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July 31, 2007
More Props for Freecycle
Remember that box of random stuff I mentioned?
It disappeared last night - a nice fellow came and got it - figuring he'd find some parts in it he could use, and would pass on the rest.
Freecycle is amazing.
Posted by dberger at 1:59 PM | Comments (0)
Mental Log-Jam
I'm normally pretty good at making decisions - so my total lack of ability to move forward on the "to move or not to move" question is incredibly frustrating.
Continue reading "Mental Log-Jam"
Posted by dberger at 11:50 AM | Comments (3)
July 29, 2007
One Man's Meat...
Another win for freecycle - a nice fellow looking for a computer "to learn linux on" came and picked up a c. 1999 Dell notebook that I got when leaving OpenMarket.
I had been keeping it around 'cause it had a serial port and the software to program our universal remote, but I finally got wise and bought a USB to Serial adaptor a couple months back. Since then, the machine had been sitting in a closet gathering dust. Now it's gone to a place where someone will get some use out of it.
Huzza the reuse.
Now if only some sucker lucky individual would decide they want the box full of random and sundry parts and cables...
Posted by dberger at 9:37 PM | Comments (0)
July 25, 2007
Son of a Bitch
I just finished the Morgan interview.
He was in Seattle, at the University book store, two freaking days ago.
And I didn't know it 'till just now.
I'd have gotten the libraries copy signed and bought it from them.
Fuck.
Posted by dberger at 8:59 PM | Comments (0)
Th1rte3n
I got Richard Morgan's newest novel - Th1rte3n - from the library while my family was in town. I finished it tonight, having gone back to it at pretty much every opportunity.
Wow.
It's rich, textured, a compelling story with characters you come to care about quickly, and another anti-hero in the tradition of Takashi Kovacs.
I don't, as a rule, re-read books. Life's too short and there are too many good ones - I don't buy the same wine twice either for the same reason - but I suspect I'll re-read this one, so I can get all the stuff I "missed" the first time.
Oh, and while hunting around for stuff I might have missed, I found this interview with Morgan.
Posted by dberger at 8:30 PM | Comments (0)
Polystyrene Still Sucks
From: Dan Berger
To: customerservice at blackstoneltd.com
Cc: customerservice at costco.com
Date: 22-July-07
To Whom it may concern:
I recently purchased two "Sunter Lighting Eclipse Studio Desk Lamps" from my local Costco warehouse.
I'm writing to express concern about the polystyrene packaging used for transport and delivery. As I'm sure you are aware, polystyrene is effectively un-recyclable in most localities as there is no secondary market for these materials. Instead, these molded blocks end up in land fills where they have very long decomposition cycles due to typically being sequestered away from sun and weather.
I am writing to request that you investigate replacing your use of Polystyrene with more ecologically responsible materials, such as die-cut and corrugated cardboard.
In my personal drive to reduce my non-recyclable waste output, I intend to aggressively phase out my use of non-recyclable materials - which means phasing out my patronage of vendors who use such materials.
Your time and attention to this matter is appreciated.
Posted by dberger at 1:44 PM | Comments (0)
July 24, 2007
And I would have gotten away with it...
If it weren't for that darn new HD TiVo.
$300? Check
Dual HD record with simultaneous HD playback? Check
Upgradeable storage? Check
Watching the resolve behind my 2.5 year "no TV in the house" streak starting to crumble?
Check.
Damn it.
Damn it.
Damn it.
Posted by dberger at 6:20 AM | Comments (1)
July 17, 2007
Blindsight
I finished Blindsight on the ferry this morning. I really liked Starfish, the first book in Peter Watts Rifters cycle, and Blindsight had some of the same "hard-sf cum cyberpunk" sensibility in a completely different setting.
Reminiscent of some of Greg Egan's work. Plays with the notions of what it means (and why it's valuable from an evolutionary perspective) to be sentient. Interesting characters, tight plot, and Vampires as icing on the cake.
Posted by dberger at 11:13 AM | Comments (0)
July 12, 2007
I always believe everything is a trap...
...That is why I am still alive.
In my 10 mile, 25 minute commute from Bellevue to the Bainbridge Ferry no fewer than 5 people tried to change lanes into me.
All of them, when I hit the horn, "woke up" with a start and waved at me - as if that made up for the fact that a moment ago they were on a course to ruin my whole day, and possibly my life.
Sheesh.
Posted by dberger at 4:47 PM | Comments (0)
July 10, 2007
Dark Mondays
Picked up and ripped through Dark Mondays, a collection of shorts and a novella by Kage Baker. They'll all over the (sea)board - from a Marx Brothers routine set in a lighthouse, to a Cuthulu tale in a run-down sea-side town. The novella (The Maid on the Shore) is a well executed and textured pirate tale featuring Henry Morgan.
Nothing Company related, but certainly don't let that stop you.
Posted by dberger at 6:17 AM | Comments (0)
July 9, 2007
Squishy Keyboards Make Me Cry
After reading my short rant on RSI, Steve pointed out that my favorite keyboard almost certainly wasn't helping my wrists.
So this morning I begrudgingly grabbed a Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Whiz-bang 4000 from the IT guys.
I hate it.
My wrists like it.
I guess I'm stuck with it for a while...
Maybe I can find one of these...
Posted by dberger at 3:29 PM | Comments (1)
July 8, 2007
A Really Good Weekend
Yesterday was Donna's birthday. Dawnise spent the morning at the Rotary auction, I hung out at C'est La Vie drinking coffee and chatting with David.
I volunteered to cook dinner, so they got some fresh salmon and veggies while in Seattle, and I made salmon with a honey spiced rum and herb glaze, garlic sauteed baby portabello mushrooms with snap peas and bell pepper, and rice. It all came out really well.
Marcia joined us for dinner, and post-dinner we went to the improv as a group. On our return Dawnise made spiced Cabernet molten chocolate cakes - which were a perfect topper to the evening. We sat and talked 'till relatively late.
Continue reading "A Really Good Weekend"
Posted by dberger at 7:33 PM | Comments (0)
July 6, 2007
Hurray for Hollywood
Last night, Dawnise, Vince, Donna Ari and I took in the 7:30 showing of The Black Pirate starring Douglas Fairbanks, preceded by the Buster Keaton short The Boat at the Lynwood Theatre, shown complete with organ accompanist in celebration of the theatres 75th birthday.
The prints were very good for movies made in the mid 20's and the organist was incredible. His timing was perfect and when the organ - a vintage Wurlitzer - had technical trouble and the music stopped for a moment, it threw into sharp relief how much his performance was adding to the experience.
Really a great experience. Now I really want to see Metropolis with appropriate accompaniment.
Posted by dberger at 8:16 AM | Comments (0)
July 5, 2007
Fooled By Randomness
A colleague loaned me Fooled By Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb a couple weeks ago. I started it on finishing Breaking the Limit, and finished it last night before retiring.
Perhaps because I understand statistics, and notions like expected value and the monte carlo method, I didn't find the book as remarkable as it's reputation.
Continue reading "Fooled By Randomness"
Posted by dberger at 6:14 AM | Comments (0)
July 4, 2007
We Hold These Truths...
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
Continue reading "We Hold These Truths..."
Posted by dberger at 9:43 PM | Comments (0)
July 3, 2007
RSI Sucks
I suppose it was only a matter of time, given my profession and genetics, 'till my wrists started bugging me.
Continue reading "RSI Sucks"
Posted by dberger at 10:16 AM | Comments (1)
July 2, 2007
Weekend Recap
Dawnise and I had a very nice weekend - the weather was gorgeous (and they're predicting a clear and sunny 4th, for a change).
Someone told me that Seattle has a really high ratio of convertible ownership per-capita - I dunno if it's true, but weekends like this one are the reason we bought one. It's almost like being on the motorcycle - you experience the road much more viscerally, without all the safety gear.
Continue reading "Weekend Recap"
Posted by dberger at 9:25 AM | Comments (0)