Reality Me

Blog

  • How can I tell if I am living over a cave?

    I live in East Tennessee. By definition, I am probably living over a cave.

    Old timers who used to live in the neighborhood tell of a legendary cave that “we used to throw garbage into,” “dad pushed a car into it,” and “we dropped a fishing line with a weight on it and never found the bottom” yet I have never found this entrance.

    The creek behind my house on rainy days flows normally. On most days the creek has a trickle that goes underground about halfway behind the neighbor’s house. This is the strongest evidence to support a cave system.

    Question: 1) How do I confirm there is a cave? and 2) if I wanted to dig an entrance to the cave, how do I know how/where to dig such that I don’t just dig right beside the cave thus never finding it?

    Bonus question: If I verify my house is above a cave system, do I destroy the resale value of my home?

  • Data is beautiful

    Using a spreadsheet to figure out when the next time you’ll get laid is not as easy as one would imagine.

  • Deep Thoughts

    Sometimes it feels like there has been entirely too much sobriety in my life.

  • No more dreams

    My dreams have been replaced by the constant pursuit of the dollar. Society has succeeded in beating me down and erasing my soul. I am blank. I am an automaton. A cog in the wheel. I live for the sole purpose of moving money from one hand to the other.

  • Parenting conundrum – responsibility vs responsibility

    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 he writes that people have a need "to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy." When you influence someone’s life, positively or negatively, you leave that legacy.

    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: “Playing Latin jazz on Tunein.”
    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

    Just Found A Bomb On My Wrist!

  • So long…

    …thanks for all the fish.