Evan has a friend visiting. As a responsible parent, I want to give them fun activities that may be different from the norm. I’d like to play Dungeons and Dragons with them, or Munchkin, or Risk, or Axis and Allies. Or perhaps do a science experiment. Or a dozen other things. But they are entertaining themselves on the Xbox and seem very happy. My mind drifts to my other responsibilities. Should I clean? Work on home repair? I’ve been working on a client’s project. It has consumed my evenings and weekends for weeks. I need to find more work. I need to balance my books and do bureaucratic adult stuff. I’d like to read a book, or watch tv, or curl up into a ball and rock back and forth. I should go for a run, or play guitar, or juggle fire, or meditate. I have volunteer responsibilities to do for the scouts. I need to update records, confirm headcounts, and send out emails. I need to update one of my websites to make it generate revenue. I want to write, to publish, to create. Ah, I think I’ll sit.
Lunch TMI
Hummus for lunch. Tonight’s flatulence shall be glorious!
Deep Thoughts
Ah, comfort food. Doesn’t mean I’m not still having a panic attack.Just means I’m not hungry during my panic attack.
What does it take to be a programmer?
About 137/91…on medication.
I did not help him
As a teenager, I knew my purpose in life would be to change the world for the better. I may have been overly optimistic.
Any philosopher will tell you that your interaction with another human, however minor, can change that person’s destiny forever. Perhaps that friendly ‘hello’ made a suicidal stranger rethink his terminal plans and he went on to create a foundation to reach out to suicidal people saving countless lives. Who changed the world there? Stephen R Covey’s Book First Things First
Today the weather is wet. Rain is pouring from the sky. October has brought lower temperatures than just a couple of weeks past. As I turned into Tyson Park, I saw a man sitting in the first parking space of the park, on the asphalt. My first thought was a runner was in distress so I slowed the van. As I approached him, I realized he was a homeless person. His plastic bags were on the ground beside him. His pants were pulled down over his thighs. He sat bare assed on the asphalt. A bridge in sight 50 yards to his left and another 300-400 yards to his right. He was drenched. As I passed him, his head turned and we made eye contact. I have nothing for him. No umbrella in the van. Nothing. Ah, in hindsight, I did have a tarp. However, he was not seeking shelter. Is suspected he might be relieving himself. In all likelihood, we was working the system. It’s a game those of us one paycheck away from homelessness don’t yet know how to play. I suspect he was hungry and cold. His behavior is certain to get him a stay in a jail cell with a few meals. So I made the call. I spoke with the non-emergency number of the Knoxville Police Department and asked not if they could arrest him but if they could help him. In his case, it is probably one in the same.
What would you tell your younger self?
If I could travel back in time, I wouldn’t tell my younger self anything. I’d look me in the eye and punch me in the face then walk away. This may have already happened.
…
fo
Spoiler free Doctor Who commentary
From the mouths of babes
Me: “Alexa, play Dr John Radio.”
Alexa
Aunt Mary’s ghost: “Enunciate boy!”
Our police watch too many movies.
Holy crap! I just found a bomb on my wrist! Oh, wait, the skin is white. Everyone can relax.
For those who do not understand, read about this future rocket scientist (yes, that’s a NASA shirt he’s wearing in front of his handcuffs)
See: https://imgur.com/PMgDR7m
Watch: https://youtu.be/3mW4w0Y1OXE
Read: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/northwest-dallas-county/headlines/20150915-irving-9th-grader-arrested-after-taking-homemade-clock-to-school-so-you-tried-to-make-a-bomb.ece
This is NOT how we inspire future scientists. This is NOT how we progress as a society. This is NOT how we make students excited about education.
This IS how we instill fear. This IS how we control future generations. This IS how we stagnate intellectualism. This IS how we destroy innovation.
#endtheabsurdity #bringbackcommonsense
So long…
…thanks for all the fish.
More cord cutting
I did it. I committed to being a Comcast customer for the next 2 years. $109.95 per month set in stone. 50Mbps down/ 10Mpbs up. Unlimited. $200 installation fee; $150 rebate. And yes, if I terminate in less than 24 months, I’m on the hook for 75% of the remainder. So if 6 months remain when I cancel, I’d owe $495.
Negatives? No television whatsoever. Positives? No more data cap.
My overage charges alone in July were $110.
Now, saying, “I’m going to pay $2638.80 for two years of Internet connectivity” sounds ludicrous. Add in Netflix roughly $20 a month. $3118.80 and Hulu ($7.99/mth) $3310.56. And now add cellphone service: $12,358,56. So, if my family wanted to cut out all entertainment and phone services, in two years, I could take them on one of the cheaper Disney vacations. Or, we could skip Disney and stay current with The Walking Dead.
Why did they put Doug in a padded room?
Because "The type or namespace name ‘ScriptManager’ does not exist in the namespace ‘System.Web.UI’ (are you missing an assembly reference?)"
Genuine Dad
I played catch with my son with a football and discussed proper kicking technique. I leveled up as a dad today.
Simply Pleasures
Nothing is quite as amusing as joking with the cashier about the year supply of discount condoms in your purchase.
