards, it doesn't recognize acceleration.

The PS3 is the most poweful computer I have in my house by a long way but I cannot get access to that power. Linux runs on it but it only uses the PowerPC chip in the PS3, not the cell broadband engine (with 7 SPE's - the eighth being disabled) or the ful capabilities of the GPU. When someone comes up with a Linux and some apps that can use all of the PS3 things will be fun indeed.

Note that IBM also make the broadway processor, the brain of the Wii.

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I am currently on unit 1a of your latest masterpiece. I got to thinking that a lot of the benefits of System z are in the fact that the components which comprise z are tightly coupled. But I see one of the value statements of SOA is that things are loosely coupled for reasons of flexibility. Maybe services are like fruits, or cars. There are lots of different types of fruit and there are lots of different models of cars. Maybe the type of service we are talking about here can contain a set of tightly coupled products or services?