Laziness vs Embarrassment

Laziness is opting to take the elevator to the 2nd floor instead of using the stairs that are right there as well, for no other reason then just being a fat unmotivated slug. Embarrassment is having a co-worker jump in and press the button for the 4th floor, somebody who has a right and reason to use the elevator, and them having to wait for your lazy ass to get off a moment later. :-/

365-230-7477

Today marks the one year anniversary of starting, or actually, ‘re-starting’ this website. As I wrote and posted in the ‘About This Website‘ entry on this day in 2005, this is not my first website effort, but it was a fresh start with a renewed desire and focus on more personal entries and writing.

So here I am, 365 days, 230 posts, and 7,477 unique views later, wondering if I’ve stayed on course, met my expectations, and what I’ve accomplished with this effort so far.

National Treasure (2 stars)

Modern treasure hunters, led by archaeologist Ben Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage), search for a treasure chest rumored to have been stashed away by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin as funds for the Revolutionary War. The whereabouts of the chest may lie in a secret code embedded in the U.S. Constitution and in a map drawn on the back of the Declaration of Independence. Co-stars Diane Kruger, Sean Bean and Harvey Keitel.

Geoff’s Comments: I’m not a big fan of Nicolas Cage so I was already working against the current, but my god, people, couldn’t you have put even the slightest bit of effort into the plot or story lines? This was as weak as the coffee at Denny’s.

[ rent National Treasure via netflix.com ]

National Treasure (2 stars)

Modern treasure hunters, led by archaeologist Ben Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage), search for a treasure chest rumored to have been stashed away by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin as funds for the Revolutionary War. The whereabouts of the chest may lie in a secret code embedded in the U.S. Constitution and in a map drawn on the back of the Declaration of Independence. Co-stars Diane Kruger, Sean Bean and Harvey Keitel.

Geoff’s Comments: I’m not a big fan of Nicolas Cage so I was already working against the current, but my god, people, couldn’t you have put even the slightest bit of effort into the plot or story lines? This was as weak as the coffee at Denny’s.

[ rent National Treasure via netflix.com ]

A Window Office

I Have an office at work. It’s a typical office with walls, a door, an adjacent window into the hallway, a white board, and a seldom used pencil-cup. I actually spend the majority of my time at the office in that office, but in the mornings, when time and schedules allow, I like to take my laptop to the cafe on campus. There, I’ll get a cup of coffee, perhaps a bagel or cup of warm cream-of-wheat, and take a seat up against the broad wall of windows. Using the fast wireless network I can sift through emails, prioritize bugs and tasks, prepare for meetings and do pretty much any and everything i would do in my office, but with a full view of the campus and lots of sky and sunlight. It’s quite refreshing and takes the ‘hovel’ feeling out of the workday.

Must Love Dogs (0 stars)

“Divorcée Sarah Nolan (Diane Lane) isn’t ready for romance. But when her sister (Elizabeth Perkins) signs her up for an online dating service, love-seeking mates come calling. While one Mr. Maybe (Dermot Mulroney) is rife with possibilities, another (John Cusack) is even more intriguing. Still, there’s just one problem: While this second eligible bachelor’s ad states that his dream woman “Must Love Dogs,” neither he nor Sarah actually owns one.”

Geoff’s Comments: The title says it all.

Must Love Dogs (0 stars)

“Divorcée Sarah Nolan (Diane Lane) isn’t ready for romance. But when her sister (Elizabeth Perkins) signs her up for an online dating service, love-seeking mates come calling. While one Mr. Maybe (Dermot Mulroney) is rife with possibilities, another (John Cusack) is even more intriguing. Still, there’s just one problem: While this second eligible bachelor’s ad states that his dream woman “Must Love Dogs,” neither he nor Sarah actually owns one.”

Geoff’s Comments: The title says it all.

Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (1 stars)

“Funnyman Albert Brooks plays a comedian sent by the U.S. State Department to India and Pakistan to find out exactly what makes Muslims laugh — all with an eye toward helping everyone to get along better in the post-Sept. 11 world. Directed and written by Brooks, this smart, thoughtful and, yes, funny film essentially bypasses religion, instead focusing on where people find humor, regardless of culture or beliefs.”

Geoff’s Comments: Painful. Just painful. I really have enjoyed many of his movies, but this was completely lame. Perhaps it takes being in the right frame of mind, but I’m not up to trying to give it a 2nd chance.

[ rent Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World via netflix.com ]

Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (1 stars)

“Funnyman Albert Brooks plays a comedian sent by the U.S. State Department to India and Pakistan to find out exactly what makes Muslims laugh — all with an eye toward helping everyone to get along better in the post-Sept. 11 world. Directed and written by Brooks, this smart, thoughtful and, yes, funny film essentially bypasses religion, instead focusing on where people find humor, regardless of culture or beliefs.”

Geoff’s Comments: Painful. Just painful. I really have enjoyed many of his movies, but this was completely lame. Perhaps it takes being in the right frame of mind, but I’m not up to trying to give it a 2nd chance.

[ rent Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World via netflix.com ]

What I’m Really Thankful For

As i expect most people did this week, I gathered with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, and as has been the case in many prior years, we took a moment to mention the things we were “grateful” for. The gathering was a mixture of immediate and extended family, as well as other friends of the host, so there was a range of people that I knew, knew well, and never met before. When it came to my turn, I made a minor joke about being thankful for the forthcoming end of Bush’s presidency, and followed it with a sincere but routine reference of being thankful for my family.

Although it’s true and I am definitely thankful for my family, my ‘attitude about gratitude’ goes deeper then I took the time or had the inclination to recite on a moments notice. I’ve had an opportunity to give it more consideration, so here goes.

What I’m Really Thankful For

As i expect most people did this week, I gathered with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, and as has been the case in many prior years, we took a moment to mention the things we were “grateful” for. The gathering was a mixture of immediate and extended family, as well as other friends of the host, so there was a range of people that I knew, knew well, and never met before. When it came to my turn, I made a minor joke about being thankful for the forthcoming end of Bush’s presidency, and followed it with a sincere but routine reference of being thankful for my family.

Although it’s true and I am definitely thankful for my family, my ‘attitude about gratitude’ goes deeper then I took the time or had the inclination to recite on a moments notice. I’ve had an opportunity to give it more consideration, so here goes.

Taking a Break Over the Holiday Week

Through the good graces of my employer, I’m off this week. I’ll be using that time to tackle a wide range of tasks, so unless some time-critical post comes up, I’ll be taking a break from adding new content. That doesn’t mean I’ll be taking a break from writing, though, so if all goes well, i’ll have lots to say again starting on the 27th.

The Aviator (4 stars)

Martin Scorsese directs this Best Picture nominee about Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio), who turned a small fortune into a massive one by producing such classics as Hell’s Angels, The Front Page, Flying Leathernecks and Scarface. He simultaneously branched into and transformed industry after industry, including aviation. Winner of five Oscars, including Best Cinematography, Art Direction and Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett).

Geoff’s Comments: I really enjoyed this, and was pleasantly surprised. Based on the previews I’d seen when it was first released, I was expecting something targeted towards a younger audience, and less ‘intelligent’ then this turned out to be. It’s definitely worth seeing. Great performances and visuals, excellent story telling and drama, and sadly tragic regarding an illness that, today, would be manageable.

[ rent The Aviator via netflix.com ]

The Aviator (4 stars)

Martin Scorsese directs this Best Picture nominee about Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio), who turned a small fortune into a massive one by producing such classics as Hell’s Angels, The Front Page, Flying Leathernecks and Scarface. He simultaneously branched into and transformed industry after industry, including aviation. Winner of five Oscars, including Best Cinematography, Art Direction and Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett).

Geoff’s Comments: I really enjoyed this, and was pleasantly surprised. Based on the previews I’d seen when it was first released, I was expecting something targeted towards a younger audience, and less ‘intelligent’ then this turned out to be. It’s definitely worth seeing. Great performances and visuals, excellent story telling and drama, and sadly tragic regarding an illness that, today, would be manageable.

[ rent The Aviator via netflix.com ]

Now Playing : Salvation A-La-Mode, and a Cup of Tea

The encroaching shades of gray skies and the bite of chilly mornings means one thing: It’s time for Tull. As I’ve referenced in an earlier post about seasonal music, when the winter lies ahead, and as the journey into this chilly phase of the year begins, an ideal choice of music so befitting the time between Halloween and the thaw of spring is Jethro Tull. There’s something about their sound, and the use of woodwinds and lyrical imagery, that just fits this time of year.

Gettin’ Jiggity Jig

As far as films go, there’s but a handful of movies that i’d be able to say i’ve watched over and over again. I’m talking about double digit viewings. And I’m not talking about stumbling across a movie 1/3 of the way into it while channel surfing TMC on a lazy afternoon, I’m talking about a dedicated, purposeful, intentional ‘screening’ of a film, popcorn and soda in hand, from start to finish. One of those at the top of the list, right between ‘Apocalypse Now’ and ‘Brazil’, is ‘Blade Runner’. For those inclined to ask, the “Director’s Cut” of course. And it continues to be a tried and true favorite in the Sci Fi genre. Yet one brief line has stuck with me, echoed in my head, and I’d never made any further logical association until last year. That line, obscure and insignificant as it might sound, is “Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig“.

Gettin’ Jiggity Jig

As far as films go, there’s but a handful of movies that i’d be able to say i’ve watched over and over again. I’m talking about double digit viewings. And I’m not talking about stumbling across a movie 1/3 of the way into it while channel surfing TMC on a lazy afternoon, I’m talking about a dedicated, purposeful, intentional ‘screening’ of a film, popcorn and soda in hand, from start to finish. One of those at the top of the list, right between ‘Apocalypse Now’ and ‘Brazil’, is ‘Blade Runner’. For those inclined to ask, the “Director’s Cut” of course. And it continues to be a tried and true favorite in the Sci Fi genre. Yet one brief line has stuck with me, echoed in my head, and I’d never made any further logical association until last year. That line, obscure and insignificant as it might sound, is “Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig“.

Peter Panned

I thought it’d be fun to get the kids a Disney movie, and I wanted to have it be something ‘wholesome’, something I’d grown up with. So I got ‘Peter Pan’ and my son loves it, but my wife pointed out, and I have to agree, confirming that my transformation to a conservative parent appears to be complete, that it’s not appropriate for a 3 year old. There’s some ‘killing’ references, swordplay, and ‘mean’ behavior that he really doesn’t need to take in just yet. I think we’ll be sticking with Pooh Bear for awhile. Perhaps ‘Mary Poppins’. Either way, it’s still a strange feeling to be finding myself actually giving this consideration, when there was a time in my life that i’d not give it a second thought.

Not Zune Enough, Bill

Microsoft has launched their ‘Zune’ product as a “competitor” to the iPod. Bwhahahaha…. ouch…. my side… my cheeks…. stop it… stop it… bwhahahaha….. OK, that said, the bottom line is that it’s ugly, clunky, and fails to match the iPod’s features. In addition, it’s so painfully obvious that they are aggressively pushing hard at the youth market, trying to appear hip and cool, yet doing so as transparently as Bill Clinton denying having had “sex with that woman“. Where’s John Stossel when we need ’em. Gimme a break.

The reactions are looking as luke-warm as, oh, the reactions were for Microsoft’s two prior iPod killers. Yawn. Obviously the folks in Redmond are not as good at stealing innovative hardware as they are at stealing innovative software.

This CNN.com segment captures it best, especially the nod by both anchors and the reporter to the iPod shuffle in one of their hands.

Apple 3. Microsoft 0. Game Over, Man.

Peaked Inspiration

Much to my surprise, I had an overwhelming spike in visits to this blog in the last couple of days, and it’s definitely tied to the Tandem bike story. It’s clear that my having sent it to some former Tandem folks, who told two friends, who told two friends, and so on, drove the spread of interest. But unless these readers find my varied and incessant ramblings and observations routinely captivating, I’m sure i’ll be back in the single/double digits in no time. Quoting Stewart Smalley, “…and that’s OK”.

What is really rewarding, however, is not the spike in visits, but receiving comments or emails from some of the people that worked at Tandem and remembered the bike, or knew my father and had some positive things to share. This post and experience has proven to be an incentive to pursue an idea i’ve been kicking around for about a year or so. I’m inspired. I think I might finally take some action on it.

Drinking A Latte Eggnog

If you’re at all a fan of Eggnog, as am I, you’ve got to head over to your nearest Peets Coffee and get an Eggnog Latte. Seriously. Skip that Starbucks stop and go the extra mile for something you really deserve. The best. Even if doing so requires downing a large quantity of lactaid beforehand, it’s worth it. This is year three of my ongoing seasonal addiction and I’m hooked again.

Guilt On A Onesie

When our kids were first born, my mother in law stayed with us for 3 months. When it was first arranged, although it was great to anticipate the help, I feared the typical ‘Darin/Endora’ interplay and tension, and on more then one occasion I actually think I heard her mutter ‘Derwood’ under her breath. But in all honesty, it was more than a saving grace, so much so that we added her name to our daughter’s name. And when she was due to leave, having made a big deal of her callous abandonment of her grandchildren, I wanted to make sure she didn’t do so without a final pang of guilt. All in fun of course.

So with the help of a color printer and iron-on decal paper, I produced this set of ‘onesies’ for the kids to wear on her final day.

Glasses To Read the Fine Print on my Vision Plan

The eyestrain related headaches, and the sore neck muscles from arching my head back to be able to read small print, were enough to prompt an eye dr visit, and it turns out that my prescription has changed and it’s time for new glasses.

I love my optometrist, Janis Gong, and I recommend her to everybody. BUT it seems that every ‘private practice’ marks their glasses prices up well outside of reasonable. Insurance only covers $120 towards the cost of frames, and frames at Costco or Site For Sore Eyes run between $50-$100, so I assumed I’d do better to find a pair elsewhere, and avoid the $150+ I’d end up paying out of pocket when all was said and done.

Well, once again, insurance companies have the upper hand, and whatever collaborate arrangements they have work to the benefit of themselves and those that ‘partner up’ with them.

It turns out that pretty much any where i go outside of a private practice is considered ‘out of network’, and, get this, they’ll only pay $40 towards the frames and only $20 towards the lenses. So by the time I’m done going elsewhere to save a few bucks, it still ends up costing me about the same.

I really despise that my needs for glasses requires such restrictions, and worse, the feeling that the system is designed to pretty much force me through choices not necessarily in my best interest, but in theirs.

Putting the ‘Tandem’ in Tandem Computer

In the early 70’s, shortly after we moved to the Bay Area and settled into a home in Cupertino, the family got a Tandem bicycle. If I recall, it was something my mother found for sale for $25 via a local neighborhood bulletin board. It was long, yellow, and loads of fun. For about a week.

Putting the ‘Tandem’ in Tandem Computer

In the early 70’s, shortly after we moved to the Bay Area and settled into a home in Cupertino, the family got a Tandem bicycle. If I recall, it was something my mother found for sale for $25 via a local neighborhood bulletin board. It was long, yellow, and loads of fun. For about a week.