Swans on Tea

Today is Frank and Helga’s 100th anniversary. Frank and Helga are my great, great grandparents. A toast to them. Skol.
Also, 20 years ago last week I got out of the navy and went west (you know, the way of Horatio Alger, Davy Crockett, the Donner Party…) to go to grad school.

I’ve long since passed the point when celebrating a birthday is a big deal — the last party I had was for #30, where we all dressed in black to mourn the passing of my youth. Fortunately the rumors of its death were greatly exaggerated (at least the behavioral part). But I [...]

Ice Invaders
Ah, sweet nostalgia. Space Invaders, Missile Command and especially Asteroids were the favorites we played at the Ground Round.

Diandra writes about social networks at Cocktail Party Physics, in it really is a small world
This reminds me that according to the Oracle of Bacon and some simple math, I have a Bacon number of three, sort of. Back when I was in high school, the local TV station (WRGB Channel 6) must have [...]

Part of every trip home involves attacking the “to-do” list of things my mom can’t take care of by herself. She has several wonderful neighbors who do some more immediate things like plow and shovel her out when it snows (she mows their lawn in nicer weather on her riding mower), but other tasks [...]

via Kottke and reminded by Chad posting his list. I didn’t travel a whole lot, owing to various conflicts.
Places I visited, in which I spent at least a night in 2008
Niskayuna, NY
Dewittville, NY
Pacific Grove, CA
Cities I got screwed out of visiting because of bureaucratic SNAFUs
San Francisco, CA
Honolulu, HI
State College, PA

I’ve been adopted by three high school groups (so far). Last time I did this, there was a list of questions, so I got a head start on answering the ones I thought might be asked. The answers seem to have tunneled into the ether, however, but since questions about career path are [...]

If you believe you’re playing well because you’re getting laid, or because you’re not getting laid, or because you wear women’s underwear, then you ARE! Crash Davis
The Quirkbook
“Making a list of superstitions / foolish consistencies / lightweight OCD behaviors e.g. I always put my RIGHT shoe on first. You?”
[...]
“In what order shall I put [...]

Several weeks back, I was lamenting bad advertising music. There seem to be lots of companies who have the ad-music decisions being made by a 45-55 year-old who chooses a favorite tune from their youth but didn’t have great taste in music, (or a 20-something staffer who can Google on what was high on [...]