I like the fact that you have free internet, but why do you have to restrict it to Windows machines running Internet Explorer? This seems incredibly silly to me.
On top of that, why oh why do you require the same thing for devices physically plugged into the ethernet jacks in the rooms? I am in the room. I'm a paying customer, that's how I got in the room in the first place. It seems silly to protect the physical plug in this way.
Fortunately, I was prepared for this, and brought along the Verizon MiFi on this trip. I'm not using your free internet, I refuse to boot Windows up...
I look forward to your feedback.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Book Review
Batman and PhilosophyThe Dark knight of the soul
Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series
I found this book at the University library a while back while Adam and I were tooling around one night. (The library lets me check out books for six months at a time, which might be a little too convenient...) It sounds like the Blackwell Series of books tries to make philosophy accessible to the lay reader, by making comparisons to fictional environments and settings. Does anyone else besides me think this is hilarious. "We aren't sure how to explain philosophy's impact in your life, so we'll stick to talking about Batman." Or something like that.
After reading the book, I actually find parts of their approach oddly effective. I didn't go near philosophy in college, I still recognized a number of philosophers they talked about for some reason.
I guess the fact that the world of Batman is something many people have in common makes it easier to relate to the things the authors are talking about. I don't agree with some of what they said, but I understood for the most part what they were talking about. Interesting stuff. (Ethics, Who is the Batman, Being Batman, The roles of the Bat, that sort of thing.) In the end, it turned out to be a good introduction the the world of Philosophy.
The book is divided up into 12 to 15 page essays, by people from all over, on differing topics. They all seem to have a firm grasp from what I could tell on both the world of Philosophy and the world of Batman. Because they were essays, it is easy to pick the book up, read a couple, then come back to it whenever. I read a third of it on the plane today, between naps...
The Blackwell Series has books in all kinds of topics, lots from TV or movies. I might someday go try the "Heroes and Philosophy" or the "X-Men and Philosophy" books, but not right now, I need a break from it...
Restaurant Review
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
Houston, Texas
We got to Houston this evening, we thought it was going to be very warm here when we landed, but it was actually quite nice weather. Really nice weather. We are here visiting HP tomorrow, be back home tomorrow night, but the HP guys bought us dinner.
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen seems to be a pretty nice restaurant. Some of the people there decided they wanted a crab stuffed steak, I couldn't decide between the Fried Seafood platter, or the Redfish Palacios. Our waiter indicated he would go with the Redfish, hands down, anytime.
My meal was very good. The sides were green beans, cooked but still crisp, and potato wedges. The fish came with sauteed shrimp, crawfish, and tomatoes. I really liked it. I had a Red Drum several years ago in New Orleans, it was a nice piece of fish, not too fishy tasting and tender. This fish here was the same way.
I also tried the andouille sausage & seafood gumbo. I thought it was good, the guy next to me from Idaho thought it was kind of spicy, I thought it could use a little more spice. It was still a good soup.
Houston, Texas
We got to Houston this evening, we thought it was going to be very warm here when we landed, but it was actually quite nice weather. Really nice weather. We are here visiting HP tomorrow, be back home tomorrow night, but the HP guys bought us dinner.
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen seems to be a pretty nice restaurant. Some of the people there decided they wanted a crab stuffed steak, I couldn't decide between the Fried Seafood platter, or the Redfish Palacios. Our waiter indicated he would go with the Redfish, hands down, anytime.
My meal was very good. The sides were green beans, cooked but still crisp, and potato wedges. The fish came with sauteed shrimp, crawfish, and tomatoes. I really liked it. I had a Red Drum several years ago in New Orleans, it was a nice piece of fish, not too fishy tasting and tender. This fish here was the same way.
I also tried the andouille sausage & seafood gumbo. I thought it was good, the guy next to me from Idaho thought it was kind of spicy, I thought it could use a little more spice. It was still a good soup.
Traveling on April Fools
I am headed to Houston today for a work trip, be back tomorrow night. I've sworn off April Fools jokes, since Tara has only recently forgiven me for the last one I did. (Mentioning it here two days in a row is by no means foreshadowing of things to come tomorrow...)
Someone at work asked what I would do if Texas decided to secede from the Union while I am down there. I'd be stuck, not having a passport or visa. The thought occurs to me, if something really weird happens while I am down there, Tara will never believe me. Even the most outrageous story, complete with pictures and anything wouldn't be believed. I have lost the right to credibility when I'm on the road on April 1st.
Could be a blizzard in Houston. Could be locusts falling from the sky. Aliens could land. None of this would be believed.
So, here's what happened tomorrow on my trip. Absolutely nothing. We went, visited with HP, and came home. Nice boring trip. No big deal...
Someone at work asked what I would do if Texas decided to secede from the Union while I am down there. I'd be stuck, not having a passport or visa. The thought occurs to me, if something really weird happens while I am down there, Tara will never believe me. Even the most outrageous story, complete with pictures and anything wouldn't be believed. I have lost the right to credibility when I'm on the road on April 1st.
Could be a blizzard in Houston. Could be locusts falling from the sky. Aliens could land. None of this would be believed.
So, here's what happened tomorrow on my trip. Absolutely nothing. We went, visited with HP, and came home. Nice boring trip. No big deal...
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Baseball stadiums I have been to (not nearly enough)
Opening day is on Sunday. And they are picking up right where they left off last year, giving Yankees-Red Sox lots of TV coverage. (I am sure there are some that enough it, but it seemed like an awful lot last year...
Anyway, I am headed to Houston tomorrow. Gonna miss the start of the season there. I will be in Boston in June, but the Red Sox will be out of town. A couple of years ago, I was in New York this very time of year. (Just before my last April Fool's day joke ever...) We went to see a game at Yankee Stadium. This time of year I think about ways I can manage a road trip some time during the summer up the West Coast visiting baseball stadiums and catching games. (Start in Phoenix, head over to San Diego, up to Anaheim/LA, San Fran, Seattle, that sort of thing. Take a week, watch some games.
When I was younger, they built a baseball stadium in Buffalo. They wanted to attract a Major League team, or get an expansion team, or something. They didn't get a team, had to settle for a triple A team. I went to the stadium when I was 17 or 18 for a Beach Boys concert, but didn't go to any baseball games. The stadium seemed plenty big back then. I took Kate and Mary last year over there for a game, which got rained out. The stadium seemed a little smaller. While it was interesting to watch them wick water off the field, we didn't get to see any baseball.
When I was a freshman in college, the ballfield was right next to our dorm. We didn't go to any games, but we watched from our window once or twice, and yelled at the players from there to hit the ball to us.
I've been to Dodgers stadium a few times. (I don't remember now if it was three or four.) Dodgers stadium is very California. It always seems to be ncie weather for a game out there. Dodger dogs used to sound better then than they do now...
One year I went to Wrigley Stadium for a double header. The Cubs were playing the Rockies. I was way up in the upper deck, with one of the obstructed views of first base. Made it a little hard to see things. It was middle of the summer, a perfect day in Chicago. The Cubs lost the first game by nine or ten runs. In the first or second inning of the second game, the Rockies scored 9 or 10 more runs. The ballpark emptied out. After another inning or so, I went down and sat three rows back, right behind home plate. Sweet spot, not sure why they let me sit there. After it got dark, Sammy Sosa hit a home run out of the park. The ball just sailed right up and out into the night.
I few years ago, I went to a Houston Astros game. Way up at the top of the stadium. It was at a work conference, we had a good time. I ate a lot of peanuts that night.
I got around to going to Yankee Stadium for their last year. We were in the upper deck over in the outfield, sort of near the left foul pole. It was a little cold that night, but that was ok. It was interesting. You could tell the cement had lots of history in it. (The sort of thing where you could tell there were years of mustard, beer, and peanut shells ground into the cement.) I'm glad I got a chance to go there before they tore it down.
I went to an Altanta Braves game once. We ate in the 755 club restaurant, then sat out in the outfield to watch the game. It was kind of weird that day, it had rained towards evening, and a bit of a fog had settled in the stadium. Made for a humid evening, but it was nice.
Locally, there are three stadiums. One for the Angels triple A team, the Salt Lake Bees. For some reason, it's not my favorite stadium, except I really like the restaurants in the place. Seems like I had a burrito last time I was there. Why is it not my favorite stadium? Because I am basically a lazy person, it's 40 minutes away, and there are two stadiums between here and there. I think that might be the only real reason.
The Orem Owlz have a stadium they seem pretty proud of. It's on the campus of UVU. A lady at work moonlights there, and likes to give us vouchers for games every year. We try to get to a game or two every year.
BYU had money donated several years ago for a stadium. It's not giant, but I really like it. One year they had the Mountain West baseball tourney there. One of the guys from work and I took a wireless access point over there, and worked for three days from the stadium. That was pretty fun. It's nice because it's a 20 minute walk, or a three minute drive to the stadium, and I can use my campus ID card for concessions. Some of the girls like to go over there to watch games, but the college baseball season overlaps Winter weather quite a bit. We try to get a game or two in every year. Ruth talks about going back there quite a bit, we will have to head over for a game in the next couple of weeks.
Not a lot of ballparks, really. I need to get on the stick one of these days. There have been some near misses. I was in Baltimore one year, but it rained all weekend. We were also in Omaha one year during the College World series, but didn't go to any games.
Maybe a road trip this year would work. Just need to see when the home games line up. I also need to visit Cooperstown one of these days...
Anyway, I am headed to Houston tomorrow. Gonna miss the start of the season there. I will be in Boston in June, but the Red Sox will be out of town. A couple of years ago, I was in New York this very time of year. (Just before my last April Fool's day joke ever...) We went to see a game at Yankee Stadium. This time of year I think about ways I can manage a road trip some time during the summer up the West Coast visiting baseball stadiums and catching games. (Start in Phoenix, head over to San Diego, up to Anaheim/LA, San Fran, Seattle, that sort of thing. Take a week, watch some games.
When I was younger, they built a baseball stadium in Buffalo. They wanted to attract a Major League team, or get an expansion team, or something. They didn't get a team, had to settle for a triple A team. I went to the stadium when I was 17 or 18 for a Beach Boys concert, but didn't go to any baseball games. The stadium seemed plenty big back then. I took Kate and Mary last year over there for a game, which got rained out. The stadium seemed a little smaller. While it was interesting to watch them wick water off the field, we didn't get to see any baseball.
When I was a freshman in college, the ballfield was right next to our dorm. We didn't go to any games, but we watched from our window once or twice, and yelled at the players from there to hit the ball to us.
I've been to Dodgers stadium a few times. (I don't remember now if it was three or four.) Dodgers stadium is very California. It always seems to be ncie weather for a game out there. Dodger dogs used to sound better then than they do now...
One year I went to Wrigley Stadium for a double header. The Cubs were playing the Rockies. I was way up in the upper deck, with one of the obstructed views of first base. Made it a little hard to see things. It was middle of the summer, a perfect day in Chicago. The Cubs lost the first game by nine or ten runs. In the first or second inning of the second game, the Rockies scored 9 or 10 more runs. The ballpark emptied out. After another inning or so, I went down and sat three rows back, right behind home plate. Sweet spot, not sure why they let me sit there. After it got dark, Sammy Sosa hit a home run out of the park. The ball just sailed right up and out into the night.
I few years ago, I went to a Houston Astros game. Way up at the top of the stadium. It was at a work conference, we had a good time. I ate a lot of peanuts that night.
I got around to going to Yankee Stadium for their last year. We were in the upper deck over in the outfield, sort of near the left foul pole. It was a little cold that night, but that was ok. It was interesting. You could tell the cement had lots of history in it. (The sort of thing where you could tell there were years of mustard, beer, and peanut shells ground into the cement.) I'm glad I got a chance to go there before they tore it down.
I went to an Altanta Braves game once. We ate in the 755 club restaurant, then sat out in the outfield to watch the game. It was kind of weird that day, it had rained towards evening, and a bit of a fog had settled in the stadium. Made for a humid evening, but it was nice.
Locally, there are three stadiums. One for the Angels triple A team, the Salt Lake Bees. For some reason, it's not my favorite stadium, except I really like the restaurants in the place. Seems like I had a burrito last time I was there. Why is it not my favorite stadium? Because I am basically a lazy person, it's 40 minutes away, and there are two stadiums between here and there. I think that might be the only real reason.
The Orem Owlz have a stadium they seem pretty proud of. It's on the campus of UVU. A lady at work moonlights there, and likes to give us vouchers for games every year. We try to get to a game or two every year.
BYU had money donated several years ago for a stadium. It's not giant, but I really like it. One year they had the Mountain West baseball tourney there. One of the guys from work and I took a wireless access point over there, and worked for three days from the stadium. That was pretty fun. It's nice because it's a 20 minute walk, or a three minute drive to the stadium, and I can use my campus ID card for concessions. Some of the girls like to go over there to watch games, but the college baseball season overlaps Winter weather quite a bit. We try to get a game or two in every year. Ruth talks about going back there quite a bit, we will have to head over for a game in the next couple of weeks.
Not a lot of ballparks, really. I need to get on the stick one of these days. There have been some near misses. I was in Baltimore one year, but it rained all weekend. We were also in Omaha one year during the College World series, but didn't go to any games.
Maybe a road trip this year would work. Just need to see when the home games line up. I also need to visit Cooperstown one of these days...
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tax credit or Tax rebate?
Last summer, while updating the house, everyone was happy to talk about the $1500 tax credit I could get back. The gas company also had a rebate program going on for some of the things we did around the house.
I guess I wasn't paying all that much attention. I don't need tax credits. I have plenty. I didn't realize this until I did our taxes in February, when I realized it was a tax credit they were talking about. I didn't get $1500 back. We did get a second bathroom, which was nice.
The gas company rebates were nice. I filled out all the paperwork, and they sent us several checks in the fall last year. They called me one day, and wanted the receipts for the insulation we put in the walls. I hadn't been able to find them. They told me they would leave the issue open, and if I found the receipts, they would process the rebate.
When I was doing the taxes in February, I found the receipts for the insulation. This was nice, but by that time I had lost the issue number and fax number to get the rebate processed. About a month or so ago, they called me back again. This time I was able to put the fax number and the receipt together.
We hadn't seen anything as of this weekend, I was going to call this week to see if they had it or not, but yesterday a check showed up in the mail. $65 - Making the two bats of insulation I had the receipt for free. (Free after rebate)
Always bite on the tax rebate. Beware of the tax credit you can't use. That's the lesson for the day.
Bonus lesson: If your wife knows it was a rebate, and it came, and you put it in the bank, she might go to the fabric store that night...
I guess I wasn't paying all that much attention. I don't need tax credits. I have plenty. I didn't realize this until I did our taxes in February, when I realized it was a tax credit they were talking about. I didn't get $1500 back. We did get a second bathroom, which was nice.
The gas company rebates were nice. I filled out all the paperwork, and they sent us several checks in the fall last year. They called me one day, and wanted the receipts for the insulation we put in the walls. I hadn't been able to find them. They told me they would leave the issue open, and if I found the receipts, they would process the rebate.
When I was doing the taxes in February, I found the receipts for the insulation. This was nice, but by that time I had lost the issue number and fax number to get the rebate processed. About a month or so ago, they called me back again. This time I was able to put the fax number and the receipt together.
We hadn't seen anything as of this weekend, I was going to call this week to see if they had it or not, but yesterday a check showed up in the mail. $65 - Making the two bats of insulation I had the receipt for free. (Free after rebate)
Always bite on the tax rebate. Beware of the tax credit you can't use. That's the lesson for the day.
Bonus lesson: If your wife knows it was a rebate, and it came, and you put it in the bank, she might go to the fabric store that night...
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Hail to the Chief
A few weeks ago, our department at work reorganized. We do that every few years. Something about "shuffling the deck chairs"... In all the reorgs I have been in here, big or little, I continue to do the same thing. My assignments don't change, I just keep plugging along. This is why sysadmins secretly rule the world. They announced the personnel side of of the thing on a Friday afternoon via email. Got a bunch of people upset, I ended up chasing a crowd of them out of my office that day because I had work to do.
Our team essentially remained the same, except we lost our chief engineer, Sorrel. He was moved to a different part of the organization. Our team essentially does the same thing and has the same general responsibilities, just like always. The drawback to this is that I was asked to be the chief engineer of the team. Maybe drawback is too strong of a word, I don't plan on letting it ruin my life or anything. When Marty, my boss asked me to be the chief engineer, I asked for my "Dogbert's Guide to Management" book back from him, which I had left on his bookshelf about 7 years ago. I leave it conspicuously on my desk, just for effect. I should start up some sort of Scottish accent: "She can't take much more of this nonsense, Captain!"
Mostly it seems to mean I get these little interruptions during the day, which is ok, unless I really get sidetracked. I also get a few more emails a day to deal with. (I had to approve the student hours last week for their pay period. I guess I approve. They won't get paid if I don't...) I manage the agenda for our weekly platform technology advisor board now, instead of just taking minutes. (I still take minutes too...) I have a weekly meeting to talk about the things our team is working on, and stuff like that. They wanted to have it at 8am. I talked them back to 9am. Marty called it a "Execution Touch Base" meeting. Our first one is tomorrow. I haven't decided whether or not to bring a noose...
I met with everyone on the team to see what they thought about the changes, one of the questions I asked was if they had any problems with my being the chief engineer. Half of them said "yes, but it's not anything I won't get over." Hilarious. One of the guys gets digs in every chance he gets. When they are ready to make a change again, if I am asked, I plan to recommend him for the job.
I've been thinking about basing my managerial style on things I can get out of the fortune cookie app on my phone. Ask any question. My answer - "The beginning of wisdom is to desire it." Next question. My answer - "Your skill will accomplish what the force of many can not."
I was looking at my email aliases right after the changes, one of the email addresses I own is "Iamthebossofyou(at)byu(dot)edu" I decided to not start using that one, it might be a little too much.
I think a couple of the guys on the team were a little worried what I would be like as a chief engineer. I plan to be as hands off as I can be. I still have all the regular work to do. Some of them still tell me when they plan to come in late. It's like they've never met me before. John "I come in to work after I roll out of bed in the morning" Payne. This 9am Monday morning meeting is a stretch. Especially since I will be up until at least 1am watching student registration tonight. That's if it goes well.
I am sure we will have to have a normal team meeting somewhere along the line. Not sure what we will talk about. I am sure there will be free snacks.
That's about it. I don't plan to let it go to my head or anything. I don't really need my ego any bigger than it already was, and my head is plenty big. Besides, the long and the short of it is, most of the people on my team are just like me. It's not like they'd let any of it go to my head...
Our team essentially remained the same, except we lost our chief engineer, Sorrel. He was moved to a different part of the organization. Our team essentially does the same thing and has the same general responsibilities, just like always. The drawback to this is that I was asked to be the chief engineer of the team. Maybe drawback is too strong of a word, I don't plan on letting it ruin my life or anything. When Marty, my boss asked me to be the chief engineer, I asked for my "Dogbert's Guide to Management" book back from him, which I had left on his bookshelf about 7 years ago. I leave it conspicuously on my desk, just for effect. I should start up some sort of Scottish accent: "She can't take much more of this nonsense, Captain!"
Mostly it seems to mean I get these little interruptions during the day, which is ok, unless I really get sidetracked. I also get a few more emails a day to deal with. (I had to approve the student hours last week for their pay period. I guess I approve. They won't get paid if I don't...) I manage the agenda for our weekly platform technology advisor board now, instead of just taking minutes. (I still take minutes too...) I have a weekly meeting to talk about the things our team is working on, and stuff like that. They wanted to have it at 8am. I talked them back to 9am. Marty called it a "Execution Touch Base" meeting. Our first one is tomorrow. I haven't decided whether or not to bring a noose...
I met with everyone on the team to see what they thought about the changes, one of the questions I asked was if they had any problems with my being the chief engineer. Half of them said "yes, but it's not anything I won't get over." Hilarious. One of the guys gets digs in every chance he gets. When they are ready to make a change again, if I am asked, I plan to recommend him for the job.
I've been thinking about basing my managerial style on things I can get out of the fortune cookie app on my phone. Ask any question. My answer - "The beginning of wisdom is to desire it." Next question. My answer - "Your skill will accomplish what the force of many can not."
I was looking at my email aliases right after the changes, one of the email addresses I own is "Iamthebossofyou(at)byu(dot)edu" I decided to not start using that one, it might be a little too much.
I think a couple of the guys on the team were a little worried what I would be like as a chief engineer. I plan to be as hands off as I can be. I still have all the regular work to do. Some of them still tell me when they plan to come in late. It's like they've never met me before. John "I come in to work after I roll out of bed in the morning" Payne. This 9am Monday morning meeting is a stretch. Especially since I will be up until at least 1am watching student registration tonight. That's if it goes well.
I am sure we will have to have a normal team meeting somewhere along the line. Not sure what we will talk about. I am sure there will be free snacks.
That's about it. I don't plan to let it go to my head or anything. I don't really need my ego any bigger than it already was, and my head is plenty big. Besides, the long and the short of it is, most of the people on my team are just like me. It's not like they'd let any of it go to my head...
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Basketball
Anyone got anything left in their bracket? Mine was busted a while ago... All I've got alive to the Final Four is West Virginia, which puts me squarely in 'Middle of the road" territory in the work pool. No bragging rights for me this year, again.
Today I went to the Elite Eight game between Kansas State and Butler. HP and AMD had bought a suite at the Delta Center for the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight games. One of the tickets trickled down to me, and I snatched it up. (People didn't want to go. Some weren't into basketball, but how often do you get to go to an Elite Eight game? I wonder if they would go if it were the Final Four... I certainly would.) Anyway, it was good for an afternoon of free basketball and free lunch. I'm not sure how I could have not passed that up...
Butler really worked hard the first half. They played some amazing defence. There seemed to be a section of Butler fans in the place, a section of Kansas State fans in the place, and then all the rest of us. For a while, most people seemed a little indifferent. (I was try to figure out who had more fans, K State or Butler...) After 10 minutes or so of Butler working really hard on defence to shut Kansas State down, and not having great success on the offensive side scoring, I think the Butler team won everyone over. (The AMD guy asked me who I was rooting for before the game started. I told him I was still rooting for BYU... I didn't really want Kansas State to win today...) For the rest of the game, most of the arena was rooting for Butler.
(Picture taken during the game. Turns out CBS digitally adds fans in before transmission. I saw a CBS technician after the game and asked him about it, he just mumbled something about the moon landing... )
It was a good game. Butler won, I wish them the best in the Final Four, should be nice for them to play those games in Indianapolis, I think they've got a pretty good shot to win it all at this point.
Oh yeah, one other thing. I think I could have a future as the Butler Bulldog. Look at this guy. I've got the body shape for it, and he didn't do a whole lot today. Sweet gig for him. (Maybe I'm just too used to Cosmo being all over the place and athletic...)
"Watch an Elite Eight game live" - check that off my list. Maybe Coach Rose will invite me to the Final Four with him next week. Too bad I will be in Houston for work...
Today I went to the Elite Eight game between Kansas State and Butler. HP and AMD had bought a suite at the Delta Center for the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight games. One of the tickets trickled down to me, and I snatched it up. (People didn't want to go. Some weren't into basketball, but how often do you get to go to an Elite Eight game? I wonder if they would go if it were the Final Four... I certainly would.) Anyway, it was good for an afternoon of free basketball and free lunch. I'm not sure how I could have not passed that up...
Butler really worked hard the first half. They played some amazing defence. There seemed to be a section of Butler fans in the place, a section of Kansas State fans in the place, and then all the rest of us. For a while, most people seemed a little indifferent. (I was try to figure out who had more fans, K State or Butler...) After 10 minutes or so of Butler working really hard on defence to shut Kansas State down, and not having great success on the offensive side scoring, I think the Butler team won everyone over. (The AMD guy asked me who I was rooting for before the game started. I told him I was still rooting for BYU... I didn't really want Kansas State to win today...) For the rest of the game, most of the arena was rooting for Butler.
(Picture taken during the game. Turns out CBS digitally adds fans in before transmission. I saw a CBS technician after the game and asked him about it, he just mumbled something about the moon landing... )It was a good game. Butler won, I wish them the best in the Final Four, should be nice for them to play those games in Indianapolis, I think they've got a pretty good shot to win it all at this point.
Oh yeah, one other thing. I think I could have a future as the Butler Bulldog. Look at this guy. I've got the body shape for it, and he didn't do a whole lot today. Sweet gig for him. (Maybe I'm just too used to Cosmo being all over the place and athletic...)
"Watch an Elite Eight game live" - check that off my list. Maybe Coach Rose will invite me to the Final Four with him next week. Too bad I will be in Houston for work...
Friday, March 26, 2010
Shampoo Head
Tara's been complaining for months that there is not enough water flow in the shower to get her hair to feel completely rinsed. Kate had also had problems getting the shampoo out of her hair, and this has resulted in many complaints in the morning as Tara brushes Kate's hair. I really can't tell, especially now that my hair is even shorter.
We went looking around a few days ago at showerheads, but didn't really see anything of interest, at least anything affordable to someone who just spent all kinds of money remodeling the place.
This evening, I took matters into my own hands. I took the showerhead off, and yanked on what looked like a flow regulator. (Shown above) It popped right out of the back of the thing. I'm assuming that's what it was, anyway. When I put the showerhead back on, things seemed to work still, Tara seems to think the thing has more flow. Hopefully the water heater can keep up with what we've done, which it should since it's rated to keep up with 2.5 showers at the same time.
That's right. I'm in violation of the 1995 National Energy Policy Act. Don't tell anyone.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
I've made my hair angry
For the past two weeks, I've been combing my hair the opposite way than I've been combing it for the past 20 to 30 years or so. (It was short, I figured 'why not') You know, the "Bizarro John" direction for my hair.
Tara noticed a couple of days ago. The reason she noticed is the hair on the top of my head had finally gotten long enough to lay down when you comb it. This was fine for the hair on top, and I'm sure people at work enjoyed the visit of 'Bizarro John', but the hair in the very front of my head stayed going the original direction. Like I zigged when I should have zagged while combing my head.
Tara got me to start combing it the non-Bizarro direction. The hair isn't so happy right now. Some of it heads the Bizarro direction, some goes the normal direction, most goes forward, and some of my hair is just a bit confused.
Bizarro John is gone. 10 minutes after I got to work today, I had a number of people at our desks, trying to be helpful and generally just in the way. I threw out my hands and said "Everyone out!" The DBAs had the good sense to scatter. Jeff had to convince an application guy it was in his best interest to go for a walk.
If I can't get the hair to pick a direction and go, I might have to take the shaver to it and start over again...
Tara noticed a couple of days ago. The reason she noticed is the hair on the top of my head had finally gotten long enough to lay down when you comb it. This was fine for the hair on top, and I'm sure people at work enjoyed the visit of 'Bizarro John', but the hair in the very front of my head stayed going the original direction. Like I zigged when I should have zagged while combing my head.
Tara got me to start combing it the non-Bizarro direction. The hair isn't so happy right now. Some of it heads the Bizarro direction, some goes the normal direction, most goes forward, and some of my hair is just a bit confused.
Bizarro John is gone. 10 minutes after I got to work today, I had a number of people at our desks, trying to be helpful and generally just in the way. I threw out my hands and said "Everyone out!" The DBAs had the good sense to scatter. Jeff had to convince an application guy it was in his best interest to go for a walk.
If I can't get the hair to pick a direction and go, I might have to take the shaver to it and start over again...
Windows 7 sure wasn't my idea...
Do those Windows 7 commercials bug anyone else?
You've got this everyday person. They are telling you about this great idea they had. And how they called up Microsoft and told them about the idea.
Next thing they know, here's Windows 7. It's got their great idea incorporated. Windows 7 - it was their idea.
I'm not sure how to take that. Microsoft is happy to take your ideas, steal them, then sell you the end product?
"Hi. I'm John. One day I was in my bathroom, hanging a picture, and slipped and hit my head on the toilet. When I woke up, I had this vision in my head. A new whizzy-woo that would makes Windows better. I told Microsoft, and made them a million more dollars!"
This is why we record all the TV we watch. Then we can skip the commercials. The only mindless drivel we get is from the shows we watch, not the commercials...
You've got this everyday person. They are telling you about this great idea they had. And how they called up Microsoft and told them about the idea.
Next thing they know, here's Windows 7. It's got their great idea incorporated. Windows 7 - it was their idea.
I'm not sure how to take that. Microsoft is happy to take your ideas, steal them, then sell you the end product?
"Hi. I'm John. One day I was in my bathroom, hanging a picture, and slipped and hit my head on the toilet. When I woke up, I had this vision in my head. A new whizzy-woo that would makes Windows better. I told Microsoft, and made them a million more dollars!"
This is why we record all the TV we watch. Then we can skip the commercials. The only mindless drivel we get is from the shows we watch, not the commercials...
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Claw
I have a hard time walking by those 'Claw' machines without giving them at least a passing glance, and deciding if there is easy pickings in it.I don't every play one of these games unless:
a) I have money in my pocket
b) It looks like easy pickings
c) I haven't tried that particular machine before and had a bad experience with it
For those reasons, I think I have a fairly high success rate on these machines. Maybe I'm wrong, and I'm just fooling myself, but there are a bunch of stuffed animals in the house that came of these machines...
What makes easy pickings? First, they can't have stuffed the toys in among each other. It doesn't take much friction from neighboring animals to make that claw pull up without the animal. You also have to have something to grab onto. I try hooking around an arm and a neck whenever I can. You can't usually just hook a head or belly and get a prize. A good sense of depth perception and maybe a just a drop of overconfidence doesn't hurt.
No amount of skill helps when they've nerfed the machine. I hate hooking a toy and having the claw just lift up and release it because they've made it so no toys will be picked up. I'm sure anyone that has used more than one of these machines knows what I mean. You've hooked the toy, the claw closes, lifts up, and opens just enough to let go of the toy. If I didn't already have ten thousand things to do in my life, I might start a blog or Google map listing locations of Claw machines and if they are honest or dishonest machines... The one at the Shopko in Provo is a dishonest machine, for what it's worth.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Sometimes I obsess about the pile of email in my inbox. I don't like carrying 50 emails around. Under 20 is always my target. I am currently at 32 emails in my inbox. (Please don't spam me to increase the number...)
I especially appreciated this web comic.
Astronauts: looking up - looking down
About a month or so ago, a new twitter account was created called NASA_Astronauts. It allowed for of all people, NASA astronauts to post things to twitter. They got some sort of feed to the ISS going, and suddenly we had tweets from space!
I always thought astronauts grew up looking out into space. (At least any newer astronauts. I've seen "The Right Stuff"...) Their goal was to be out among the stars. Or something like that. I might be a space cadet sometimes, but I don't think I will ever be an astronaut. Too much potential for being blown to bits. Especially when they take all the funding away.
Anyhow, I've been following them on twitter for a while, and a lot of the posts are pictures of the Earth from space. I thought that was an interesting phenomenon. They spend all their time working to get to space, then in their free time up there, they take pictures of the Earth.
I wondered if this was just something unique to the current guys up there, but today on campus we had Jim Lovell, of Apollo 13 fame, speak at our weekly devotional. It was pretty interesting. He talked about the experiences of Apollo 13, how it was his third trip up there, what happened, and how they got down again. He credited the people on the ground with getting him back in one piece. (That's the engineers, for those counting.) He said something at the beginning of his talk that was interesting. He said from space, you don't see countries. You don't see cities. You don't see any people. All you see is the Earth, pretty much in it's natural state. He commented on the beauty of it all. I guess it's not a phenomenon among those currently up there, but everyone that goes out to space.
I guess the moral is, don't take the Earth for granted. It's our home, after all. You would miss it if you were kicked out.
I always thought astronauts grew up looking out into space. (At least any newer astronauts. I've seen "The Right Stuff"...) Their goal was to be out among the stars. Or something like that. I might be a space cadet sometimes, but I don't think I will ever be an astronaut. Too much potential for being blown to bits. Especially when they take all the funding away.
Anyhow, I've been following them on twitter for a while, and a lot of the posts are pictures of the Earth from space. I thought that was an interesting phenomenon. They spend all their time working to get to space, then in their free time up there, they take pictures of the Earth.
I wondered if this was just something unique to the current guys up there, but today on campus we had Jim Lovell, of Apollo 13 fame, speak at our weekly devotional. It was pretty interesting. He talked about the experiences of Apollo 13, how it was his third trip up there, what happened, and how they got down again. He credited the people on the ground with getting him back in one piece. (That's the engineers, for those counting.) He said something at the beginning of his talk that was interesting. He said from space, you don't see countries. You don't see cities. You don't see any people. All you see is the Earth, pretty much in it's natural state. He commented on the beauty of it all. I guess it's not a phenomenon among those currently up there, but everyone that goes out to space.
I guess the moral is, don't take the Earth for granted. It's our home, after all. You would miss it if you were kicked out.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
The Dark Side of Online Purchases
We got a call Friday evening, someone tried using Tara's card at a school in Missouri. This triggered a fraud prevention call. Not sure how that happened, but Tara made a purchase on the Scholastic Books website a couple of days ago. Now her card is disabled, and it happened too late in the day to call the credit union to get things straightened out. It was very loud in the room here at the house when I was trying to interact with the automated system, Tara is hoping it's not the Scholastic order that got stopped, me just not being able to hear. My guess is their site got hacked, and some dude was doing little charges from the info he gathered.
Some would let this stop them from making purchases online. I am not ready to go to that extreme, I make a number of purchases online every month, usually when deals pop up. A couple of days ago I just missed MLB TV premier for the year at $20. (Regularly $120.) I was distracted by work that day, and missed the deal. In the mail today, I got my Superman cuff links. And I don't even own a shirt that I can use cuff links on.
Anyway, I guess a trip to the bank on Monday is in order. And I guess it's time to order a set of credit reports. Anyone have a secondary checking account they use exclusively for online purchases? Think that's too extreme?
Some would let this stop them from making purchases online. I am not ready to go to that extreme, I make a number of purchases online every month, usually when deals pop up. A couple of days ago I just missed MLB TV premier for the year at $20. (Regularly $120.) I was distracted by work that day, and missed the deal. In the mail today, I got my Superman cuff links. And I don't even own a shirt that I can use cuff links on.
Anyway, I guess a trip to the bank on Monday is in order. And I guess it's time to order a set of credit reports. Anyone have a secondary checking account they use exclusively for online purchases? Think that's too extreme?
Friday, March 19, 2010
Ward Talent Show
The girls have been practicing in Achievement Days for the ward talent show. They had a little song they were to sing. I took Emma, Mary and Kate over there tonight. It turned out they weren't on the program for some reason. Someone forgot about them. This meant we had to wait to the very end of the program for them to perform. So much for slipping out early.
The girls seemed to enjoy themselves. After I tried talking Emma into having her and her friend Lily translate "Go, Dog, Go" into Chinese, and they read it while the little kids act like dogs on stage. I think that would be pretty funny. (Emma claims the word for "Dog" in Chinese sounds like "Go". Doubly funny.) We'll have to see if I can get them to go through with it. I've also talked to Brian, Lily's dad, about getting the two of them to make their own kung fu movies someday.
As a bonus, I got a picture of Chad for his contact card on my phone. I suspect he always wanted to have big hair in the 80's...
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Bait and Switch
Tara and I went to see "As You Like It" up on campus with Kirk and Midge. I'm not sure what the deal is this year, but the BYU Theater department seems to be heavy on the musicals and musical plays this year. It wouldn't be so bad if they would just publish they were going to do it that way, give me some time to prepare. Someone's been watching too much Bollywood, I think.
Musical montages aside, the play was pretty good. I only vaguely remembered the storyline, but had enough of it in the head to keep up. I thought they did a pretty good job.
Turns out the disclaimer from last time appears to be a standard thing they are putting in all their playbills these days. I thought it was just to try to keep us in our seats last time. "As You Like It" - good play - some music - and Kirk stayed for the whole thing. (That might have been because of all the rain. Kirk doesn't always stay for the the second half.)
I blame Shakespeare on this one. He wrote in some songs in this one. The Epilogue to the play is lots funnier if you think about the fact that all the actors were men:
Musical montages aside, the play was pretty good. I only vaguely remembered the storyline, but had enough of it in the head to keep up. I thought they did a pretty good job.
Turns out the disclaimer from last time appears to be a standard thing they are putting in all their playbills these days. I thought it was just to try to keep us in our seats last time. "As You Like It" - good play - some music - and Kirk stayed for the whole thing. (That might have been because of all the rain. Kirk doesn't always stay for the the second half.)
I blame Shakespeare on this one. He wrote in some songs in this one. The Epilogue to the play is lots funnier if you think about the fact that all the actors were men:
If I were a woman, I would kiss as many of you as had beards that
pleased me, complexions that liked me, and breaths that I defied
not; and, I am sure, as many as have good beards, or good faces,
or sweet breaths, will, for my kind offer, when I make curtsy,
bid me farewell.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
New Phone? New phone plan? What do we do?
Tara's phone is plenty old. Well past due for a replacement. Tara doesn't use her phone all that much. I looked a year ago, switching to a pay-as-you-go plan from Verizon then would have netted about a $20 a month savings. I looked again today, in the past year, we could have saved about $12 a month:
Last year's numbers includes a huge month in the summer, when Tara was in Buffalo, I was here at home. $200 a year is not tons, but it's something. Tara could get herself football and basketball tickets for next year at that savings. There are plenty of things we could do with $200...
What do I do? As far as I can tell, you can't transfer your existing number to a prepaid number. Tara kind of wants to keep her existing number. I hear rumors that there might be a cell plan at Verizon that's less than we are paying now, but I haven't been able to find it yet. Do I do nothing, and just get her a new phone? Is there a better monthy plan? The prepaid plan would save money, but there is also the cost of the new phone and the activation fee.
Maybe I need to go up to the Verizon store.
Last year's numbers includes a huge month in the summer, when Tara was in Buffalo, I was here at home. $200 a year is not tons, but it's something. Tara could get herself football and basketball tickets for next year at that savings. There are plenty of things we could do with $200...
What do I do? As far as I can tell, you can't transfer your existing number to a prepaid number. Tara kind of wants to keep her existing number. I hear rumors that there might be a cell plan at Verizon that's less than we are paying now, but I haven't been able to find it yet. Do I do nothing, and just get her a new phone? Is there a better monthy plan? The prepaid plan would save money, but there is also the cost of the new phone and the activation fee.
Maybe I need to go up to the Verizon store.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Remembrance garden
Yesterday Drew and I put together this little remembrance garden in the back yard. Drew went and get some crocuses from his house, we helped the kids plant flowers after the burial. I also planted some lilies, forsythia bushes, and a white rose bush.
John Abel Payne - 10 March 2010
On Tuesday morning, Tara and I went in for Tara to get an ultrasound. (For those who didn't know, she was pregnant.) We found that the baby had died. The rest of this week has been pretty much a blur.
Mom and Dad came into town, we ended up having the burial service today. I've already given a talk about it today, and don't feel like writing a lot right now, but here are some pictures from the burial.
Look at Tara's post on her blog, sparbowl2.blogspot.com for a little more information...
Thanks to everyone for their service, help, well wishes, thoughts, and prayers.
Monday, March 08, 2010
Neighborhood project
One of our neighbors had their roof leaking, and their kitchen ceiling fall in on them about 4 to 6 weeks ago. They didn't have the money to replace their roof, some people in the ward donated money and materials to have the roof replaced. We had lots of people come and help out this past weekend to get the roof done. Chad's got the 'before' pictures, on Saturday evening, I got some 'during' pictures:
I spent several days over there, and was pretty wore out Saturday night. (And very stiff since.) I used to be able to do this kind of work all the time, I guess I've gotten soft. Or worn out. Or something...
I spent several days over there, and was pretty wore out Saturday night. (And very stiff since.) I used to be able to do this kind of work all the time, I guess I've gotten soft. Or worn out. Or something...
Arson pictures
For the curious, here are some pictures of the stuff we found outside last week. The Fire Marshall never came back, at least we got the case opened...
Something (maybe a paper towel) inside, can smelled of gas.
The siding was scorched. I've got siding to replace it, but it was a little concerning that it was outside one of the bedroom windows. No more events since the snowball incident so far...Tonight in Family Home Evening, we went over fire and earthquake procedures with the girls again. Hopefully they've got it down. After we talked about things, I let them hear what the CO detector and fire detector sounded like. Then we showed them how to open a window, pop the screen, and get out of the house if they have to go through the window. They all climbed out, the little girls needed a little help getting out the window. Adam got very angry with us, until we let him also go out the window.
I plan to test fire the fire extinguisher Friday night after they go to sleep, to see how they respond when they are sleepy...
I plan to test fire the fire extinguisher Friday night after they go to sleep, to see how they respond when they are sleepy...
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Stop throwing things at our house, please.
We've had things tossed into our yard lately. Yesterday, Tara found a pop can. It had a little paper towel in it, smelled of gasoline, and was burned up. It was laying underneath Emma's window. The siding under Emma's window is all scorched. We had a cop and someone from the fire department over looking at things. I figure the can was just lobbing in the direction of the house, a little too hard, hit the window sill, splattered, and away they went.
I had meant to go over and talk to them before, but when it's fire being lobbed into the yard, we have a problem...
Tonight, less than 30 minutes ago, I'm sitting in the back room, and a snowball hits the window. I jumped up, got my shoes and coat, and went out there. Didn't see anyone, but our fairly new neighbors were home. Snowball could only have come from their house, or the Niccoli's place, we are pretty sure they didn't do it.
I went over to the place behind us, the husband was cooking something in a steamer next to the garage. The husband doesn't seem to speak English. The wife, Beppa, does. (They are Tongan.) I talked to her about how I was their neighbor behind them, how we had 6 kids (Kate's the same age as their youngest.), and what's been happening lately. News to the parents, I guess. The wife said she would talk to her kids about it.
Hopefully it helps. We can't let things like this keep happening, it's just silly. We should have them over to the house when it gets warmer, get to know them some. They seem like nice people.
I had meant to go over and talk to them before, but when it's fire being lobbed into the yard, we have a problem...
Tonight, less than 30 minutes ago, I'm sitting in the back room, and a snowball hits the window. I jumped up, got my shoes and coat, and went out there. Didn't see anyone, but our fairly new neighbors were home. Snowball could only have come from their house, or the Niccoli's place, we are pretty sure they didn't do it.
I went over to the place behind us, the husband was cooking something in a steamer next to the garage. The husband doesn't seem to speak English. The wife, Beppa, does. (They are Tongan.) I talked to her about how I was their neighbor behind them, how we had 6 kids (Kate's the same age as their youngest.), and what's been happening lately. News to the parents, I guess. The wife said she would talk to her kids about it.
Hopefully it helps. We can't let things like this keep happening, it's just silly. We should have them over to the house when it gets warmer, get to know them some. They seem like nice people.
It's a nice day for a "Blood Wedding"...
Tara and I went to see a play tonight called "Blood Wedding." I hear it's the National play for Spain. I guess Spaniards are hard up for entertainment or something.
Tara was a little worried, it's all about people dying. And talking about dying. And widows. Those Spaniards. The little guide for the play talked about how some plays are uplifting and show good, some show evil. I thought it was a bad sign. (Lower expectations and all.) They also ran the thing without an intermission, seemingly so the audience couldn't escape.
Anyhow, turns out it was a comedy, sort of. Tara and I were sitting in the very back, against the side, by ourselves. Some parts of the play made me laugh. This was not the indented response, I am sure. Maybe I'm just missing something, but I there was too much forced drama in the play, including, but not limited to, dancing gypsies, an extreme slow motion knife fight, and people sitting around staring at walls.
Blood Wedding - very artsy. I'm not a very artsy person. We also saw an old door hung on a wall with all kind of little sayings written in the middle of it. Wasn't part of the performance, was in a hall in the building.
After the play, we walked out and saw the President's Leadership Council in the art museum enjoying refreshments. I thought about walking in, and having a snack. Possibly introducing myself. "Hi, I'm John Payne, I'm here for the cheese." I didn't do it, I figured the Bishop and President Palmer wouldn't appreciate that very much.
Tara was a little worried, it's all about people dying. And talking about dying. And widows. Those Spaniards. The little guide for the play talked about how some plays are uplifting and show good, some show evil. I thought it was a bad sign. (Lower expectations and all.) They also ran the thing without an intermission, seemingly so the audience couldn't escape.
Anyhow, turns out it was a comedy, sort of. Tara and I were sitting in the very back, against the side, by ourselves. Some parts of the play made me laugh. This was not the indented response, I am sure. Maybe I'm just missing something, but I there was too much forced drama in the play, including, but not limited to, dancing gypsies, an extreme slow motion knife fight, and people sitting around staring at walls.
Blood Wedding - very artsy. I'm not a very artsy person. We also saw an old door hung on a wall with all kind of little sayings written in the middle of it. Wasn't part of the performance, was in a hall in the building.
After the play, we walked out and saw the President's Leadership Council in the art museum enjoying refreshments. I thought about walking in, and having a snack. Possibly introducing myself. "Hi, I'm John Payne, I'm here for the cheese." I didn't do it, I figured the Bishop and President Palmer wouldn't appreciate that very much.
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