September 2005 - Posts

Thursday, September 22, 2005 6:53 PM

Very cool new functionality in C#...

Here's a really cool page of examples of LINQ, Microsoft's new data munging functionality in C#.  Unfortunately, it won't be around for at least a year.  You'll be able to do SQL-like data manipulation on any collection(s) in your code.   Neat stuff.

I can't wait.
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Friday, September 16, 2005 8:05 AM

Pretty cool quote...

After seeing Kurt Vonnegut on The Daily Show, I was thinking of buying his book, A Man Without A Country.  According to this article, the book is doing very well, which is nice for Vonnegut.  My favorite quote from the article is:
"When Hemingway killed himself he put a period at the end of his life; old age is more like a semicolon,"
That's an interesting perspective.
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Monday, September 12, 2005 8:11 PM

Terminology

It's interesting... If you just replace a few words in this article with things like "Insurgents", "Terrorists" and "Islamic" instead of "rioters", "paramilitary groups" and "Protestants", this could be an article about Iraq.

I am of Irish descent and I point out to people often that terrorists are not just from the middle east.  Terrorism has been happening for decades in Ireland.  I hope it helps some people keep persepective and think past racism and religious persecution.

posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Friday, September 09, 2005 8:56 AM

Respect for our government officials...

What I love about this country is that we put our starts and government officials on pedestals.

Of course, the stars' pedestal is 8 miles high and the government officials' pedestal is.. umm... a bit lower than that..(WARNING: foul language in text on this page)

posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Friday, September 09, 2005 8:50 AM

Ever want speakers somewhere you don't have wire?

I just ran across this at BoingBoing.

It's flat, adhesive speaker wire that you stick to the wall.  Then, you can paint over it.  It's apparently paper thin, so you don't see it.

I know plenty of people who buy a house and then want to install speakers somewhere they don't have wires.

Seems like a pretty good solution

posted by Tom with 1 Comments
Thursday, September 08, 2005 2:11 PM

I had been avoiding talking about Katrina-esque things...

but, I changed my mind when I read this really nice article from a former Serbian refugee in Austin

I don't need to comment further.  It speaks for itself.

posted by admin with 2 Comments
Thursday, September 08, 2005 1:39 PM

Marrying my favorite team with my Geekiness

Wired has a story about how the Baltimore Ravens are the most technologically advanced team in the league.
(That's the National Football League (That's "American" Footbal) to those non-US folks)

Being a season ticket holder and the owner of 9 computers (read: Geek), this warms the cockles of my heart.  And who couldn't use a little cockle warming every now and then? (Sounds dirty, doesn't it?)

Anyway, I thought it sounded pretty cool and I, for one, can't wait to hear about it when they've got simulators and things like that running. 

Maybe I can get a tour of the facility?

posted by admin (Comments Off)
Wednesday, September 07, 2005 12:21 PM

Reflection on life and remembering the good with the bad.

Back when I first started this blog, I posted a rather depressing first post because that is what was happening at the time in my life.

I was reminded of this time because I got an email from Chad Hollister about his new CD "Spirit" being released.  The reason this reminded me of that is that, during the sad times of going to my step-mother's funeral, Chad played at The Black Bull in Rockland, Maine.  The Black Bull is owned by friends of my brother Chris' and Chad's.

It was a nice night during what was a sad time.  I really enjoyed seeing Chad then.  It was the second time I saw him play.  The first time was at my brother's wedding in Playa del Carmen, Mexico (yeah... it was pretty cool), where Chad played in all sorts of random places up and down the beach.  It was a lot of fun.

So fun, in fact, that we're trying to get him to come to our house to play for friends.  Hopefully, we can make that happen.

View some pictures from that night

posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Wednesday, September 07, 2005 7:52 AM

Doc, are you drunk or just sleep deprived?

Contrary to what my doctor friend said, it seems that young doctors in medical school are so tired, they might as well be drunk for as well as they perform....

Yikes!

posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Wednesday, September 07, 2005 7:19 AM

An interesting way to give money away

The only problem I have is that you can't guarantee that people who deserve to get money will actually get it.

It's just whoever happens to be there.

Just like one 14-year old hypocrit there says: "Why aren't they donating this to the hurricane fund or something?".  Well... if you care so much donate what you receive!  (I'll cut her a break because she's 14...)
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Wednesday, September 07, 2005 7:14 AM

Sometimes, your gargoyle just needs a break...

Sally Beyor thought someone stole her gargoyle from her front yard.  Little did she know, he just went on vacation. :)
posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Thursday, September 01, 2005 7:51 AM

Religious nuts are ruining this country

If we don't stop this soon, we are going to be in a world of hurt.

This stuff really, really scares me.

Someone actually thought this was rational enough to file a lawsuit with a straight face:
A group representing religious schools in California is suing the University of California system. At issue, the question of whether creationist courses in high school are counted as science credit for college admissions.
THE CREATION STORY IS NOT SCIENCE!!!!

Hell, there are TWO creation stories in the Bible anyway!  You can only have one accepted theory of anything.  Nevermind that there are no scientific measurements or anything else in the Bible referring to Creation.  There is no supporting evidence OF ANY KIND for the Creation story.

This makes me so angry, I want to hurt these idiots.

Update: I wonder what they think about this story.  Faked results?  God's just not very inventive and reuses the same patterns over and over again?

posted by Tom (Comments Off)
Thursday, September 01, 2005 7:34 AM

I have a "guy crush" on Wil Wheaton...

My friends have made fun of me for reading Wil Wheaton's blog so much and having his books and, most of all, mentioning him in casual conversation.

That's OK, I can take it.  Actually, I have just decided that I have a "guy crush" on him :)

I just remembered reading a New York Times article about a concept called a "girl crush". Basically, it's just someone you think is very cool and you want to be him/her.

Wil Wheaton, or at least the person he portrays himself as,  is a great person.  He's a loving step-father, husband and friend who cares deeply about a lot of things.  His writing is inspiring and makes me wish I was as good a world citizen as he is.

His latest contribution to my impression of him?  His co-sponsoring of PokerStars tournaments to benefit Hurrican Katrina victims.

Oh well, guess my friends have more ammo for harrassment now :)

posted by Tom (Comments Off)