In my line of work, I often need to create documentation for clients. Documentation in general is a Good Thing™. But good documentation’s goal should always be to augment and improve upon what already exists – not to supplant, downgrade, or muddle what already exists. A prime example of this has come up with a …
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Category:personal
100000 years ago tonight …
… in binary. Not sure how DST factors into it all, but my parents welcomed me into the world approximately 32 years ago now (at 2323 local time in 1981). It’s been a great first 25 years, and I can’t wait for the next 26!
zombies and vampires
Many people recently have asked me why I like [some] zombie and vampire stories (and, more generally, why they’re so popular right now), and after taking the time to think carefully on the topic and explain it to them in person, I thought I’d do my 3 readers a favor and write it out here …
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avnet buying seamless technologies
Avnet (AVT) is acquiring Seamless Technologies (my employer). Full Press Release (well, the important part): (and WSJ reprint) Avnet, Inc. Announces Agreement to Acquire Assets of Seamless Technologies, Inc. Significantly Expands Cloud and Automation Solutions PHOENIX–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) announced today that it has agreed to acquire substantially all of the assets of Seamless Technologies, …
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deadline by mira grant
I read {{Feed}} (review) a few weeks ago, and just finished the 2d installment in {{Mira Grant}}’s {{Newsflesh}} trilogy, {{Deadline}}. The frenetic pace of book 1 was upped a level in book 2 (along with some more language). Mira is a fantastic author, and I cannot wait to read {{Blackout}} (it’s on my library queue). …
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updates to connexions modules
Starting this week, and continuing over the next several weeks, there will be several updates and expansions coming to my published Connexions Collection (original publishing comments), “Debugging and Supporting Software Systems“. I would love to collect feedback and be able to incorporate any suggestions for improvement that you may have. Please feel free to either …
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happy 60th
Had she not died in August of 2008, my aunt Cindy would have turned 60 today. But she did, so she’s not. I am still thankful that after another several years, I still cannot dredge-up any negative memories of the entire time I knew her. And I can say with confidence I will see her …
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58
We moved three spots this month.
adoption fundraising
This month we hit 60% on our funding target! We have a ways to go, but we have our referral fee, and one flight covered ~ish. Thanks again to everyone who has helped, who would like to, and to those who are just keeping us in their thoughts and prayers. Our main adoption blog.
adoption update
My wife will have substantially more on this, but we did have movement this month: 3 slots. We’re still in the 60s, but only barely!
maps
I love maps. I have a calendar with historical maps on my wall next to my desk. I love books based around atlases (such as the {{Historical Atlas of}} series (many by {{Ian Barnes}} (similarly related review)). I like going to museums, visiting websites, used book shops, etc and just peruse the maps. I used to …
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lots of changes
This will likely be the last term I teach a Sunday afternoon discipleship class at Porter. But this is a Good Thing™. Beginning the first Sunday in April, I will be trialing as the new primary leader of a SS class Life Group. If all goes well, after the first month, I’ll be in there …
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gardening efficiently – for fun and profit
I have gardened off and on for most of my life. Back in the 1980s, there was a show called “Square Foot Gardening” on PBS hosted by Mel Bartholomew. Now there is a website. When we lived in Albany, we purchased the book {{Square Foot Gardening}} (which has been updated and simplified even further by …
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creating vs consuming
One of the biggest issues facing Western societies is that they are all consumption-oriented. Not enough time is spent creating – all [most] people want to do is consume: entertainment, food, money, fun… We all want shortcuts. We all want to be at the level where we don’t have to think to accomplish work. We …
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annapolis
At the beginning of 2008 I interviewed with a little outfit* in Annapolis to become their head of support. (This was just a month after interviewing with FogCreek.) Oddly enough that day, one of my former colleagues at Opsware who had moved-on was my tech screener. Needless to say, that aspect of the interview I …
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study, study, study
In addition to leading a Sunday afternoon study at my church this spring, I am also participating in the 40 Day Challenge with a friend‘s church in NJ. That one uses the {{NIV}} (a version I’m not especially fond of), but it’s been reformatted into a chapter- and verse-less edition so that the books of …
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decentralizing email
After several years of pushing all of my personal email into Gmail, I’ve decided that relying [almost] exclusively on one provider is just not the best idea ever. Google is great. But, as with any cloud service, exclusively relying on just one provider is not the best. Going forward, I am going to be relying …
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spring class – It’s Not Too Late
This spring (starting on 03 Feb), I will be leading a Bible study class at PMBC based on {{Tony Evans}}’ book {{It’s Not Too Late}}. I invite you all to join me in this ~8 week study!
podcasting the Bible
I’ve been tossing around the idea of podcasting the Bible for some time – ie, creating an audio Bible of my own (using a readily-available translation), and posting episodes (chapters or books – haven’t decided which yet) on a frequent basis (perhaps weekly). After all, what better way is there to study the Bible than …
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Reading the Bible for Life
A couple weeks ago I finished leading a small group study through {{George Guthrie}}’s {{Read the Bible for Life}} video and study series. It’s a good introduction to the {{Bible}}, and I found it helpful – though I think that video-based studies like that are too slow-paced, and encourage “waiting for the fill-in” to appear …
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finding your niche
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” You’ve probably been asked that questions hundreds of times in your life – parents, friends, teachers, yourself, movies. It’s a common theme. For most of us, the decision gets made sometime in our late teens or during college: doctor, mom, lawyer, electrician, plumber, teacher, policeman, …
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1931 12 01
Went to Long Island to see my grandfather this week for a couple days. Saturday was his 81st birthday – and it was really great to spend some time with him Monday and Tuesday 🙂
more fixes for patents
An addition to my previous post on patents is due. If you are a non-producing entity, ie you have a patent “just to have it” (you’re a company, not a person, and you only have patents to use as legal ammunition), you relinquish rights to sue over infringement. If you are not producing anything the …
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thanksgiving 2012
There are a few biggies that stick out in my mind to be thankful for this year: my wife Christina a great job – the customers aren’t always amazing, but my job is pretty darn good being on the waiting list for our adoption from Ethiopia family – extended and immediate friends – all over the country and world
haiku mirror
I am now running an official Haiku mirror: haiku.datente.com. Alpha 4.1 has been released, and you can get a copy from any of the mirrors.