The library isn’t quite anymore

I went to the library tonight in hopes of finding a quite place to start writing down some ideas for the first chapter of my book. The library I frequent is one of the largest and busiest in the city and it's a Monday night, which always means lost of people.

When I was growing up I remember the librarian's shushing anyone if they were talking to loud or asking them to leave if they got out of hand. Not any more. There were at least 8 library staff members in the main area of the library and the noise level was so bad that I couldn't even concentrate. They were basically ignoring the noise.

The question I always have is why? Is it impossible to keep people from talking at a level so distracting? Is the library staff to timid to ask people to keep quite?

I will cover something similar in the first chapter of my book, respect and boundaries, which most kids and adults seem to have forgotten exists.

Filed under: writing

read more...

Finished my first Harry Potter audio book

I haven't read any of the Harry Potter books although I've seen (and own) all the movies. When the sixth book came out I thought it would be a good time to read them. I decided to listen to them on tape instead since I travel to and from the office alone, I figured it would be a great way to pass an hour a day.

I finished the audio’s today and I must admit the book is a lot different than the movie. Sure the plot line is basically the same, but I like the nuances that J.K. Rowling adds to each of the characters. On the screen you see them as facial expressions or passing glanced. And in many cases you miss the little things all together because there is just too much happening on the screen. That is where the book makes a big difference.

I liked the book and the narrator and I have my hands on book 2, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Filed under: books

read more...

Iraq war, is it still a war?

As a former Marine, stories like this make me sick and mad.

I'm a supporter of our troops. Not the war, or so called war. I was for the removal of a dictator who clearly harboured terrorist that were making more plans to attack the US. I also believe that the Iraqi dictators were making and or selling weapons technology to other terrorist countries.

But I feel it's time to step out of that area. Let the people of Iraq defend their country. If they really want freedom then they will have to fight for it. Take a stand.

Filed under: military

read more...

How do you file your thoughts?

I read this in a newsgroup today. Someone trying to be technical without really knowing what they are talking about.

"What happens next time the logorythems change in Google?" ... logorythems?

Seeing how I needed to post about something today, I recall a conversation my wife and I had the other day. She really hates it when she starts to tell me something and I say "oh yeah, I heard that, or oh yeah I read that..." It drives her crazy. I have really been trying hard to let her tell me things she learns. It's important that she know things before I do. Anyway, what I was thinking was why is it that I know these things and how can I recall them? I mean I'm no Ken Jennings, but I do know a lot of current events and like staying on top of things. I guess the reason I know so much about current events it the fact that I interface with a computer all day. I have access to news and weblogs when ever I want.

But the conversation we had was how each of us store things we see, hear, smell, tast, everything. Somethings are stored in short term memory and we don't have to think very hard to recall them. Others are stored long term and take more of an effort remember them. Here is what I do. Everything piece of information I come across that I may want to remember I associate it with a picture or phrase. Things I want to remember frequently I try and store a hyperlink to it in my short term memory.

Why I am able to remember these things? I think comes from years of reading technical books and developing software. But I really think it's just that I see it all the time, every day, every where.

Filed in: technology

read more...

TiVo and Vonage working at last

I finally got my TiVo DVR to dial out using Vonage after trying several options. Admittedly it's because my brother has the same setup and he spent two hours figuring it out. So thanks little brother.

Here is what ended up working for me:

Phone line from back of TiVo DVR to Linksys Vonage Router (Phone 1)

RJ45 cable running from back of Linksys router to Belkin Wireless Router which is hooked to my Comcast DSL Cable Modem.

Using 2122773895

Dialing prefix of *99,,#019,,

Selected Tone

Check for phone line in use off

Check for dial tone off

Save and test. Viola! It worked.

Not sure why this is cool other than I don't have to run a phone line to the TiVo where there isn't one. Thanks again Bro!

Filed in: tivo | technology

read more...