31 days of December

broderic on December 1, 2006

One of the things you do when you work for InitTech, or for any large conglomerate, is that you participate in stupid little events that are supposed to make you appreciate your job. Bah! And a humbug! Every year we celebrate diversity: the many different people coming together and creating the great InitTech. I always feel like having to say, “Is this good for the company?” That’s rhetorical.

Anyway, this post isn’t about mocking those events. That would be too easy. I’m wanting to mock the little tchotckes they give to us with InitTech logos. They’re all pretty lame. One time we got these calculators that sucked because the battery compartment was so weak that touching it would disconnect power. This year was a “perpetual calendar”/picture frame. “Perpetual” means that it is good forever achieved through the use of several versions of a 31 day month. So tomorrow, instead of it being December 1, it’s actually November 31. How’s that ditty now?

31 days in September, April, June, November
All the rest have 31
Except February with 31 days…

I am planning on having my own NaBloPoMo in December if you would care to join me.

Would you believe…

broderic on November 29, 2006

That Get Smart is on DVD. I should update my wish list.

More info found here. Apparently it only being offered through TimeLife, and won’t be in stores until next year. It looks very well done, too, with commentary from Mel Brooks, Buck Henry, Agent 99, and Ziegfried.

I remember spending the $100 bucks for season 1 of the X-Files, the first TV show on DVD. I think I might swing the $200 for all 5 seasons!

Christmas Wish List ’06

broderic on November 24, 2006

Since it is the Holiday Season, and friends and relatives don’t know how to shop for me, here’s my wish list. These items would be nice to have. If you did take my advice for shopping, you’ll notice that these things are related to activities like doing.

Oakley Half Jacket Lenses. For riding, I’ve been looking to get a pair of the yellow or persimmon for the low light levels of the winter.

Carbon Water Bottle Cages. I’m bulking out this winter so my bike needs to be lighter.

TV on DVD. I’m currently have almost the full collection of these television series. I’m short by a few seasons as listed. Futurama (3,4,5). The X-Files (7,8,9). Northern Exposure (4,5), The Simpsons (7,8,9).

I don’t like to play video games anymore, but I do like Chess Master 10000 or whatever it’s called nowadays.

Books. I’m collecting the Peanuts which I’ve gotten the first two books.

Peace On Earth. Goodwill to men. Amazon probably doesn’t have this.

Clothes for cycling? I’m a 42 regular which is large for US, but may not be for other countries. A new team jersey would be cool.

Give Thanks

broderic on November 23, 2006


Happy Thanksgiving to those in the US.

I am thankful for:

Mom and Dad. An older and younger brother. Cousins as close as friends. The next generation nieces and nephews. La Familia de Rad. My faithful blog readers. Objective-C and C++. The GCC. Grep. A great text editor. The Apple Macintosh. Powerbooks, the new Mac Books, Pro and other wise. Beautiful girls. Blondes. Brunettes. Redheads. A pretty girl’s smile. Laughing with girls. Girls in glasses. Memories of a girl in glasses. The female body. Legs and a little t’n’a. Ghost stories. Being creeped out by ghost stories. Goosebumps. My bike. The wind in my face while on my bike. 15 mph. Uphills. Downhills. Snow in the winter. Cool autumn mornings. Hot summer days. Long winter nights. The Holidays. Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Calvin and Hobbes. Dub. Downtempo. Ska. Movies. Television. DVDs. Earth. Scandinavia. Iceland. The Blue Lagoon. Paris, France. Barcelona, Spain. Apples and oranges. Mangoes. Ice cream. Coffee. Pizza. Hot dogs. Days off from work. Vacation. The weekend.

Thanksgiving only comes along once a year, and it’s the time to spend with friends and family. I hope you have an enjoyable one. Eat turkey until you’re full, sleep it off, eat the left overs, and watch television.

And remember to be thankful for the things in your life.

Film, Thoughts on Film. Casino Royale

broderic on November 20, 2006

The new James Bond film is fantastic. But it’s too long and there are some slow spots in the film. Especially with James Bond in love. That’s right. James Bond falls in love in this one. And like “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” that doesn’t work out too well. It makes him into the Bond that he is today. Except for the misstep in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.”

4 of 5 stars.

Four Score

broderic on November 19, 2006

Once every so often in grade school we would have a field trip out to Gettysburg. The battlefield being relatively close, we would spend an afternoon looking across the Wheat Field, looking down into Devil’s Den, peering through the Peach Orchard or surveying the Union’s advantage from the top of Little Round Top. All very majesterial and very much a part of this Nation’s collective historical unconscious. Our field trips there were a highlight in the school year. We learned something about our country and we got to spend some time out of doors.

Today’s an anniversary of the Gettysburg address. It’s probably the most famous of Lincoln’s speeches. Very powerful and moving. Here’s a way to invert the speech’s succinct narrative. It could’ve been better using Apple’s Keynote.

In Transit

broderic on November 17, 2006

100000

I keep a meticulous log of mileage in my car. I know what each of the ticks on the gas gauge means. How much gas left in the tank. How much further I can go before stopping and fueling up. It’s a metrics I like.

This last tank of gas has been less than average. I was at 150 trip miles on the 3/8 tick mark (the third from the right/full). I was at 198 at the half way mark. By my calculations, I am lagging about 6 miles from my average, and I know why.

Traffic.

I’ve been stuck in traffic the last couple of days. On Tuesday, it took an hour and 20 minutes to get to work. The normal commute is half that. Tonight, it took another hour to get to my mom’s. The normal commute is half that. All this traffic is impacting my gas mileage. And I notice it.

I’m getting tired of driving. When I’m sitting in traffic, wending my way to work, I’m thinking about public transportation. I want a better commute. *sigh*

When is winter getting here?

broderic on November 17, 2006

Another week of 60 degree weather. Normally, I like the idea, but it’s November. Shouldn’t it be nothing but 30 degree nights with 50 degree days? I mean, c’mon.

Making a list

broderic on November 16, 2006

The holiday season is quickly approaching. Next week is Thanksgiving and pretty soon, before you know it, Christmas is here. I don’t mind shopping for presents. I usually try to match the present with the person. It may not be something they need or want, but it ends up being something somewhat useful. Plus, I like to think that the thought does count so I feel that the recipient of the gift appreciates the thinking behind the gift.

Yet, some people have a hard time shopping for presents. My advice for them that do is to look at the person’s interests and shop for that. I usually start with a list and build upon that. Once in the stores I work with what is available and what seems right.

Another thing is that people don’t know what to shop for me. I’m planning to post a “wish list” with a range of gifts that I could use. Once again these are things from something that interests me.