Archive for September 2006
Why Don’t We Put Our Money Where Our Mouth Is?
Something interesting happened recently that got me thinking. I love it when that happens, because it’s always helpful to be snapped back to awareness, especially when i operate a moving vehicle on a daily basis and all to often, find myself at work but not remembering driving there. But that’s another story. This story is about a good friend’s recent opportunity to make a career change, the typical back and forth considerations that go into doing so, and more importantly, the communication between us about those considerations.
Friends are and should be like extended family, right? They’re not usually the first ones you’ll turn to for a kidney or a place to stay for a few months while you recover from an unexpected financial setback, but they’re definitely down the list, and being on the list at all, should be considered confidantes and people you can share things with, like goals, fears, conflicts, personal issues, etc.
But what about your salary?
Read the rest of this entry »
Why Don’t We Put Our Money Where Our Mouth Is?
Something interesting happened recently that got me thinking. I love it when that happens, because it’s always helpful to be snapped back to awareness, especially when i operate a moving vehicle on a daily basis and all to often, find myself at work but not remembering driving there. But that’s another story. This story is about a good friend’s recent opportunity to make a career change, the typical back and forth considerations that go into doing so, and more importantly, the communication between us about those considerations.
Friends are and should be like extended family, right? They’re not usually the first ones you’ll turn to for a kidney or a place to stay for a few months while you recover from an unexpected financial setback, but they’re definitely down the list, and being on the list at all, should be considered confidantes and people you can share things with, like goals, fears, conflicts, personal issues, etc.
But what about your salary?
Read the rest of this entry »
Friends Don’t Let Friends Rent Bad Movies
Do you, uh… “Netflik”? Well, if you do, they have a pretty cool ‘friends’ feature, in which you can link to and share info with other Netflix users about movies each of you has viewed, rated or have in your queue. i’ve set this up with one friend already, and it’s been fun to see and comment on what they’ve thought about what they’ve seen (even if it means finding out they rated one of my all time favorites very very low).
I’ve added a badge and link to the sidebar of my website. (I had to make it myself, as they don’t have anything available that I could find, but perhaps i’ll send this in as a suggestion.)
Friends Don’t Let Friends Rent Bad Movies
Do you, uh… “Netflik”? Well, if you do, they have a pretty cool ‘friends’ feature, in which you can link to and share info with other Netflix users about movies each of you has viewed, rated or have in your queue. i’ve set this up with one friend already, and it’s been fun to see and comment on what they’ve thought about what they’ve seen (even if it means finding out they rated one of my all time favorites very very low).
I’ve added a badge and link to the sidebar of my website. (I had to make it myself, as they don’t have anything available that I could find, but perhaps i’ll send this in as a suggestion.)
Fluent in JavaScript as well as Klingon
I guess a website has reached bottom when a entry references Weird Al, but i was sent a like to this by a friend, who stated that it made them think of me! Ouch…. I admit being a geek, being white and somewhat nerdy, but I’m not ‘quite’ this far gone. (I know some folks that are, though. No names, but you know who are, and we can discuss it further at our Friday lunches :-)
Walk the Line (3 stars)
Among the pantheon of great country singers, Johnny Cash (played here by Joaquin Phoenix) may just be the most enigmatic. James Mangold’s film distills Cash’s transformation from man to icon — from his hardscrabble days on an Arkansas farm to Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn., where Cash finally found a way for his talent to come into its own. Reese Witherspoon plays his beloved June, alongside co-stars Robert Patrick and Shelby Lynne.
Geoff’s Comments: The plot and story line really seemed to have been given a ‘treatment’ and overly dramatized, but the acting was stellar.
Walk the Line (3 stars)
Among the pantheon of great country singers, Johnny Cash (played here by Joaquin Phoenix) may just be the most enigmatic. James Mangold’s film distills Cash’s transformation from man to icon — from his hardscrabble days on an Arkansas farm to Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn., where Cash finally found a way for his talent to come into its own. Reese Witherspoon plays his beloved June, alongside co-stars Robert Patrick and Shelby Lynne.
Geoff’s Comments: The plot and story line really seemed to have been given a ‘treatment’ and overly dramatized, but the acting was stellar.
I Shake Hands Like Howard Hughes
Perhaps I really am becoming a slight recluse, more and more curmodgenly every day, shaving less, letting my finger nails grow too long… and like Howard, becoming germophobic. Actually I’m not that bad but I am starting to try, more consciously, to reduce contact with strangers, particually the act of shaking hands. I’ve actually started shying away from/declining the act of shaking hands, and it’s not always met with the greatest of understanding.
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Lucky Number Slevin (4 stars)
An identity mix-up places an innocent man in the middle of a mob war in this noir crime thriller. While checking out his missing friend Nick’s apartment, Slevin (Josh Hartnett) is mistaken for Nick by thugs. Just how much trouble is Nick really in? Slevin finds out when he’s forced to participate in a high-profile murder for a powerful crime boss. The top-notch cast includes Lucy Liu, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley and Bruce Willis.
Geoff’s Comments: An entertaining movie. Even though I spent time trying to connect the dots in advance, I didn’t connect ‘em all, and that was a pleasant surprise.
Lucky Number Slevin (4 stars)
An identity mix-up places an innocent man in the middle of a mob war in this noir crime thriller. While checking out his missing friend Nick’s apartment, Slevin (Josh Hartnett) is mistaken for Nick by thugs. Just how much trouble is Nick really in? Slevin finds out when he’s forced to participate in a high-profile murder for a powerful crime boss. The top-notch cast includes Lucy Liu, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley and Bruce Willis.
Geoff’s Comments: An entertaining movie. Even though I spent time trying to connect the dots in advance, I didn’t connect ‘em all, and that was a pleasant surprise.
Lucky Number Slevin (4 stars)
An identity mix-up places an innocent man in the middle of a mob war in this noir crime thriller. While checking out his missing friend Nick’s apartment, Slevin (Josh Hartnett) is mistaken for Nick by thugs. Just how much trouble is Nick really in? Slevin finds out when he’s forced to participate in a high-profile murder for a powerful crime boss. The top-notch cast includes Lucy Liu, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley and Bruce Willis.
Geoff’s Comments: An entertaining movie. Even though I spent time trying to connect the dots in advance, I didn’t connect ‘em all, and that was a pleasant surprise.
Lucky Number Slevin (4 stars)
An identity mix-up places an innocent man in the middle of a mob war in this noir crime thriller. While checking out his missing friend Nick’s apartment, Slevin (Josh Hartnett) is mistaken for Nick by thugs. Just how much trouble is Nick really in? Slevin finds out when he’s forced to participate in a high-profile murder for a powerful crime boss. The top-notch cast includes Lucy Liu, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley and Bruce Willis.
Geoff’s Comments: An entertaining movie. Even though I spent time trying to connect the dots in advance, I didn’t connect ‘em all, and that was a pleasant surprise.
Engorge, But Don’t Encourage
Every day, my site is bombarded, as are most blogs and sites accepting comments, with spam. So, not only do i have to manage the flow of ‘junkmail’ in my work and personal emails, but on my website comments as well. Fortunately there’s ways of managing this, but these guys, the ones that do this, are utter scumbags, with no consideration as to the impacts on us, as well as on the costs of businesses to just manage this added weight of incoming crap.
And what’s worse, IMHO, are the people that pay for their services. What’s worse are the businesses being advertised.
They’d not be doing this if there was not a return, meaning that they’re getting business through this. So please, internet users, PLEASE stop encouraging them. If you’ve gotta buy Viagra or Diet Pills or Porn, just do a Google search, and let’s put an end to these business tactics.
I know…. it’ll never happen… but i had to vent.
Engorge, But Don’t Encourage
Every day, my site is bombarded, as are most blogs and sites accepting comments, with spam. So, not only do i have to manage the flow of ‘junkmail’ in my work and personal emails, but on my website comments as well. Fortunately there’s ways of managing this, but these guys, the ones that do this, are utter scumbags, with no consideration as to the impacts on us, as well as on the costs of businesses to just manage this added weight of incoming crap.
And what’s worse, IMHO, are the people that pay for their services. What’s worse are the businesses being advertised.
They’d not be doing this if there was not a return, meaning that they’re getting business through this. So please, internet users, PLEASE stop encouraging them. If you’ve gotta buy Viagra or Diet Pills or Porn, just do a Google search, and let’s put an end to these business tactics.
I know…. it’ll never happen… but i had to vent.
Who The Hell Do I Think You Are?!
My posting pace has started to increase (right along side the irritations and introspections that are their motivation). And surprisingly, alongside, so have my ’site hits’. I believe there’s a small circle of geek friends that probably have me in their daily RSS feeds, and a relative or two that touches in occasionally, perhaps an obsessed ex-girlfriend that monitors hourly, rocking in a dark corner with a box of sewing needles and a tattered doll bearing a striking resemblance to me, but seriously, at best that accounts for perhaps 30%. So who are the rest of you, and what the hell do you want from me anyway? Take… take… take, that’s all you ever do. What about me? What about my needs?
The Way Home (4 stars)
Sang-Woo, a spoiled little South Korean boy, is spending the summer with his mute grandmother who lives up in the mountains. Over the course of the summer, Sang-Woo gets used to his grandmother, whom he used to make fun of, calling her a “retard.” He also gets used to the simpler ways of life in the country and learns the importance of love and respect for one’s family and elders.
Geoff’s Comments: A very sweet movie. Makes me want to send my son to a grandmother in Korea. :-)
The Way Home (4 stars)
Sang-Woo, a spoiled little South Korean boy, is spending the summer with his mute grandmother who lives up in the mountains. Over the course of the summer, Sang-Woo gets used to his grandmother, whom he used to make fun of, calling her a “retard.” He also gets used to the simpler ways of life in the country and learns the importance of love and respect for one’s family and elders.
Geoff’s Comments: A very sweet movie. Makes me want to send my son to a grandmother in Korea. :-)
Now Playing : The Captain and the Kid
What can I say, I’m a child of the 70’s and have a sincere respect for the lyrical prowess of Bernie Taupin. Although my tastes had drifted when the ‘Captain Fantastic’ recording was first released, I came to circle back around to the entire Elton John catalog many years later, and consider that one of their finest efforts.
The release of ‘The Captain and the Kid’ expressly picks up on the auto-biographical nature of the first, and I have to admin, almost as a guilty pleasure, i’m enjoying the hell out of it! I can’t say that there’s any significant change in musical style from the last 3 releases, but this one does slightly ‘echo back’ to the sounds of the earlier songs, and the lyrics, well, it’s like listening to a musical version of ‘Behind the Music’.
“We’ll Be Here To Shut The Lights Off”
Wow…. I had to pause a moment and post this for my geek friends… David Pogue, a prominent author in the Macintosh community, has posted a wonderful entry on his blog, reflecting on the grim view in the press on Apple from 1996, 10 years ago. And boy does it bring back memories. Memories of Gil Ameilo’s landmark ‘no more wimp bullshit‘ comment at a communications meeting. Memories of Steve Jobs commandeering a keynote at MacWorld from under Amelio, and shortly thereafter, my coming to work to hear the news of Gil’s subsequent ousting. Memories of Steve on a lone stool on the crescent shaped cement stage in the center of the campus, delivering his first message to the staff after having stepped in to help stop the bleeding. And the memory of a phone call i got in 1996, during the Gil reign and one of the company’s lowest points, from my boss at the time, advising me of yet-another round of layoffs taking place. I was traveling, on vacation actually, and I was standing in the Denver airport, about to head back to Cupertino, being told that even more of my friends and co-workers, and in a sense, more of my hope and faith, was being whittled away. When I asked her if I was being given an option to take a package or stick around she said “No, you’re not going anywhere. We’ll be here to shut the lights off.”
What a difference a decade makes.
Pogue’s Posts – When Apple Hit Bottom
Read the rest of this entry »
“We’ll Be Here To Shut The Lights Off”
Wow…. I had to pause a moment and post this for my geek friends… David Pogue, a prominent author in the Macintosh community, has posted a wonderful entry on his blog, reflecting on the grim view in the press on Apple from 1996, 10 years ago. And boy does it bring back memories. Memories of Gil Ameilo’s landmark ‘no more wimp bullshit‘ comment at a communications meeting. Memories of Steve Jobs commandeering a keynote at MacWorld from under Amelio, and shortly thereafter, my coming to work to hear the news of Gil’s subsequent ousting. Memories of Steve on a lone stool on the crescent shaped cement stage in the center of the campus, delivering his first message to the staff after having stepped in to help stop the bleeding. And the memory of a phone call i got in 1996, during the Gil reign and one of the company’s lowest points, from my boss at the time, advising me of yet-another round of layoffs taking place. I was traveling, on vacation actually, and I was standing in the Denver airport, about to head back to Cupertino, being told that even more of my friends and co-workers, and in a sense, more of my hope and faith, was being whittled away. When I asked her if I was being given an option to take a package or stick around she said “No, you’re not going anywhere. We’ll be here to shut the lights off.”
What a difference a decade makes.
Pogue’s Posts – When Apple Hit Bottom
Read the rest of this entry »
Stuck In An “Ineptfinite” Loop
Why is it that things that should work and typical do work, also tend not to work at the worst time, and/or under the most ironic conditions. It’s times like that when I find myself starting to twitch uncontrollably, much like the Michael Douglas character in the movie, ‘Falling Down‘.
Once in a while, well it’s par. But this week, I seem to be on a roll.
Read the rest of this entry »
Stuck In An “Ineptfinite” Loop
Why is it that things that should work and typical do work, also tend not to work at the worst time, and/or under the most ironic conditions. It’s times like that when I find myself starting to twitch uncontrollably, much like the Michael Douglas character in the movie, ‘Falling Down‘.
Once in a while, well it’s par. But this week, I seem to be on a roll.
Read the rest of this entry »
Ive Made a Huge Contribution to the Success of Apple
Business Week has a very interesting article on the man behind ‘The Man’ at Apple; Jonathan Ive. They’ve also got an excellent slide show of his “Apple Portfolio” wryly entitled “An Ive For Design” which is all the more fun to view having been at Apple during much of the time these came about.
I was fortunate enough to be included at a presentation Jonathan Ive gave to our team back in late ‘99, after Steve had returned and after the iMac’s were reviving Apple. He was just as this article states; casual, modest and passionate about design.
The design team is indeed sheltered away in one of the campus buildings, where all but a few badges are turned away with a simple red light and a ‘moan’ toned beep of dismay from the card reader. They have their own ‘wing’ so to speak, with their own kitchen and chef on hand, and i’m sure the air there is purified as well. But holy-shit, look at what they crank out! If that’s what it takes, all the more power to ‘em. Meanwhile, I’ll continue gaze at those closed quarters from the outside, and hope that perhaps some day I’ll be in a position to glimpse the hallowed walls within.
I’ve posted the article text to this entry as well, just in case the Business Week post has a limited lifetime.
Failure to Launch (0 stars)
In a desperate attempt to push their 30-something son Tripp (Matthew McConaughey) out of the nest, a frustrated mother and father (Kathy Bates and Terry Bradshaw) hire a beautiful relationship “consultant” (Sarah Jessica Parker) with a patented plan to move him out of the house. But her tried-and-true tactics, which involve her posing as the girl of his dreams, don’t always have the intended effect. Zooey Deschanel co-stars.
Geoff’s Comments: Failure? I would not call it a failure. I launched my lunch as well as the DVD out of the player less then 1/2 way through. Time to break out the movie man vomiting into the popcorn bucket. But let’s be honest, I saw it coming. I SO saw it coming.
Love means watching the movies she picks too.
Failure to Launch (0 stars)
In a desperate attempt to push their 30-something son Tripp (Matthew McConaughey) out of the nest, a frustrated mother and father (Kathy Bates and Terry Bradshaw) hire a beautiful relationship “consultant” (Sarah Jessica Parker) with a patented plan to move him out of the house. But her tried-and-true tactics, which involve her posing as the girl of his dreams, don’t always have the intended effect. Zooey Deschanel co-stars.
Geoff’s Comments: Failure? I would not call it a failure. I launched my lunch as well as the DVD out of the player less then 1/2 way through. Time to break out the movie man vomiting into the popcorn bucket. But let’s be honest, I saw it coming. I SO saw it coming.
Love means watching the movies she picks too.
