May 2011
1 post
It’s Summertime by the Flaming Lips
Progress in any of life’s pursuits - personal, professional, and spiritual - is a daily discipline. Learn to ask yourself when you wake up each day, “Where do I want to make progress, and what can I do today to improve?” Then one day when you find ten years has got behind you, you won’t have to say that no one told you when to run; you won’t have missed the starting...
April 2011
4 posts
Signs of the Times
I want to relay a book-buying adventure I had recently. So there I was in the Rivertown Barnes & Noble, sitting around the table with the lads discussing important things, and having accumulated a stack of material that looked interesting. Five books, on the following essential topics: Information Security, Napoleon, the Beatles, and Origami. Total price tag for the whole mess: over $115.
...
Or Is It?
Walking down the hallway today I was behind a fine young lad wearing a black t-shirt with words on the back. The shirt was advertising the heavy-metal band Slipknot’s 2009 World Tour, which apparently was charmingly billed “All Hope Is Gone”. After the wave of sheer class emanating from this t-shirt washed over me, I had to laugh at the paradox of Slipknot attempting to...
Snowball by Moby, off Hotel (the ambient tracks)
Hopeless
I have an intensely adversarial relationship with plastic wrap. Not sure how or why it chose me as an enemy, but it’s been clear from day one that plastic wrap and I were meant to be locked in an eternal struggle. I wouldn’t mind it so much if it weren’t so passive aggressive. I take it out of the roll, nice and slow, but the corner still folds over and sticks to itself; now I...
March 2011
3 posts
6 tags
The Most Difficult Interview I Ever Watched
The biggest story in IT Security today (or even the last three months) is Anonymous. I’ve enjoyed Anonymous immensely, I think especially since they put up their “Message to Scientology” video. Now they’ve really entered the public eye with their take-down of HBGary CEO Aaron Barr (I always get his name mixed up in my head with Aaron Burr). I find the whole saga very...
February 2011
1 post
January 2011
2 posts
You Get Five Dollars
If you can tell me what these four concepts have in common:
Relevancy.
Research.
Remembering.
Communication.
I found them as an old draft post, and completely forget what was going on in my mind when I wrote them down. Which is kind of creepy, almost like the section of my brain that thought they were important has been blocked off from the rest of my brain. Perhaps that section of my...
December 2010
4 posts
Pain Fades
It’s always small things that bring the pain back. What I call the “love pangs”. A memory so insignificant that if it didn’t involve her it wouldn’t have lasted a day. But you were in love. One song touches it off and you realize she’s gone. Now you feel it was a waste; that it meant nothing in the cosmic scheme of things. That’s what hurts, because to you...
Strange Moments
So today I was checking out the Twitter buzz surrounding the cyber-terrorist group “Anonymous” and their attacks against organizations which have taken an adversarial stance towards Wikileaks. Trying to keep track of current events these days. I tweeted the following: “I liked Anonymous more when they were pestering Scientology. But now it’s Amazon? Need to find a better...
Anonymous asked: I was on hold with the U.S. Dept. of Ed. and the robot lady said, "You are being transferred to a representative...During this time, you will hear silence." I guess I wondered if anyone else had pondered the strange phrase and you were the only one, so naturally I was curious.
November 2010
2 posts
Anonymous asked: I did a google search for, "during this time, you will hear silence," and ended up here. Is this just a personal blog?
October 2010
1 post
Miss Admiral Gordon’s Strathspey as...
September 2010
1 post
August 2010
4 posts
“I watered it yesterday… I don’t know why this plant won’t...”
– Lara commenting on the dismal state of her office plant
Bean Dubh An Ghleanna (Dark Woman of the Glen) as...
July 2010
13 posts
The Sum of It All
I think it’s important for people to stay informed, and these days there’s no excuse not to be since it’s becoming easier and easier. I’ve found, though, that as my ability to access information grows, proportionally so does my need for more of it. Allow me to explain.
The frustration lies with seeing lots of information but not really knowing the truth of what stands...
“The Most Interesting Man in the World is a lover, not a fighter. But he’s...”
“Am I wrong in thinking that all little girls are hard-bitten thugs of the worst...”
– Bertrum Wooster
Fix You by Coldplay
“fu-tile /ˈfyo͞otl/”
– Adjective: Incapable of producing any useful result; pointless.
Spain and Germany: the only two nations to leave the knockout rounds of South Africa 2010 with a win.
Parachutes Turns 10 →
The debut album of one of my favorite bands, Coldplay, has now been released for 10 years.
Walk with Me
I thought I felt his hand in this. Many trials paved the way, The pain endured was worth it. Now my labor’s turned to dust, I’ve got no place to turn. The flashing lights sting my eyes. A guide to the lost; I shall not stray, but follow. Lord Jesus, walk with me tonight. In the silent watches I sometimes feel them there. They can’t be tasted, touched or heard; They won’t return my stare....
June 2010
19 posts
“German goalkeepers are expected to save penalties.”
– Jens Lehmann
Out of Touch
Tomorrow begins Michigan’s texting while driving ban. I have mixed feelings about this law, but ultimately if one life can be saved because someody didn’t text in fear of being excessively fined, then it is worth it.
I love how this printer cable says “Limitless” on the packaging but clearly will only extend by 10 feet. Refund!
Get It Done Right
I’m starting to believe my dad’s assertion that overall quality of workmanship in the trade sector has declined catastrophically in the last 50 years. What’s the deal with that? It seems every time I turn around, I see contractors making royal messes out of what ought to be routine business. Simple things that have been around for decades like drywall, phones, and televisions...
Not Your Neighbor
Thinking back yesterday about Mr Rogers and his theme song, I realized that he was being disingenuous. He always claimed to want a neighbor just like me… you don’t know me, old man! Just keep zipping up that sweater and tossing that shoe from side to side and leave me out of it.
“When a cow is pooping on your head, move to the side. Don’t look up.”
– Wisdom from my sister’s trip to Ireland
Angel Band performed by Ralph Stanley