My favorite new weather site … http://umbrellatoday.com/
Sometimes (most times?) the best idea is the simplest idea.
I like cross-stitch and I like physicists so why wouldn’t I like cross-stitches of physicists!? Larripin Labs has patterns for sale. The first up is Feynman. But I hear that others are coming soon; like Michio Kaku. How do I know this? Let’s say I have “insider” knowledge. 
Be sure and check it out.
Tags: cross-stitch, etsy, larripin labs, patterns, physicists
We finished watching the second season of Dexter (thank you Netflix) and I have to say I enjoyed it much more than the first season. Naturally, the first season had to set up the Dexter universe, however I think that the stories were a little too neat and tidy (like the Ice Truck Killer’s victims). It just seemed like Dexter was a little too unreal and all his problems were solved too easily.
In season two Dexter himself became way more real. It was actually exciting to see him come a little unhinged and unpredictable. The Lila character was a great addition and she really had a great effect on Dexter.
All that said … the ending was really disappointing. Of course we hope Dexter won’t get caught. But there’s nothing wrong with unfinished story lines. There’s nothing wrong with unanswered questions. However everything got wrapped up neat and tidy. A little too neatly and easily.
Tags: dexter, serial killer, showtime, tv
At work there is a Friday morning breakfast mafia of about 30 people. On a rotating schedule two to three people bring breakfast for the entire group on Friday. A couple of days ago I got an email from a member of the mafia asking if I’d like to join. “Sure,” I said.
Well, then on Thursday I got another email welcoming me to the group and showing the new schedule. Guess which Friday was mine? Yep, the very next Friday. Urp!
I decided that what I’d like for breakfast is good breakfast tacos or burritos so that’s what I volunteered to bring. Hrm this would have been easier in Austin; just go to Tamale House. I have no idea where to get good breakfast tacos in Dallas. I don’t want to get fast food crap from Whataburger or Taco Cabana. So I turned to Google.
A search for “richardson tx breakfast tacos” turned up several hits. Close to the top was a blog reviewing a restaurant named Taqueria El Fuego.
Turns out this place is very very close to my house. Perfect! There was a picture of the exterior of the restaurant (hosted on flickr) and on the sign is their phone number. So I called them up.
“Sure we can make you breakfast tacos. We open at 6 a.m.,” I was told.
The next morning I got up extra early. Drove over and picked up the tacos (with a side of chorizo … Mmmmmmmmm). Drove back home to put the garbage out (almost forgot again!). Then drove to work.
I didn’t actually see many people around. But checking on the breakfast table 15 minutes after leaving the tacos there one bag was empty and the other half empty. So I think they were a hit.
Turns out I should have known about this place. G’s friend M told us about it. El Fuego serves authentic Mexican food not Tex-Mex. And she told us we should go for dinner. Well now we are because the tacos were excellent. And it’s just around the corner. Can’t beat that.
Tags: breakfast tacos, mexican, restaurant
Tonight Bill Clinton said, “People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.”
This really speaks to me as it is one of my own personal philosophies. It guides how I behave and what I share about my feelings around topics like politics and religion. When I was a child my parents tried to raise me as a Baptist. I went to Sunday school while they went to “big people” church. Eventually, I convinced them to take me out of Sunday school and let me accompany them to “big people” church. The reason is because I thought the Sunday school people were crazy. They kept talking about things I should feel but I never did.
For better or for worse that experience has framed my relationship with the church and with people of the church. Hypocrisy was more the rule than the exception. I would hear a lot on Sunday about how people were suppose to behave and believe. But then during the rest of the week I’d see how they really acted and really believed.
Eventually I had no choice but to turn my back on the church. I can’t pretend to believe in something that isn’t real. Something that pretends to be what it isn’t. That’s not authority to me. That’s not leadership to me.
It took a long time but eventually I found the leadership, the guidance I was seeking. And now it guides my life in perfect harmony with the idea that example is stronger than words. And it has nothing to do with the christian church.
To those folks out there that like to talk about how great their religion is I say, “really!? show me!” Don’t talk about it. Do it. Live it. Your example will shine brighter than your words.
Like my new theme? No, I didn’t make it. But I really like it … mainly because it’s fluid. The last theme was fixed width which meant on many computer screens there was a lot of wasted screen real estate.
I’m about to start the fourth week at my new job. I’m the new director of web technology at Targetbase, a marketing agency. While my last job was also at a marketing agency this new place is very different. For one thing it’s bigger and the average employee age is much older. I’m surrounded by very experienced people and so occasionally I feel like the dumbest guy in the room. But I know that’ll pass as I get more comfortable.
My immediate task is to build the capabilities of the group so that we can begin handling more website projects in house. That shouldn’t be too hard. I inherited two excellent developers who are hungry to do some challenging work. So look out!
Tags: job, targetbase
Congratulations to Kotooshu for winning the Summer Sumo Basho in Tokyo. He’s the first European ever to win a professional sumo tournament. And what makes it especially sweet is he did it with only one loss and he beat both Yokozuna …. Asashoryu and Hakuho.