Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Heaven's Gate, Zune style

Wow, glad I didn't buy a Zune -- apparently last night all (?) 30GB models all simultaneously died at midnight.

I know there's a lot of pressure out there, but come on, Zunie, you've still got a lot to live for!

Sunday, December 28, 2008

25 Man Skills

furnace.png


Just for fun, in the spirit of the last list, here's another.

Popular Mechanics published a list of 25 skills every man should know. Here's what I've got, in bold:
  1. Patch a radiator hose (um... cut-up inner tube and radiator clamps, maybe?)
  2. Protect your computer (pretty easy on a Mac =) -- I think I can hold my own on a Windows box too)
  3. Rescue a boater who has capsized (somehow I don't think the answer is "throw him a rope", so I'll hold off on taking credit for this one)
  4. Frame a wall (never done one, but I'm still claiming credit because it's easy)
  5. Retouch digital photos
  6. Back up a trailer (oh yeah.)
  7. Build a campfire
  8. Fix a dead outlet (I don't know what's wrong with it, but the answer's still yes)
  9. Navigate with a map and compass
  10. Use a torque wrench
  11. Sharpen a knife
  12. Perform CPR (they taught us as boy scouts, does that count?)
  13. Fillet a fish
  14. Maneuver a car out of a skid (and have!)
  15. Get a car unstuck
  16. Back up data (in my sleep!)
  17. Paint a room
  18. Mix concrete
  19. Clean a bolt-action rifle (it's been awhile)
  20. Change oil and filter
  21. Hook up an HDTV (um, why is this on here?)
  22. Bleed brakes (I get the concept, at least)
  23. Paddle a canoe
  24. Fix a bike flat
  25. Extend your wireless network
Thanks, Dad, you get credit for teaching me most of this.

ps. Mom, you get credit for pretty much all the stuff I can do on the "25 skills every woman should know" list. =)

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

(Not quite) tagged!

Stuff I've done in bold:
  1. Started your own blog (woohoo!)
  2. Slept under the stars
  3. Played in a band
  4. Visited Hawaii
  5. Watched a meteor shower (go Leonids!)
  6. Given more than you can afford to charity (sort-of)
  7. Been to Disneyland
  8. Climbed a mountain
  9. Held a praying mantis
  10. Sang a solo
  11. Bungee jumped
  12. Visited Paris
  13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
  14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
  15. Adopted a child (doesn't having 3 of my own count?!)
  16. Had food poisoning
  17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (been there, but the top was closed!)
  18. Grown your own vegetables
  19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
  20. Slept on an overnight train
  21. Had a pillow fight (now ask me if I won =)
  22. Hitchhiked (all the time in Ecuador)
  23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (does sick-of-school count as ill?)
  24. Built a snow fort
  25. Held a lamb
  26. Gone skinny dipping
  27. Run a Marathon
  28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
  29. Seen a total eclipse
  30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
  31. Hit a home run
  32. Been on a cruise
  33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
  34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (do my grandparents count as "ancestors"?)
  35. Seen an Amish community
  36. Taught yourself a new language (is this different from "being taught" a new language? or does perl count? =)
  37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (has anyone been "truly" satisfied ever? isn't that what heaven's for?)
  38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
  39. Gone rock climbing
  40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
  41. Sung karaoke
  42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
  43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
  44. Visited Africa
  45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
  46. Been transported in an ambulance
  47. Had your portrait painted (does a crayon drawing by your daughter count?)
  48. Gone deep sea fishing (how deep does it have to be? 300 yards offshore? Did that...)
  49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
  50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
  51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
  52. Kissed in the rain
  53. Played in the mud
  54. Gone to a drive-in theater
  55. Been in a movie (a real movie?)
  56. Visited the Great Wall of China
  57. Started a business (sort-of, but no license so I'm not taking credit)
  58. Taken a martial arts class
  59. Visited Russia
  60. Served at a soup kitchen
  61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
  62. Gone whale watching
  63. Got flowers for no reason
  64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (1/2 donation twice!)
  65. Gone sky diving
  66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
  67. Bounced a check
  68. Flown in a helicopter
  69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
  70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
  71. Eaten Caviar
  72. Pieced a quilt
  73. Stood in Times Square
  74. Toured the Everglades
  75. Been fired from a job (laid-off...)
  76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
  77. Broken a bone
  78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (30 in a 25, seriously)
  79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
  80. Published a book
  81. Visited the Vatican
  82. Bought a brand new car
  83. Walked in Jerusalem
  84. Had your picture in the newspaper
  85. Read the entire Bible (ouch -- but who gets through Deuteronomy and Numbers?!)
  86. Visited the White House (not inside)
  87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
  88. Had chickenpox
  89. Saved someone's life (umm... drove responsibly?)
  90. Sat on a jury (told them I was a religious engineer, and I was the first one kicked out)
  91. Met someone famous (are astronauts famous? that's the best I've got.)
  92. Joined a book club
  93. Lost a loved one
  94. Had a baby (in a way)
  95. Seen the Alamo in person
  96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (can you swim in it? didn't know that...)
  97. Been involved in a law suit (thank goodness)
  98. Owned a cell phone
  99. Been stung by a bee (I think -- or maybe that was Scott?)
That was kind-of fun, thanks Shells.

Friday, December 19, 2008

2008 in Photographs -- wow.

2008 in Photographs.

Yea, [the Book of Mormon] shall come [forth] in a day when there shall be heard of fires, and tempests, and vapors of smoke in foreign lands; and there shall also be heard of wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places. Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth; there shall be murders, and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations...

- Mormon 8:29-31

"One weekend messing with perl"

From xkcd:



I'm slow, it took me a lot longer than just one weekend to figure out what was going on, but it was totally worth it.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Apple, i.e. Steve Jobs, pulling out of Macworld Expo?

Yep, but if you're worried, read John Gruber's take.

Curiously Apple has never been in a stronger position than it is now. They have *tons* of cash, no debt, impressive sales numbers especially in this economy both of iPods and Macs, and they have an impressive iPhone platform that's just barely out of the gate (making some developers millions of dollars!). They are not idiots, I can't imagine they would pull out of Macworld unless they had something bigger/better planned.

(That or Charlie Greco threw his last straw at Steve Jobs, what do I know?)

It looks like their after hours stock price has lost a couple percent, might be a quick way to make a few percent on my money... =)

"Most beef is tough."

Jenkins Lloyd Jones:
Anyone who imagines bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he's been robbed. The fact is that most putts don't drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise.

Life is like an old time rail journey...delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts: interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Truth prevails, but when?

Picture 1.pngMax Planck, via wikiquote:

A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Portable HDD prices down

This is the lowest price I've ever seen on a drive like this: $79 for 320GB portable USB2 drive, free shipping. If you have a MacBook, this is a terrific Time Machine drive, especially one you can leave in your desk at work.

Protection in case your home gets burglarized (hmph!) or burns down.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Moses' disciples

The Pharisees interrogate a blind man who Jesus had just been healed:
blind.pngThen they reviled [the man who was healed], and said, Thou art [Jesus'] disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: [as for Jesus], we know not from whence he is.   John 9:28-29
Odd that the Pharisees' faith had become so centered around tradition and scripture that they couldn't recognize their God when he was standing right in front of them.

How funny that churches today preach heavily the New Testament, yet just exactly like the Pharisees they tie their faith so tightly around the scriptures that they refuse to acknowledge the prophets and apostles sent to us in our day.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Pretend to be carefree

When asked about the responsibility that comes with being someone who has changed the world, Steve Jobs offered this interesting sidenote:
... I tend to like to on occasion pretend I don't have any responsibilities. I try to remember the last day when I didn't have anything to do and didn't have anything to do the following day that I had to do and I had no responsibilities. It was decades ago. I pretend when I want to feel that way.
Basically, he just pretends to be free and carefree for a little while.

After reading this, I thought I'd try it, and have been doing it ever since -- especially when things start getting crazy or I'm under a big deadline. Sometimes walking into work I'll pretend that I have nothing to do but enjoy the sights and fresh air. It usually only lasts a minute or two, but it's really relaxing and in a way, kind-of fun.

More on prop. 8

LA Times commentary on the anti-Mormon backlash after Prop. 8 in California.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

iPhoto and your hard disk

iphototrash.pngIf you use iPhoto, and your disk space is running low, check its trash (from Macworld).

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Joseph B. Wirthlin has passed away

One of the truly great men in the world, Apostle Joseph B. Wirthlin passed away last night.

My favorite talk by him is titled "Band of Brothers", a great tutorial on leadership.

(I probably need to read it again.)

Does anyone read this thing?

views since Feb. 9, 2008