Timbu::Musings

Best Gift Evah

2009-05-05T01:29:28Z

Best Gift, originally uploaded by timbu.

I got a big surprise in the mail today. It was a box, from Jennie, a friend from my fifth grade class. Inside was something she had made, just for me, and a lovely hand written card. Not only was it a funny and thoughtful gift, it was also a play on a recent cartoon I posted on bitstrips.com. It was part of the "Make-It-Forward" meme that I posted on facebook a little while back.

Here is the referenced comic, btw.

So thanks Jennie, you have totally outdone yourself.

Post-it Happiness

2009-05-04T17:05:02Z

I never knew post-it notes could make me so happy.

EepyBird's Sticky Note experiment from Eepybird on Vimeo.

Spring is Here

2009-05-03T21:00:58Z

CIMG7115, originally uploaded by timbu.

Have I mentioned how happy I am that spring is really finally here?

I'm a Winner

2009-05-03T19:18:29Z

There a couple of things in life that always make me feel like I won something.

When I buy a whole bunch of groceries and the total bill is an even amount like $60.
When I peel an orange or apple and the peel come off in one piece.
When I buy something on Ebay that is actually an auction. I know it's dumb but I still feel like I won.

What makes me feel like a loser?

Getting a fortune cookie with no fortune.
Sending out a really important email, but forgetting the promised attachment, referencing a date which doesn't exist in support of a meeting which I inadvertently scheduled in the past.
Buying something I know I already own, but can't find.
Hitting the curb when I parrallel park.

What about you?

2 to 1

2009-05-03T04:59:29Z

I've been playing basketball with the kids this spring at the park. It's been fun to see them take to the sport. Tonight was the first time we tried to play a real game as opposed to our games of "horse" and "pig". It was hilarious to try and dribble up the court with two kids running at full speed trying to knock the ball away, hang on my arm, elbow me and generally foul me as much as possible. E thinks every sport is a contact sport - it's a good thing she isn't in ballet.

What good is twitter

2009-05-02T14:42:57Z

People who know I twitter keep asking me why, what good is it. This video explains everything.

When it comes to real people, as opposed to marketeers and PR types hawking their wares, I think twitter is a way for people to try and know and be known. Still like any other art mostly the world is filled with lurkers, willing to admire but rarely able to try it for themselves.

Still the best thing about twitter is how I can use it to update facebook.

V

2009-04-13T00:33:25Z

I'll believe it's going to be a "V" shaped recovery when either Fast Company or Wired magazine shows up with a thud in the mailbox. Remember when the issues were 3/4" thick? They shrank in 2001 when the internet bubble burst and again in 2007. This time, unlike 2001, the issues keep getting smaller - which makes me believe this recession will be with us for a while.

Fooled Me Again

2009-04-10T02:04:23Z

Last year I was disappointed that then Senator Barack Obama would not take a stand on the issue of telecom immunity.He voted yes and never provided a satisfactory explanation for the vote. This was frustrating because he touts the notion of transparent government and spoke out against the excess of secrecy and illegal wire tapping in the Bush administration.

So fast-forward to the present and we find the present administration fending off lawsuits from activity started during the Bush administration related to secret wire-tapping programs. They approach the matter in exactly the same manner as the Bush administration, namely invoking the common law notion of "state secrets" and furthermore asserting that they have sovereign immunity as long as there is no willful disclosure. Blech, not only have the hitched their wagon to Bush tactics they go even further than the last bunch. I didn't like it as a Bush tactic, I don't like it from the Obama administration.

Time to up my contribution to the EFF.

Additional coverage: Salon, The Atlantic

More typesetting humour

2009-03-30T04:32:08Z

This would have been a lot funnier if bitstrips.com actually allowed me to use a back slash in the bubble.

So where have I been writing lately

2009-02-17T00:08:44Z

I've been busy on facebook, twitter, google reader, goodreads and friendfeed on occasion. I've been neglecting this blog, del.icio.us, flickr and a host of services I signed up for and haven't used much. While it's pretty rare that I don't post at least an item a day, they don't all show up here. So I think the next step is clear, I should convert this space into something between the "river of news" and "lifestream" concept. We'll see if I can reserve a late night slot for the upgrade.

Blogs are ...

2009-02-10T02:52:17Z

Blogs are ..., originally uploaded by timbu.

Why bother having a Magic 8 Ball when you can just type the beginning of a sentence into google?

End of Year

2009-01-22T14:14:02Z

It's that time of year when you get statements from your investment accounts and 401Ks. It wasn't a bad year considering the broader markets so I'm not going to complain.

However, it does peeve me to note that my pile of "forever stamps" were one of my best "investment" picks of last year. I'm joking, btw, the price increases of stamps historically is below historic inflation rates please don't make stamps part of your portfolio. Full disclaimer, I own about 143 forever stamps.

Wordle from the Inaugural Speech

2009-01-21T15:11:05Z

Carbon Footprint Pizza

2009-01-20T04:54:52Z

I checked out Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza last Saturday.

It was a great pizza. I was expecting a sauce with a little more bite, but the crust made the whole package work. I will return again, but only at times when there isn't such a long wait. At least I got there before the Strib published their review - probably the crowds are worse now.

Is it made with clean coal?

Short Answer

2009-01-20T04:50:14Z