Posts filed under 'General'
I think that most of the time when we read about superstar athletes, we are both in awe of their great skill and perhaps jealous of their fame and wealth. Some of these super humans seem to be fine-tuned machines of bone and flesh. Golf however, does not conjure up these images. When I look at these guys, they look like regular “Joes” you might work with or be related to.
Now don’t get me wrong, golf is a difficult sport. I would call it a finesse game. Speed and strength don’t seem to be much a part of control and accuracy. Although like any other sport, there is also a mental component. Perhaps the allure of golf as a spectator sport is that so many people relate to it because anyone can play. Old or young, big or small, guy or gal, in-shape or barely able to walk — they are all out there hitting a ball and following it around. Certainly soccer is a more exciting game to watch, but alas, we Americans still cannot relate to the game the world calls “football.”
In most sports, it seems the athletes were bred to play the game. Others attempt to get even more of an edge using performance altering substances. Except for Tiger Woods who seems to have been born with a club in his hand, I simply don’t get this impression from other golfers. This “regular guy” impression was reinforced this past weekend when Phil Mickelson declared himself “an idiot” for his U.S. Open loss.
It seems all Mickelson needed to do is make some very basic shots to win the tournament, but a series of “chokes” cost him the victory. The humility of the situation can best be visualized in the photo of Mickelson searching for his ball in and around a garbage bag just off the fairway.
It’s nice to know that, like us, Phil is just a fallible human susceptible to the agony of defeat.
See more Men’s Golf Champions.
June 20th, 2006
The question “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” has always seemed to be an unanswerable question or at least rhetorical. It is often used as a metaphor for dismissing a cause vs. effect of something. However, looking at the question very literally can raise some interesting discussions.
I believe that the root of the “chicken or egg” question may actually be a creation versus evolution question. Creationism would suggest that a chicken was created and, of course, lays eggs. Evolution suggests an egg-laying animal gave birth to slightly mutated offspring that continued to become more chicken-like because these new chicken-like traits provided an advantage to survival.
I believe that the root of the “chicken or egg” question may actually be a creation versus evolution question. Creationism would suggest that a chicken was created and, of course, lays eggs. Evolution suggests an egg-laying animal gave birth to slightly mutated offspring that continued to become more chicken-like because these new chicken-like traits provided an advantage to survival.
It seems that many scientists now agree.
What are your thoughts?
June 15th, 2006
It seems that the risk of death is not working to get people to quit smoking. This alone speaks to the addictive nature of cigarettes and the obsessive personalities of the people addicted. I don’t think those “Truth” commercials help anyone except for non-smokers to get angrier at tobacco companies by exposing their practices.
One radio campaign I have heard speaks to the economic aspect of smoking. People explain how they have stopped smoking and have saved X thousands of dollars a year — an interesting spin on a materialist society. Don’t care that you are shortening your life and ruining your lungs — think of the money you would save! I don’t think this is going to work either.
People have been wondering how much gas prices would have to go up before people change their buying habits. I don’t think any price would be too high. Every time I go to fill up, there is always a huge line to buy gas. Don’t these people know how much gas costs? — Probably not. Give them your already over-extended credit card and you never even realize how much you are spending. How much does a pack of cigarettes cost? Does it matter?
The newest campaign against smoking has been a television commercial which features a man who has had throat cancer and now breathes through a little hole in his neck. He speaks using one of those electronic voice boxes, which interestingly retains his Spanish accent.
I have seen two commercials featuring this gentleman. One of them shows him getting ready in the morning, using a cotton swab to clean the hole in his throat and covering it with a neckerchief and speaking with his voice box. The tagline, “nothing will every be the same.” The other version shows a swimming pool as the gentleman explains how he used to love swimming and now cannot because he would drown from water entering his breathing hole. Again the tagline, “nothing will ever be the same.”
I guess this one is trying to paint the smoking related consequences as less dramatic and fatal, but more practical and certainly less than glamorous. I hope they help.
I have always heard that the only thing that happens when you talk to smokers about what has happened to other smokers is that they just smoke more. Part of the reason they smoke is to overcome anxiety.
A new study suggests that a snap decision to stop smoking is two to three times more effective than planning for it. Have the desire to quit and then one day just act on it.
Whatever works for you — stop smoking.
June 13th, 2006
Walking in New York City is hard. Some people are afraid to drive in the city, but they should really be afraid to walk. Now don’t get me wrong — I have been walking to and from work and Grand Central Terminal for over ten years. I often describe NYC as the only place where you can walk on the street thinking all of the drivers are idiots, then get in your car and think all of the pedestrians are idiots.
Dealing with Traffic Lights
The traffic lights are designed to control the flow of traffic and as a result, pedestrians. When at a corner with a red light, a big red hand appears signaling walkers to STOP. However, in NYC this is only a suggestion. If traffic in your path is at a stop, then you simply wiggle through the cars and proceed. Or if a driver lags and allows even a car length to form, the more daring walkers will sprint across risking the spilling of their Starbucks coffee. No worries, there’s a Starbucks at the next corner. If you do decide to heed the “Don’t Walk” sign, only the meek actually wait on the sidewalk. Most people step into the street, slowly clogging the artery with this human cholesterol.
I have visited many cities and always notice how people react to the pedestrian signals. In San Diego, I stood among a dozen people waiting for the “Walk” signal on a street where no cars passed for the duration of the light. At the next corner, needless to say, I left these obedient pedestrians as I continued down the trafficless streets. I always expect that if ever presented with a “jay walking” ticket, I would just use the excuse that I was from New York, and perhaps they would “fuhget about it.”
I can always tell the out-of-towners — there the ones that freeze in their tracks when they first see a hint of the flashing red hand. Let me explain how this works. When that hand starts flashing, it’s just a warning. The traffic is still stopped. When it stops flashing, the traffic signal turns amber warning the cars of the pending red light and the stopped traffic will soon get a green light and start driving. This is your last change to begin you crossing attempt. If the stopped traffic is at your corner, this needs to be a quick dash perhaps holding out a hand. Depending on the reaction time of the drivers, you will either be honked at or unnoticed. If the traffic is on the opposite corner, you may walk at a calm pace across the street. By the time the opposing traffic, trying to squeeze through the light, gets out of their way, you will nearly be across, and like a bullfighter, the car will brush past you leaving you unharmed. (no cape required).
Recently however, there has been a change in some of the light patterns. When pedestrians get the green light to walk, cars wishing to turn onto the street you are crossing also have a green light. The rule is to yield to the pedestrians, so these cars have to slowly inch in letting people know their intention of proceeding but not running anyone down. Out of town drivers are sometime too aggressive here and think that the people are in their way. The traffic light people have tried to alleviate this scenario by having a green light for drivers going straight without conflict to pedestrians, but turning traffic has a red light for about a minute. Then they give the pedestrians a Don’t Walk and allow the cars to turn. However, with every cause, there is an effect. Crossing the opposite street, people are waiting for a Walk signal. All of the cars that were going straight have passed. The cars that should be turning are just sitting there with a red light. We all know the sign says Don’t Walk, but the cars are just sitting there, so people decide to walk. Now without ANY warning, the turning cars light turns green and there are people crossing in front of them not understanding what just happened.
It’s not easy. Remember to look both ways and be careful.
June 9th, 2006
Well the only apocalyptic activity so far today is the eruption of Mount Merapi in Indonesia. Most of us are familiar with 666, “the number of the beast” from the Iron Maiden
song and Damien, the cute little demonic boy from “The Omen.”
It is amazing the impact “The Omen” has had on popular culture. The mere mention of the name Damien conjures up scary thoughts from the movie. Do you even know anyone with the name Damien? The creepy musical chanting of Ave Satani still freaks me out to this day. I also know that when some little kid is being a terror, people will joke about looking for a 666 somewhere on the brat’s body.
A remake of “The Omen” has perhaps been created for the sole purpose of coinciding with this date.
Revelation 13:18 in the Bible: “This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six.”
It starts to make me wonder about the numbering systems at the time of its writing. Did anyone use the metric system back then? Or was it Roman numerals (DCLXVI) ?
Be careful out there.
June 6th, 2006
I saw the headline today “Lioness in zoo kills man who invoked God,” and just had to read. I am often amazed in what people will do to test their faith, fate, and basic common sense.
KIEV (Reuters) - A man shouting that God would keep him safe was mauled to death by a lioness in Kiev zoo after he crept into the animal’s enclosure, a zoo official said on Monday.
“The man shouted ‘God will save me, if he exists’, lowered himself by a rope into the enclosure, took his shoes off and went up to the lions,” the official said.
“A lioness went straight for him, knocked him down and severed his carotid artery.”
The incident, Sunday evening when the zoo was packed with visitors, was the first of its kind at the attraction. Lions and tigers are kept in an “animal island” protected by thick concrete blocks.
From Yahoo! News
I was most struck with the apparent matter-of-factness of the lioness’s actions — straight for him, knocked down, artery severed, dead.
Now I am not going to even go into a religious discussion here. I can only assume that this man was not operating at full capacity. I started to wonder if there have been similar incidents, however most searches containing “God will save me” returned jokes.
I suppose maybe someone should have challenged this individual that perhaps God does exist and that he tried to keep you safe by keeping the lions on AN ANIMAL ISLAND protected by THICK CONCRETE BLOCKS.
Rest in pieces.
June 5th, 2006
There’s something about a hot, holiday weekend that invites car trouble. I am always amazed by the impromptu picnics on the side of the highway by families that seem to have more people than their car can fit, plus all the fixings of coolers and lawn chairs. I often wonder if this was not their ultimate destination.
Luckily my car trouble (2005 Ford Escape) was nowhere near as inconvenient, but certainly a bother. It seemed that there was a leak inside the car, wetting the front passenger floor. It had gone unnoticed during the week as no one was riding shotgun, but during the weekend a variety of feet and cargo were being dampened.
A quick diagnostic determined that the fluid was water and that it was associated with the use of the air conditioning which was being employed because of the hot weather. Under the dashboard on the passenger side, the unidentifiable, black plastic components were cold and wet. It seemed as if the condensation that normally drains outside and leaves that big puddle in your driveway was not draining properly. I would have to investigate the next day.
In my teenage years, prior to the Internet, I used to work on cars a great deal. Sure things were easier then, but we also had the use of Chilton Auto Manuals which became the bible for owning an old clunker. The manual I had for my 1972 Plymouth Fury was well used and well greased. Diagrams, how-tos, etc. was all you needed after a good set of tools and some Goop. I can still remember the rack in the auto parts store that was like a reference library until they got smart and shrink-wrapped the books to prevent browsing.
Well it seems that the Internet has its own form of shrink-wrapping. Search for computer problems, health problems, marital problems, etc, and you get scores of potential answers. Search for auto repair specifics and it is hard to come up with anything. One would think that the manuals, diagrams, FAQs, problems/fixes, would be well suited for the Internet, but it seems that is not the case.
I was however, able to find a few clues to guide me to my repair. After I had taken it upon myself to remove the fan blower (and drain the water from it), I also checked the vents for any blockage — all seemed in order and after about an hour I had everything back together, but nothing fixed. I tried the A/C again and when on high with the fan on full blow, water poured from a crack in the ducts below the passenger dashboard. There was no way I was going to be able to drive this car with the A/C without some type of bucket.
After returning inside, I again attempted to search for a solution. One site I found seemed to describe my problem and noted there was an answer but I would need to sign up and pay for the result. I wasn’t desperate enough to take the chance.
Finally I found what seemed to fit the bill:
Question
My car seems to be leaking water onto the floor board of my car. It only happens when I am running my a/c. It is coming from somewhere under the dashboard.
Answer
Look under the vehicle near the bottom of the firewall for a rubber hose about the size of your thumb about 3″ long sticking out towards the engine and pointing towards the ground. This is the CONDENSATION DRAIN for the evaporator case to expell any water to the ground that builds up in the evap housing.Take a plastic soda straw or something SOFT, NOT a screw driver or hard object and poke it up into this drain tube and water will run out up your arm. This hose is clogged and the water is backing up and spilling into the vehicle.
I went out to look for this hose. Although the Ford Escape is an SUV, it is certainly on the smaller side and does not have a great deal of road clearance. I barely squeezed under the vehicle and after having flashbacks from my youth, I was unable to locate it. I did have my drinking straw at the ready, however. I no longer had the trust car ramps that served me so well years ago. All I could find was a small hydraulic jack. As I approached the car, and looking at the small but significant incline where it was parked, I decided not to be memorialized on this weekend by being crushed by a multi-ton vehicle.
My last attempt was to look for the elusive condensation drain hose from above. Peering down, I did see a small, black hose that had a drop of water inside. I was only able to reach it using the straw, and when I stuck it in, about a quart of water poured from the hose and down the hill. I had found my leak source and unplugged it.
Perhaps this fix is only temporary as there is something causing a blockage, but knowing that this can be easily fixed with a tool available from any fast food rest stop, I am not so worried.
By the way, it appears that Chilton Auto Manuals are available on line (for a fee) here.
May 30th, 2006
The Internet is a great place to propagate funny stories. The Darwin Awards is a website that collects stories that are entertaining, but in a tragic way.
“We salute the improvement of the human genome by honoring those who remove themselves from it. Of necessity, this honor is generally bestowed posthumously.”
I think I remember some of the earliest stories that were distributed by email. Probably the most famous story being the guy who mounted a JATO rocket engine to his car and launched himself into the side of a mountain.
If you enjoy those police chase shows, you will probably enjoy reading about the things that people do that unexpectedly end their lives.
Being a male, I can recall the many foolish things that I had done as a teenager:
In eighth grade, my friends and I were at “the lake” engaging in a basic activity of lighting a fire in a large drainage pipe. We were using dried reeds that we lit with a BIC lighter. As we took turns feeding the fire with handfuls of reeds, someone (probably me) tossed the seemingly empty lighter into the pipe. Our unbeknownst game of Russian Roulette ended when, on one of my turns, a giant fire ball shot out of the pipe into my face. I saw the flame and ducked. I opened my eyes to find the faces of my friends first with concern and then with laughter. I was not burned, but my hair and eyebrows were quite singed! The smell was terrible. I could not see what a mess I was, and as we walked back home, I can remember my friends reassuring me that I looked fine – as they continued to giggle. The worst injury I received was what looked like a terrible haircut.
I wasn’t trying to perform these stunts, but being young and male provides a lack of fear or forethought. Not until college did I purposely attempt stunts, with limited success such as: being tumble dried in a dorm clothes dryer; rolling down the stairs in a garbage can; and the incredibly stupid climbing from one balcony to another.
If we live to reflect upon our past mistakes, we should learn from them, and even teach others. Now, as the father of two young boys, I cringe as I read these stories knowing that half of their genetic code and all of their gender will be working against them. I hope the Darwin Awards will be around in years to come so that when they become teenagers I can force them to read about what NOT to do. Knowing my luck it will just give them ideas.
The Darwin Awards can be found here.
May 19th, 2006
It appears I have just won $1,000,000!
Evidently, an email address I never used was attached to lottery numbers I never picked in a lottery I never played. Interestingly, this Australian lottery is run out of the Netherlands and pays out US dollars in nice round numbers. This truly is my lucky day.
If you are like me, you get many of these phishing scams each week. The bait is this too-good-to-be-true offer of found money that starts a cycle of events that leaves you without some of your own money. This is very similar to an offline scam where someone approaches you on the street with a winning lottery ticket, but due to some “mix-up”, they are unable to redeem it so they will sell it to you at a lower price. The bottom line in both scams is that there is no winning ticket and you just gave a stranger your money because you were a little blinded by greed.
Here is the email I received:
Australian Lottery.
NSW Lotteries Corporation,
2 Figtree Drive,
Homebush Bay NSW 2127
Dear Sir/Madam,
CONGRATULATIONS: YOU WON $1,000,000.00.
We are pleased to inform you of the result of Australian Lottery, which was
held on the 12th, May 2006. Your e-mail address attached to prize winning
number: 3 7 9 16 27 28, and supplementary number: 37 43 drew a prize of
$1,000,000.00 (One Million USDollars).
This lucky draw came first in the 2nd Category of the Sweepstake. You will
receive the sum of $1,000,000.00 (One Million USDollars) from our authorized bank in Netherlands.
Because of some mix-up with our sweepstake numbers and prizes, plus the time limited placed on the payment of your prize: $1,000,000.00, we advice that you keep all information about this prize confidential until your funds:
$1,000,000.00 have been transferred to you by the authorized bank in The Netherlands. You must adhere to this instruction, strictly, to avoid any delay with the release of your funds to your person. This program has been abused severally in past, so we are doing our best to forestall further occurrence of past mix-ups.
This sweepstake was conducted under the watchful eyes of 12,000 spectators.
Your e-mail address attached to prize winning number: 3 7 9 16 27 28 was
selected and; it came first through an e-ballot draw from over 250,000 e-mail
addresses (personal and corporate e-mail addresses).
This program is sponsored by NSW Lotteries to compensate faithful internet
suffers around the globe.
Congratulations for becoming one of the few lucky winners.
With your permission, your e-mail will also be included in the next sweepstake
of $5Million.
You must claim your prize: $1,000,000.00 not later than 10-days from the moment you receive this e-mail. In order to avoid unnecessary delays with your claim from our authorized bank; please contact them immediately, and quote your winning and personal information now.
Here is their contact information:
Bank: Laagste Heypotheekofferte Bank NL.
Contact person: Mr. Walter Hawkins.
Director: Public Finance, Global Markets, Interest Rate and Currency.
Direct-line: Tel: 0031 644 893 611.
Fax: 0031 847 134 206 .
E-mail address: bankdelaagste@netscape.net
Furnish them with the following:
(i). your name(s),
(ii) Your telephone and fax numbers
(iii) Your contact address
(iv) Your winning information (including amount won).
Congratulations.
Yours to serve,
Valentino Von Kahn (Mrs.).
Coordinator: Australian Lottery.
There are so many flaws in this attempt:
- It was sent to an inactive email address
- I never participated in this lottery
- Why does the bank have a @netscape.net email address?
- Why is the Australian lottery run out of the Netherlands?
I am also instantly suspicious whenever the words “congratulations” and “mix-up” are used together. I truly feel badly for people that fall for these scams. Considering it only takes one out of millions to for scammers to “find” money, and there is no cost at sending these emails, it is no wonder this activity continues. Don’t be a victim.
May 15th, 2006
Well, it seems that everyone has a Blog (web log), and now I do too. What to expect?
As a technologist, web citizen, parent, and resident of Earth, I have a few things to share with you. I intend to write mostly about technology and other things I know much about and am interested in. I can also foresee some rants about current events after quickly formulating uniformed opinions.
I hope you might learn new things about our digital world and perhaps look at things from another perspective.
I won’t attempt to predict anything more about what might happen here so that I won’t need to delete this initial post in days to come. I will do my best to post daily (at least on weekdays), with hope to keep you coming back. The platform use here (WordPress), has been configured to accept and encourage feedback through the commenting facility. Please do so.
-Greg Renza
May 1st, 2006
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