Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Saturday Night Booty Call
Heard on my voice mail (obviously? a wrong number):
"Hey what's up Christy it's me Tom!
I'm over here on the south side partying with some friends of mine.
Actually it's just me and my home-boy Jimbo. heh-heh
It's just me and him sitting here chillin.
Just wondering if you wanted to come chill and get on it with me.
You know I kind of need some company especially, you know, with your fine ass.
It's always good to have company like you around.
Sorry I haven't gotten a hold of you in a while but give me a call back..Allright?
Please hit me up, I'll make it worth you while."
Classic!
"Hey what's up Christy it's me Tom!
I'm over here on the south side partying with some friends of mine.
Actually it's just me and my home-boy Jimbo. heh-heh
It's just me and him sitting here chillin.
Just wondering if you wanted to come chill and get on it with me.
You know I kind of need some company especially, you know, with your fine ass.
It's always good to have company like you around.
Sorry I haven't gotten a hold of you in a while but give me a call back..Allright?
Please hit me up, I'll make it worth you while."
Classic!
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
IRL in Phoenix
Laura and I attended the IRL race in Phoenix over the weekend. In short, it was fun but not the same as a race at the IMS or TMS. Phoenix was surprisingly easy to get around. Saturday night, Laura and I enjoyed a few beers at Jackson's on Third, a really cool sports bar. Any place where while using the John you can watch the Horns beat up on the Tar Heels is cool by me.
Context Switching is Expensive
People pay a context-switching cost when they switch from one project to another. Even if they try to assign half of their time to one project and half to the other, they can’t. People need time to stop thinking about one project and start thinking about the other —particularly the details of where they left off. Multiprojecting doesn’t create more time in the day; it wastes time.
It's true of computer processors and me at work. I'm much more effective at completing a task in a timely manner if I concentrate on it solely. This is also why it's disruptive to have too many meetings in a day about disparate subjects. It causes too much context switching.
It's true of computer processors and me at work. I'm much more effective at completing a task in a timely manner if I concentrate on it solely. This is also why it's disruptive to have too many meetings in a day about disparate subjects. It causes too much context switching.
Friday, March 19, 2004
The Soft Pack makes me Cough
Does anybody know if the soft-pack cigarettes really have more tar/nicotine?
Peggy! You know the soft packs make me cough!
Peggy! You know the soft packs make me cough!
Monday, March 15, 2004
Shocked about the Yogurt
(Via Coté)
TCBY = The Country's Best Yogurt.
The Simpons have made reference to that little Casablanca scene. One of the episodes: The Springfield Connection (which may be more coincidence than allusion.)
TCBY = The Country's Best Yogurt.
The Simpons have made reference to that little Casablanca scene. One of the episodes: The Springfield Connection (which may be more coincidence than allusion.)
Marge: [gasps] Illegal gambling in my house?
Moe: _Your_ house? _Your_ house? Gee, it's so glamorously decorated
I thought I was in Vegas! Hey, you guys lied to me: you said it
was Vegas!
Friday, March 12, 2004
Back from Boston
It was a good trip. I visited my friend Chad who is attending Harvard Divinity, saw the campus, drank a couple of beers at Cheers and got some work done. The clam chowder at Legal Seafoods is excellent. Boston is filled with history, culture, freakin roundabouts and 5 point intersections. Everybody should try to visit.
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
The Google of Email
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Tonya, back in skates.
I especially like the title of the article.
Do this, but not this.
(Via FastCompany)
"It's much harder to process a 'do not' instruction than a 'do' instruction, because the 'do not' means you have to locate a behavior, inhibit it, figure out what to replace it with, and then replace it. The 'do' instruction means something more direct: 'Do this.' You're offering a new vision, a different tool.
Does this mean "Love thy neighbor" is more effective than "Thou shall not kill?" I usually find that I like to see an anti-pattern to help explain why a pattern is effective. You can't have good without evil, as it were. Certainly, however, the anti-pattern by itself is not effective in conveying an idea.
"It's much harder to process a 'do not' instruction than a 'do' instruction, because the 'do not' means you have to locate a behavior, inhibit it, figure out what to replace it with, and then replace it. The 'do' instruction means something more direct: 'Do this.' You're offering a new vision, a different tool.
Does this mean "Love thy neighbor" is more effective than "Thou shall not kill?" I usually find that I like to see an anti-pattern to help explain why a pattern is effective. You can't have good without evil, as it were. Certainly, however, the anti-pattern by itself is not effective in conveying an idea.
Integrity, you dirty apes!
(Via Rothman)
Yes, yes and yes. For the love of God, yes. I had a manager at FundsXpress who did nothing but lie and misdirect. There is no way on earth I can respect somebody who lies as a way of life, especially to those they wield life-changing power over.
Yes, yes and yes. For the love of God, yes. I had a manager at FundsXpress who did nothing but lie and misdirect. There is no way on earth I can respect somebody who lies as a way of life, especially to those they wield life-changing power over.
Enabling and Disabling (I'll disable you!)
(Via Martin Fowler)
In the "What kind of X are you", I deem myself a Disabler, but in a good sense. When working with groups of 5 or more, it's good to have "rules" and "restrictions" like type-safety, checked exceptions, and other items which force a developer to think about what they're doing. It'd be nice if we could all play nice in a c++ world where pointers run free and memory is unbounded but try enabling that society with a group of 10 newbie programmers.
In the "What kind of X are you", I deem myself a Disabler, but in a good sense. When working with groups of 5 or more, it's good to have "rules" and "restrictions" like type-safety, checked exceptions, and other items which force a developer to think about what they're doing. It'd be nice if we could all play nice in a c++ world where pointers run free and memory is unbounded but try enabling that society with a group of 10 newbie programmers.
It's Snowing
Well, not in Austin of course. I flew into Boston yesterday for a business trip and seem to have instigated some sort of snow system. Note to self: use gloves when removing ice/snow from windshield. Further note to self: hats are good. My friend Chad will be showing me the sights tonight. I hope to have some chow-dah. I'll also finally get to see what this whole Harvard thing is about.
Friday, March 05, 2004
On Vegetarians
(Via: Ted, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy)
They smell like garlic and fart all of the time.
They smell like garlic and fart all of the time.
Thursday, March 04, 2004
Let the Product Sell Itself
(Via FastCompany)
"People have forgotten that the best tool for selling a product is the product itself," says CP+B president Jeff Hicks. By his thinking, the experience is the message: The most intimate, most efficient conversation you can have with your customer happens when that person is buying or using your wares.
How many ads do you see for TiVo on TV or the radio? I've never seen one. I've seen a few ads in magazines and of course the weekly circular for Best Buy or Circuit City. Why did I get TiVo? Because a few of my friends have it, I got to play with it, and I got hooked. The thing really does sell itself. CP+B is championing the idea that if a consumer has a hold of your product, especially products that require "rebuying" (travel, drinks, food, etc), you have a perfect opportunity to persuade them to buy the product again.
"People have forgotten that the best tool for selling a product is the product itself," says CP+B president Jeff Hicks. By his thinking, the experience is the message: The most intimate, most efficient conversation you can have with your customer happens when that person is buying or using your wares.
How many ads do you see for TiVo on TV or the radio? I've never seen one. I've seen a few ads in magazines and of course the weekly circular for Best Buy or Circuit City. Why did I get TiVo? Because a few of my friends have it, I got to play with it, and I got hooked. The thing really does sell itself. CP+B is championing the idea that if a consumer has a hold of your product, especially products that require "rebuying" (travel, drinks, food, etc), you have a perfect opportunity to persuade them to buy the product again.
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Good Lord 2!
I'm sorry to see Kearse go as he plays for my beloved Titans. Jeff Fisher seems to be able to recharge the defense year after year, but it's always hard to find a new "Freak." The Titans supposedly have (or had) the biggest payroll right now so they had to let some expensive players go. Hopefully, they'll fair well in the draft and free agency like they have in the past.
I have a Fan
(Via Klobe)
Sung to the Pirates of Penzance
You are the very model of a modern major general,
You know your Java code - concrete, abstract, and implementable.
You're quite adept at funny gags, comedic theory you have read:
From stupid jokes to wicked puns to when Bart Simpson bumps his head.
You're very well acquainted, too, with internet technologies;
You understand web servers, both IIS and Apache.
On XML you do subscribe to your own special point of view:
For some things it is fine, although for others it is stinky-poo.
You watch with relish Sam Hornish and Helio Castroneves
As they take curves and make pit stops and make money for Team Penske.
You work long hours every day and on all projects you are key
Which is why you need Tivo to see what's on DirectTV.
Your football knowledge is quite keen but limited to just fantasy,
Collegiate information is unknown for the last century.
But still in matters technical (like when to use Comparable)
You are the very model of a modern major general!
Sung to the Pirates of Penzance
You are the very model of a modern major general,
You know your Java code - concrete, abstract, and implementable.
You're quite adept at funny gags, comedic theory you have read:
From stupid jokes to wicked puns to when Bart Simpson bumps his head.
You're very well acquainted, too, with internet technologies;
You understand web servers, both IIS and Apache.
On XML you do subscribe to your own special point of view:
For some things it is fine, although for others it is stinky-poo.
You watch with relish Sam Hornish and Helio Castroneves
As they take curves and make pit stops and make money for Team Penske.
You work long hours every day and on all projects you are key
Which is why you need Tivo to see what's on DirectTV.
Your football knowledge is quite keen but limited to just fantasy,
Collegiate information is unknown for the last century.
But still in matters technical (like when to use Comparable)
You are the very model of a modern major general!
Business, not Just for Profit Anymore
(Via FastCompany)
We tend to categorize value as economic or social. You either work for a nonprofit that creates social value or you work for a for-profit that creates economic value. But in fact, for-profits generate social value: They create jobs, they contribute taxes that help build local communities, and their products can improve people's lives. And nonprofits create economic value: They represent 7% of the national GDP, they create jobs, and they consume goods and services
An interesting take on how we should learn to value everything a given business provides; not just its bottom line.
We tend to categorize value as economic or social. You either work for a nonprofit that creates social value or you work for a for-profit that creates economic value. But in fact, for-profits generate social value: They create jobs, they contribute taxes that help build local communities, and their products can improve people's lives. And nonprofits create economic value: They represent 7% of the national GDP, they create jobs, and they consume goods and services
An interesting take on how we should learn to value everything a given business provides; not just its bottom line.
Tuesday, March 02, 2004
Good Lord!
I could make this kind of money, I just don't want to.
Portis a Redskin, no ?
As discussed earlier. Now Shanahan gets to prove it's the system and not the back.
Great Feedback Goes a Long Way
(Via Fastcompany)
The first rule of great feedback is this: No one cares about your opinion. I don't want to know how you feel, nor do I care if you would buy it, recommend it, or use it. You are not my market. You are not my focus group. What I want instead of your opinion is your analysis.
Laura subscribes to this magazine and it usually contains some interesting tidbits of info and advice. I wholeheartedly agree with the majority of the content of this article. I add this: If you really want to bolster your position in a group it is imperative that you keep abreast of the general happenings of the group. One of the best ways to do this is to give good feedback; if you do, people will come to you with new things they are working on for further feedback. You get to hear about what's going on and help direct the progess.
The first rule of great feedback is this: No one cares about your opinion. I don't want to know how you feel, nor do I care if you would buy it, recommend it, or use it. You are not my market. You are not my focus group. What I want instead of your opinion is your analysis.
Laura subscribes to this magazine and it usually contains some interesting tidbits of info and advice. I wholeheartedly agree with the majority of the content of this article. I add this: If you really want to bolster your position in a group it is imperative that you keep abreast of the general happenings of the group. One of the best ways to do this is to give good feedback; if you do, people will come to you with new things they are working on for further feedback. You get to hear about what's going on and help direct the progess.
Now featuring, Brandon
Will there be no stop to the blogging madness?
