Tom

New direction

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:07:12 GMT

On Monday, my boss was laid off. Those of you who know about my work life last year know that it was not a big loss.

It means that the few employees who are left will be charting the direction of the company. I'm nervous. But, for the first time in over a year, I feel like my destiny is mine to control.

The Backfire Effect

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:42:54 GMT

Interesting article. Two political scientists gave two politically similar groups (such as both conservative or both liberal) a statement they were inclined to believe and then one group was given information that refuted that statement.

As a group, liberals tended to ignore the refutations that ran counter to their beliefs. So, the percentage that believed the original statement was similar in both groups.

As a group, conservatives who heard the refutations were MORE likely to believe the original statement than the group that didn't (by a significant margin).

The theories about why this happens are interesting.

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2008/09/the_backfire_effect.html

A Q&A with the authors of the paper: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/09/14/DI2008091401308.html

I love xkcd

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:19:31 GMT

YouTube humor

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 17:12:46 GMT

Breaking News: All Online Data Lost After Internet Crash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vail4Uk85Lw

Be sure to read the ticker at the bottom of the page.

iPhone fun

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 05:43:48 GMT

Nothing funnier than stupidity and greed.

Video here

For Hellbob

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:28:41 GMT

Vegas baby, VEGAS

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 19:29:12 GMT

As some of you know, last I left my job at "big e-commerce company" to work for a small startup.

This week is the show (NAB, National Association of Broadcasters) we've been working towards. It's make-or-break time.

I'm at the Las Vegas convention center getting ready for the show. We just got our electricity. Now we are waiting for our tables. It's going to be long, boring day.

Most likely followed by several days of complete chaos.

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:33:31 GMT

This is a hellbob kind of story, but he's strangely silent today.

Michael Jackson is in discussions about creating a 50-foot robotic replica of himself to roam the Las Vegas desert firing laser beams, according to reports.

http://music-news.com/ShowNews.asp?nItemID=13535

Life with teenagers...

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 14:05:27 GMT

When I let my daughter use my cellphone, I never explained that there was a limited number of minutes per month.

$175 in overages later, we HAVE had the conversation.

Star Wars Robot Chicken

Sat, 28 Oct 2006 13:27:52 GMT

LucasFilm is financing a half-hour Robot Chicken special to air during the Superbowl:

http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/10/27/lucasfilm-financing-robot-chicken-special/

This makes me very happy.

Surgery update

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 20:35:52 GMT

Surgery and recovery has been going very well. I spent Tuesday night at the hospital and even thought I was approved for morphine, I never needed anything stronger than Tylenol 3.

I'm feeling pretty good. Other than the ice pack on my throat and the raspy voice, you wouldn't be able to tell that anything unusual happened. I heard a lot of horror stories about getting your tonsils out as an adult but it looks like I'm lucky to be on the low end of the pain scale. Days four through eight after surgery is supposed to be the worst, so we'll see how the weekend goes.

Tonsilectomy

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 14:59:34 GMT

Well, between insurance company issues and scheduling delays, I'm finally going in for surgery tomorrow morning. They are keeping me overnight in the hospital and then home to recover.

I have no shame in admitting that my Mommy and Daddy are coming up to take care of me during my recovery.

On top of this, I'm also changing jobs. So between finalizing some things with my soon-to-be old job, doing some night and weekend work for the new job and preparing the rest of my life for up to two weeks of recovery from the surgery, I've been completely off the radar.

I will at OmegaCon, so I hope to catch up with some of you there.

Physics of Superheroes

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 12:14:56 GMT

Dr. Jim's book has been reviewed on Slashdot here.

Sleep Study results

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 14:52:07 GMT

In July, I went in for a sleep study. I reviewed the results with the doctor yesterday.

It seems after 41 years, I'll be getting my tonsils taken out.

I've always had big tonsils. I should have had them taken out as a kid, but our family doctor didn't believe in removing tonsils. When I drop into REM sleep, my airway closes up and I choke. A CPAP machine won't help because there isn't enough of an airway for the machine to push the air through.

I'm waiting for a referral from my primary physician to a Ear, Nose and Throat doctor. I have to schedule an appointment with them and then schedule the surgery, so I don't know exactly when it will happen.

Considering what my friends have been through (hi gingerpook), this is minor. But it will still suck.

Ten random questions

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 15:32:26 GMT

Stolen from the gingerpook and MagicMarmot:

1. What is the place you'd like to visit the most?
New Zealand and Australia. England, Wales and Scotland are a close second. Fifteen years ago it would Ireland, but I've already been there. I want to go back, but it got bumped from number one.

2. What does your default photo mean?
I couldn't find any photos I liked? Iron Man is my favorite comic character and it was easy to make into an icon? I'm sure there is some interesting psychological insights about a person who hides in a suit of armor.

3. Who was the first person on your friend's list?
unixpgmr. We were going to use LJ to stay current on each other's lives when he moved away to college. Unfortunately, neither of us post enough. We've fallen back on e-mail, IM and recently Skype VOIP phone calls.

4. What are your plans for today?
Work. Meeting this after noon with the VP I used to work for (it should be interesting). Son is at camp and daughter will be at a sleep-over birthday party, so I'm having dinner with romeoa and then we're going to see Lady in the Water at 10:00 in EP.

5. What exactly are you wearing right now?
Grey polo, blue jeans, blue hanes, white socks, tennis shoes, watch and glasses.

6. What's your current problem?
I'm caught in the middle of some political battles at work. Just trying to keep my head down.

7. What do you love most?
My kids.

8. What makes you the happiest?
Spending time with those I love, my kids and friends.

9. Are you musically inclined?
I took a couple years of guitar lessons in high school. I never practiced enough to overcome a lack of natural talent. I like to sing, but don't do much publicly.

10. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Getting electrodes attached to my head as part of a sleep study.

Transformers live action movie

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:41:14 GMT

It's a Michael Bay production. Scheduled for release on July 4th, 2007.

The teaser trailer is on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFsjxPkw0Qk&search=transformers%20teaser

File under "life is quirky"

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 20:43:40 GMT

She fell off her bike. Radial Head (elbow) fracture.

India

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 19:13:44 GMT

I'm currently at the Newark, NJ airport on my way to Pune, India. We were supposed to leave yesterday, but missed the cut-off for the flight because picking up everything from the various homes and offices took longer than we thought.

We just had our first two hours of 19 hours of flight time. Because of the missed flight yesterday, we had to add a lay-over in Newark in addition to the lay-overs in Amsterdam and Mumbai, IN.

Our business is supposed to last through Thursday, which leaves us Friday, Saturday and part of Sunday for sight-seeing.

If anyone wants a postcard or some (small) gift, send me an e-mail or leave a comment.

Last chance to RSVP for the brunch

Sat, 06 May 2006 02:44:10 GMT

I'm going to buying the food for the brunch this Sunday, May 7th tomorrow (Saturday). This will be the last chance to RSVP. Either leave a comment here or send me an e-mail.

I've already got over two dozen confirmations, so there may not be enough food if you just show up.

Sunday brunch on May 7th

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 18:03:07 GMT

Bumped for those who missed it yesterday:

It's time again for a Sunday morning brunch with friends. It will be in two weeks on Sunday, May 7th.

We'll start cooking about 10:30 on Sunday morning. You can start showing up anytime after 10:00.

My plan for the menu is not elaborate, just basic comfort food. There will be scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, toast, and hashbrowns. Drinks will include milk (skim), orange juice, and water. I have caffeinated coffee and a four-cup coffee maker (only used by my parents when they visit). If you would like decaffeinated coffee, please let me know so that I can see about borrowing another coffee maker.

If there is anything else you would like, volunteer to bring it.

As with most of my invitations, this is an open invitation. The more the merrier. I currently have no furry pets, so those of you with pet allergies shouldn't have a problem. There will be small children, so if you are allergic to small children, take whatever precautions you feel necessary.

Please either park on my front lawn, in my driveway or down on Scenic Heights. DO NOT park on the gravel easement road. It is the only access for two of my neighbors.

If you don't already know the directions to my house or the parking restrictions, please ask. I live slightly off the beaten path and the web maps will only get you close.

I just ask that you RSVP here, via e-mail (thogan at pclink dot com) or phone (nine five two - nine seven five - zero three two four) so that I have some idea how much food to buy and how much table space I will need.

Sunday Brunch on May 7th

Sat, 22 Apr 2006 22:11:19 GMT

It's time again for a Sunday morning brunch with friends. It will be in two weeks on Sunday, May 7th.

We'll start cooking about 10:30 on Sunday morning. You can start showing up anytime after 10:00.

My plan for the menu is not elaborate, just basic comfort food. There will be scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, toast, and hashbrowns. Drinks will include milk (skim), orange juice, and water. I have caffeinated coffee and a four-cup coffee maker (only used by my parents when they visit). If you would like decaffeinated coffee, please let me know so that I can see about borrowing another coffee maker.

If there is anything else you would like, volunteer to bring it.

As with most of my invitations, this is an open invitation. The more the merrier. I currently have no furry pets, so those of you with pet allergies shouldn't have a problem. There will be small children, so if you are allergic to small children, take whatever precautions you feel necessary.

Please either park on my front lawn, in my driveway or down on Scenic Heights. DO NOT park on the gravel easement road. It is the only access for two of my neighbors.

If you don't already know the directions to my house or the parking restrictions, please ask. I live slightly off the beaten path and the web maps will only get you close.

I just ask that you RSVP here, via e-mail (thogan at pclink dot com) or phone (nine five two - nine seven five - zero three two four) so that I have some idea how much food to buy and how much table space I will need.

Archeology

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 16:00:06 GMT

While cleaning my basement this weekend I found a pile of old birthday cards.

One was from my parents for my 26th birthday (that's 15 years ago for those of you who don't want to do the math).

And it still had the $20 bill in it. :)

R.I.P. G'Kar

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 19:21:12 GMT

I haven't seen anyone else post this:

"Andreas Katsulas, the character actor known to SF fans as G'Kar on Babylon 5 and a familiar face from Star Trek and other SF&F TV shows, died Feb. 13 of lung cancer in Los Angeles, his agent, Donna Massetti, confirmed to SCI FI Wire. He was 59."

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/inde...gory=1&id=34628

Mon, 05 Dec 2005 15:51:53 GMT

Filling out an expense report is interesting when you can't read the receipts.

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 23:23:52 GMT

Wednesday was another full day of work. We had some equipment problems, so no day trip to Ginza.

Thursday didn't start off too well. We needed a couple of cables, so we took the train to Akihabara (also known as "Electic Town"). Akihabara is the tech center of Tokyo. If an electronic gadget is available in Japan, it is in Alkihabara. We found a vendor who had the cables we needed, but wouldn't sell them to us because they didn't offically open until an hour later at 10:00. Nothing else was open yet and we didn't want to wait, so we got back on the train. Unfortunately, instead of the local train, we got on the express train to the airport. Oh well, at least we could laugh about it.

We worked through lunch, but we got everything working. We hopped on the train and went to a meeting with the DR Japan office to help them with some networking issues.

We visited a famous Buddist temple, but it was also closed by the time we got there at 6:00.

We wanted to spend Friday on a day trip to Kyoto, but the it would be a two hour train ride both ways. If we didn't have to be back for a 4:00 meeting, we would have done it. But spending five hours on the train for less than five hours of touring didn't seem like a good trade-off.

So we will be spending the day sight-seeing in Tokyo.