tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-95706022011-04-21T18:50:31.998-07:00Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.comBlogger1081100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-5590768525606882502008-09-17T10:29:00.001-07:002008-09-17T10:29:52.124-07:00

My Republican friends tag Clinton and Obama as 'socialist' or 'tax and spend liberals'. They are opposed to nationalized insurance of any kind.Last night, the Republican administration bought 80% of AIG, bailing them out from a catastrophic failure. They did this with a loan to AIG from taxpayer funds that will be repaid at an incredible 11% interest. AIG will NEVER dig out from under this.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-3511779144065689982008-09-05T16:34:00.000-07:002008-09-05T16:37:45.249-07:00

Cool new tool that one of my clients just launched, shows how nifty my computer is:Processor:AMD Phantom X4RAM:4GBVideo Card:ATI CrossfireVideo Mode:1600 x 1200 x 4294967296 colorsCatalog Your PC Inventory

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-79325233321794022742008-08-29T13:07:00.000-07:002008-08-29T13:10:24.363-07:00

It's been a while, but I had to post this:Sarah Palin is McCain's VP. Also a creationist.If you are a Democrat and vote for McCain because you somehow don't like Obama, you are a moron.Moron.Stupidhead.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-53880295097728298932008-06-21T09:21:00.000-07:002008-06-21T09:22:10.819-07:00

...can ya believe it?

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-14130279535864506522008-06-18T09:44:00.001-07:002008-06-18T09:46:59.951-07:00

Hee hee:Hummer Mileage

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-48889024826602914572008-06-03T08:29:00.000-07:002008-06-03T08:50:10.389-07:00

NEW YORK, JUNE 3rd, 2008: Horrified commuters fled a New York subway today after seeing an enormous 'rat king'.Rat kings occur when several rats become intertwined at the tail. Their tails then grow together. were once thought to be fiction. Since then, numerous specimens have been found."It was the most revolting thing I've ever seen," Franklin Snyder, a Manhattan commuter, commented.Several

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-56543734895936573382008-02-22T21:05:00.000-08:002008-02-22T21:06:49.728-08:00

Utah students carry guns to class.I'm not sure how I feel about this, except to say I'm glad I live in Washington.Nothing against guns, but these folks made Karl Malone their hero for years. Can we trust them with loaded firearms?

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-27601109341315381632008-01-20T21:18:00.000-08:002008-01-20T21:42:19.683-08:00

Cloverfield is not a monster movie. It's a movie about how friends respond to unexpected catastrophe - in this case, a humungous monster possibly released by the Tagruato Corporation as they drilled for the secret ingredient in their Slusho.A lot of folks walked away from this movie shaking their head. They expected Godzilla rampaging through a cardboard city.Instead, Cloverfield gave us a gritty

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-83895545364978254892008-01-15T18:05:00.000-08:002008-01-15T18:09:33.029-08:00

Several of my staff work on a podcast: The Weekly Geek Show.If you like intelligent commentary on everything from video games to HD DVD, sprinkled liberally with bursts of hilarious grossness, I highly recommend it. I nearly drove off the road laughing at this week's episode.But I must set the record straight.In the post, Chris states that, when at work, he's required to stick his finger up his

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-82458103789253279362008-01-09T14:30:00.000-08:002008-01-09T14:33:18.663-08:00

Finances eat me,With small, angry bites, untilAll smartness is gone.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-41652453906121613392008-01-08T14:07:00.001-08:002008-01-08T14:08:26.540-08:00

I dare you.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-69620853874545535482008-01-05T10:11:00.001-08:002008-01-05T10:16:14.388-08:00

If you're not a gamer, you don't know what this means. And I don't mean a cool video gamer. I mean a hardcore, geeked out D&D and tabletop gamer. The kind of person who can regale his or her gaming buddies with hours of tales from past adventures.The "purple boot from the sky" is a magical happening, whereby the Game Master (usually one of your friends, who you're harassing constantly to give

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-26427908928855510742008-01-05T10:10:00.001-08:002008-01-05T10:11:02.541-08:00

Sorry, I know I broke the design with that last photo.I'll get around to fixing it, I swear. After I fix two other sites I built for friends, rehab my back, get back on my bike, make level 70 in WoW...

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-59577524450680148792008-01-04T12:27:00.001-08:002008-01-04T12:27:20.418-08:00

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } I Want to Ride My Bicycle, originally uploaded by oybay. Simplicity is a beautiful thing.Wonder how much this bike weighs?

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-25675176152126219042008-01-03T19:11:00.000-08:002008-01-03T19:14:02.945-08:00

No, I can't say it.I can no more like the idea of a Baptist Minister in charge than I could an orthodox rabbi.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-38487092760037005772008-01-02T09:54:00.000-08:002008-01-02T09:56:21.326-08:00

I've come to a realization over the last few years:My grandparents' generation defeated the Nazis.My parents' generation put a man on the moon.My generation created the iPod.Wonder what our kids will do?

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-79300139290032547012008-01-01T09:58:00.000-08:002008-01-01T10:00:11.261-08:00

I'd rather be a Than a

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-74085439774042438552008-01-01T09:49:00.001-08:002008-01-01T09:52:36.896-08:00

I have a new Toyota Prius that includes a backup camera. This neat gadget displays what's immediately behind my car on a little screen in the dashboard. That way, if a short person is right behind me, I won't squash them.When I put my car into reverse last week, I nearly had a heart attack. In the monitor was the biggest damned squirrel I've ever seen. For a second, I thought a rodent the size of

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-82239989576572151252007-12-29T21:49:00.000-08:002007-12-29T22:00:28.643-08:00

My son just tested positive for Pertussis (Whooping Cough). It's a nasty bug that used to kill 10,000 or so people a year. Now it kills less than 100. But it's super-contagious, and all the more so because your child won't necessarily start barking like a seal when they get it.H. had a mild cold 3 weeks ago. Then he developed a persistent, mild cough that mostly bugged him in the morning.After 9

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-14640259920658264012007-12-28T15:43:00.001-08:002007-12-28T16:03:49.716-08:00

I am a long time chocoholic. My staff have often seen me creeping around, peeking surreptitiously into everyone's lunches, trying to scavenge some chocolate candy.I can't help it. Both of my parents are chocolate addicts. So I was doomed.I've always favored the cheap stuff: I can go through Kit Kats, for example, like nobody else.Then someone got me this:Holy cow. When I took my first bite (20

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-68896559817759545962007-12-28T15:40:00.000-08:002007-12-28T16:11:54.486-08:00

In early 99, I had a sinus infection. It felt like Bruce Willis was shoving icicles into my forebrain like a scene out of Die Hard 2.That, in itself, isn't important. Nor is the fact that the doctor gave me a prescription for Tylenol with Codeine.What matters, though, is how these two bits of trivia caused me to lose a turf war with a herd of masked home invaders.My wife and I lived in a nice

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-59298332557477923582007-11-13T09:23:00.000-08:002007-11-13T09:28:28.016-08:00

My cat, 20 years old, was very ill with kidney and heart problems over the last month. We finally put him to sleep yesterday.Looking back over the last 20 years, I realize that with only a few exceptions I knew him longer than almost anyone else.I'll miss his poignant, Siamese-inspired silent meows, and his love for peas, corn chex and tuna water. I'll also miss his unique personality, and his

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-72929150656758998642007-10-20T09:18:00.001-07:002007-10-20T09:20:15.447-07:00

I just bought Prius, fully loaded.Not only is it immensely satisfying in a tree-hugging kind of way, but it comes loaded with so many gadgets and gizmos that I nearly drove off the road playing with the voice-activated navigation, bluetooth phone, cool screen that shows the ridiculous mileage I was getting and turning the radio on by saying 'radio'.It's ugly in a charming kind of way, too...

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-27966423153445494522007-10-01T09:16:00.000-07:002007-10-01T09:20:41.977-07:00

Yesterday, the Giants AND the Cowboys both won.I should've known today would get off to a rocky start.I walked into my company today, and:We have no phones.Someone plagiarized my work so blatantly they're either stupid, have no class, or are just evil.A new employee starting today came in to find out that his computer's busted.Weeeeee......

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-81237738558964168502007-09-18T15:46:00.000-07:002007-09-18T16:09:17.575-07:00

For the last 3 months, I've been hobbling around on what I assumed was a torn hamstring. Then, a few weeks ago, my other leg started to hurt, followed by my back. I went to an orthopedist and got an MRI. Turns out I have, ahem, "Mild bilateral facet and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy" on L4-5 (those are vertebrae) that 'lead to a slight narrowing of the bilateral recesses'. I also have "a focal

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-24092303972667790422007-08-27T16:00:00.001-07:002007-08-27T16:04:00.251-07:00

There I was, backstage, managing the video streaming for Conversation With the Candidates for the IAMAW.First candidate up? Hillary Clinton. When she heads back offstage, she's nice enough to stop for a picture with all of us backstage folks. I, of course, am head-down, staring at my monitor, making sure the streaming worked. And I have headphones on.So, instead of being IN the picture, I'm sort

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-70664493126443434152007-08-20T10:04:00.000-07:002007-08-20T10:21:31.526-07:00

I hate naturally talented people. They piss me off. If you were that person in high school who played varsity football while maintaining a 4.0 GPA, working a part-time job and spending spare time helping out at the old folks' home, then yes, I hate you.That's also why I hate Neil Gaiman. He makes all this writing stuff look way too easy.Want a series of graphic novels about a dysfunctional

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-59707035122012216022007-08-17T09:17:00.000-07:002007-08-17T10:18:08.816-07:00

This is not my house. But it was close enough:Photo by Garrett Burke.I woke up last night around 12:45 AM from a nightmare that I was back in the LA Riots, with buildings burning around me (I'll tell that story another time).I was still in that early state of waking mental retardation when I heard a FWOOOOMP and our bedroom was lit orange and red, and I could feel heat from a fire coming in the

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-47223181845705895422007-08-14T17:35:00.000-07:002007-08-14T17:36:46.230-07:00

My 7 year old son and 5 year old daughter are playing a little Lego Star Wars.I have reservations about it. I ration my kids' "screen time" carefully, every day, to an absolute maximum of 1 hour.But I'm listening to them chattering away, talking to each other, laughing when something funny happens, etc.. I don't think I'll be letting them play more than 15-20 minutes. But clearly they aren't

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-64508758213336471432007-08-11T09:19:00.000-07:002007-08-11T22:53:28.935-07:00

...At least corporate-driven, lowest-bidder-wins, screw-the-rest-of-you globalization:Lead paint in kids' toys. If you think this is some obscure thing that won't affect you, read this. Then do something simple - tell 2 other people about this. Just people you know.Bad stuff in their toothpaste.Bad pet food.And then, my favorite: Boeing is having components of the Dreamliner 787 built in China.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-29107314225772977982007-08-09T11:57:00.000-07:002007-08-09T12:23:16.086-07:00

I suspect that RFPs may soon replace fundamentalist religion as a way for people to excuse stupidity:These from an RFP we just received:"5.2 Lowest Price Guarantee Vendor agrees that if Vendor offers the same service or products to another customer comparable in size at a lower price than the rates detailed on this Request for Bid, Vendor will adjust the District’s costs to the lower rate. "

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-70150706713615384532007-08-02T13:55:00.000-07:002007-08-02T13:58:57.448-07:00

A bridge collapses, killing an indeterminate number of people.We continue spending billions in Iraq.If you think the two aren't connected, you're mental.Spending huge, sticky gobs of money on poor strategies and crappy planning distracts us from issues like infrastructure. More bridges will fall. In fact, they've been falling for a while.Wake up people. The people who say you're 'un-American' for

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-65360736158807322592007-07-31T08:52:00.000-07:002007-07-31T08:55:37.695-07:00

Ask for a raise, will you!? OFF the PLANET!Workers Asked for Pay Bump, Got Bumped

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-25463866243370065442007-07-27T10:45:00.000-07:002007-07-27T10:46:10.685-07:00

OK, I'm done.The Tour's a joke. Let's take a couple years and fix it.Cancel the 2008 Tour De France

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-64960726787948079642007-07-25T15:17:00.000-07:002007-07-25T15:23:41.888-07:00

Breaking news: Michael Rasmussen was just ejected from the Tour de France, 3 days before he would've ridden to victory in Paris.He had the race locked up. But way back in June his team found out he'd lied about his whereabouts when he missed several drug tests. They just now decided to remove him. Yes, that's right. His TEAM removed him from the race.So now two Team Discovery riders could be on

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-2838772896271955592007-07-25T10:31:00.001-07:002007-07-25T10:34:50.941-07:00

I'm a cyclist, and have been for, oh, 32 years or so. My dad is an accomplished cyclist, too, having ridden across the US and on numerous other tours and one day trips.So when my son (now 7) showed signs of being, well, not so happy about learning to ride his bike without training wheels, I have to admit I had my first burst of fatherly testosterone poisoning. I kept it in check, by I flinched

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-46021191706365574422007-07-23T14:57:00.001-07:002007-07-23T14:57:31.411-07:00

'You're cordially invited to my new seminar, "Shredders as a motivational tool"'I cannot take credit.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-66807157645094555242007-07-20T11:52:00.000-07:002007-07-20T12:53:56.977-07:00

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-35623050478354080912007-07-20T11:46:00.000-07:002007-07-20T11:48:03.194-07:00

If you want to read what's really going on, read what folks write on their blogs:http://drummondiniraq.blogspot.com/

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-2115639735098453582007-07-18T06:38:00.000-07:002007-07-20T11:46:31.598-07:00

My company has just been screwed by Wells Fargo. It doesn't feel good.Like all small businesses, we live on a line of credit that's about 50% of our monthly receivables. So, if we earned $200k/month, our line of credit would be $100k. (not real numbers)That line keeps us going between payouts from clients. Particularly since the average client will do anything they can to delay paying you, and

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-16291613466742173032007-07-16T18:45:00.000-07:002007-07-16T18:49:08.299-07:00

US suggests flourescent vests for Iraqi informants."5) The U.S. military in his “battle space” (four provinces to the south of Baghdad) is not arming local security volunteers. Instead, they’re providing them with vests. This will let everyone know they’re working as informers and helping keep the peace. (Say what?)"I couldn't make that up.No further words necessary.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-32266310329469659232007-07-08T17:12:00.000-07:002007-07-08T17:23:32.981-07:00

I just went to see the Transformers. I loved it. But why?Why is a story about alien robots who choose to take the form of cars, and stereos, and other mundane stuff so compelling?(image from MajorSpoilers.com)I don't know about everyone else, but for me, it's the great simplicity of it all.Autobots = GoodDecepticons = BadThat's it. In the movie, there's a sequence when the Autobots (Good) arrive

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-20795048238649642007-06-30T18:29:00.000-07:002007-06-30T18:37:48.125-07:00

Well, no.But I just returned from the shakedown ride for my new Felt F2:Wow.Here's how the ride went:Mile 1: Point the bike down Avalon Way - a short, fairly steep hill near my house. Ride is smooooooooth. So smooth, in fact, that I noticed cars going backwards as I zipped by them. I look down at my cycle computer. I'm going 45 mph. Whoa. I tap the brakes and nearly flip over. Mental note: Dura

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-84977995828787643692007-06-30T12:58:00.000-07:002007-06-30T13:21:32.243-07:00

Update: Greggs came through again. After wrestling a bit with my conscience (I worked at a bike shop once - I know how hectic it is) I called the manager. He checked for me, and it turns out that the service guys were playing it VERY safe. They had dropped the ball a little as far as calling me when the bike arrived, but it's already on the rack, and it'll be done today or tomorrow. Thanks

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-25448199813861953632007-06-26T09:54:00.000-07:002007-06-26T09:56:25.741-07:00

But I thought .NET is a great enterprise platform?Screen capture taken at 9:45 PST.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-74223653840003790912007-06-22T15:55:00.000-07:002007-06-22T15:57:38.772-07:00

If the San Jose Mercury had written about this bunny instead of squirrels, I would not have made so much fun of 'em.I know this guy is raising these for meat. But damn, man. Would you have the nerve to walk towards one of these with an axe?

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-482036639865344032007-06-20T18:51:00.001-07:002007-06-20T18:56:52.587-07:00

Once upon a time, there was a girl who lived with a horrible, wicked stepmother and her two nasty stepsisters.They made her work her butt off. It was awful.Then a prince showed up. He said "I will save you!"And he did. He sent his knights to the house. They drove out the stepmother and stepsisters. And everyone agreed that was a good thing.Unfortunately, along the way, the knights also destroyed

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-35587075633694468292007-06-20T07:28:00.000-07:002007-06-20T07:29:42.457-07:00

This dramatic video brought to you courtesy of some idiot who thought he'd do his own marketing.I love the pairing of deep, thoughtful music with deep fried catfish.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-11536573099167627412007-06-15T08:42:00.001-07:002007-06-15T08:42:47.151-07:00

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-45800310266129953562007-06-13T17:24:00.000-07:002007-06-13T17:29:16.910-07:00

...to relatives/clients/acquaintances and people I meet on planes who try to tell me I should do their internet marketing their way, 'cause somehow I don't know what works, of course, after 10+ years:"Sir/Madam, you are a moron. A lovable moron, but when it comes to internet marketing, a moron nonetheless. Even worse, you don't seem to know that that's the case.You clearly learned about internet

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-83000010852254090582007-06-11T18:44:00.000-07:002007-06-11T19:00:33.457-07:00

I live by a classic Conan the Barbarian quote. It's his answer to 'what is best in life?'What is best in life? To crush your enemies. To see them driven before you. And to hear the lamentations of their women...You go boy!I, too, gain a certain sick delight from watching my enemies crumble driven before me. Or driven before anyone else, for that matter, as long as I'm not a fellow drive-ee.My

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-72824324114919175252007-06-08T13:02:00.000-07:002007-06-08T13:20:48.333-07:00

Millions of years ago, one of my ancestors - a small, untintelligent microbial blob of slime - offended the Powers That Be.I'm guessing this little gloppy thing extended a pseudopod, gripped a tiny grain of sand, and used it to bludgeon the Chosen Blob. In so doing, he/she/it brought down the wrath of whatever supernatural forces are trying to manage everything.Since then, those powers have

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-32921743984509364932007-06-06T11:16:00.000-07:002007-06-06T11:17:47.522-07:00

I love Halo. And I love tabletop games like Warhammer 40k.But a Halo tabletop game? Please.Penny Arcade says it best.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-50342417326465560852007-06-04T12:11:00.001-07:002007-06-04T12:18:41.242-07:00

I'm a Lakers fan. Have been since I was 11, and this charming, brilliant rookie named Magic came to New Jersey and pounded the New Jersey Nets senseless with brilliant passes, smiling the whole time.These days, it ain't that much fun. I'm also a CEO, so I think I know why watching the Lakers over the past 3 years felt like chewing glass.No leadership.Standing pat and doing nothing is not

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-46343209028344598312007-06-03T21:21:00.000-07:002007-06-03T21:23:13.773-07:00

I dodged arrows and the falling bodies of knights while shooting video at the end of the world.Really.This is unedited video with a glitch at the beginning - I'll be doing much better versions, and launching them on the correct sites, shortly.Online Videos by Veoh.com

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-42961960933190138822007-06-01T12:35:00.000-07:002007-06-01T12:40:22.396-07:00

The chief of NASA, Michael Griffin, managed to confirm one theory while questioning another.In case you missed it, he stated that global warming may not be a problem we have to deal with. Phew. What a relief.Of course, he also proved that prolonged contact with the Bush administration may suck intelligence out of victims like that nasty monster in Starship Troopers.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-47275050672608050112007-05-30T13:35:00.000-07:002007-05-30T13:42:20.362-07:00

...in a meeting:Say "Well, I've never seen anyone do this that way." Yeah, and you're such an expert. If you hired me, let's assume it wasn't so you could tell me what an idiot I am, and go from there, shall we?Say "Wow, that's really expensive." Fine. Then talk to someone else. I charge a fair price for my services. If you don't like it, I am not here to do a hard sell. Hire someone else.Say "I

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-64841774411431630562007-05-24T11:49:00.000-07:002007-05-24T12:20:08.113-07:00

From a Christian Academy Science Fair:Brian Benson, an eighth-grade student who won first place in the Life Science/Biology category for his project “Creation Wins!!!,” says he disproved part of the theory of evolution. Using a rolled-up paper towel suspended between two glasses of water with Epsom Salts, the paper towel formed stalactites. He states that the theory that they take millions of

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-4220210159453765852007-05-21T18:58:00.000-07:002007-05-21T19:11:12.603-07:00

Insanity is a real productivity booster.I wrote a handy dandy little application yesterday. Given a web address, it goes out to Technorati, Yahoo and our own search engine optimization database, pulls all the statistics together, and generates a neat little report telling you how you rank, who's talking about you, etc..I wrote it at home. With four kids in the house. Making noise. Lots of noise.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-73991635754463119282007-05-18T12:30:00.000-07:002007-05-18T12:32:38.273-07:00

For everyone who's ever asked me to build them a site, or help them with SEO, in exchange for future profit, leads, good karma, etc.:http://www.no-spec.com/articles/why-speculation-hurts

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-41303199008739335622007-05-17T11:39:00.000-07:002007-05-17T11:40:06.510-07:00

A judge doesn't know what a web site is.A judge.If you're brain-damaged, or have been living in the woods for 20 years, fine. But a JUDGE?!!!!!

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-91333715130699917892007-05-16T21:25:00.000-07:002007-05-16T21:31:15.211-07:00

I was meeting with a potential client today. It went something like this:Ian: So, this project will cost around $15,000.PC: But, this other guy told me he can do it for $1,000.Ian: Wow. I can't match that. But I gotta say I doubt he can either.PC: Well, here's his site - doesn't it look great?(site vomits onto Ian's screen - Ian struggles to maintain sanity)Ian: Hmmm. I already see 5 spelling

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-4955487494202321472007-05-10T12:29:00.000-07:002007-05-10T12:55:20.345-07:00

A San Jose squirrel took the law into its own hands yesterday and attacked three people at a South San Jose school.After almost choking to death on my lunch, I read the rest of the article, and have to wonder: Was it a slow news day? Or is San Jose really that boring? Or are their editors just morons?So I checked:This article is 745 words long. It includes quotes like 'The whereabouts of the

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-8657266299758061072007-05-09T19:18:00.000-07:002007-05-09T19:21:21.484-07:00

5. For clients who tell me my job is easy.4. For staff who can't stop talking.3. For the guy with the nose whistle.2. For when I just get bored.1. For myself when I need a break.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-7641191095169519702007-05-08T13:37:00.000-07:002007-05-08T13:44:25.372-07:00

Pre-blog entry warning: This entry is odd. Bizzarre. Actually it's way off, and it may induce sweaty palms if you're uncomfortable when someone says the word 'gay' or 'sperm whale' in an elevator. Just warning you...OK, it doesn't match exploding head syndrome, but this dream came pretty damned close:I'm taking the Bar Exam (which, by the way, I never did). Donald Rummsfeld is proctoring. Stay

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-63260907133212526702007-05-07T13:24:00.000-07:002007-05-07T13:45:45.060-07:00

Last night I had a nightmare where our phone system died while I was completing a sale with a huge company.Then there was a deafening BANG and I woke up in a cold sweat.I should point out that we've spent 3 weeks getting a new VOIP phone system installed, and it's been hell. Well, actually hell doesn't describe it. Imagine having your head chopped off while you're somehow kept alive, then having

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-50359727467241830222007-05-06T15:36:00.000-07:002007-05-06T15:37:46.419-07:00

I've just spent the entire day trying to get one big text file merged into another using Java, and then putting the result into a database.Last night I dreamt that I'd suffered a head industry as a child and had just found out. Maybe there's a connection?...

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-73161784059660860412007-05-05T19:31:00.000-07:002007-05-05T19:35:38.582-07:00

If you live in Seattle, I've got the toy store for you:Goody Gumdrops is stacked to the rafters with nerf guns, cute stuffed animals, Playmobil toys of every kind, music, magents, cool science stuff, cool sports stuff...I went in with my daughter so she could spend some birthday money, and ended up spending $50.Hey, if you work for Goody Gumpdrops, give me a call. I'd love to build you a web site.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-9522607738167940132007-05-03T09:34:00.000-07:002007-05-03T09:36:14.277-07:00

I don't know if bringing the troops home right away is a good idea. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's not, in spite of the total cluster f--k that Bush and his cronies have made of Iraq.But I do know it takes a hell of a lot of nerve to say that Democrats who are trying to bring them home don't support the troops.Did the Democrats oversee catastrophic failures of health care for soldiers, and then

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-87288993489947002662007-05-03T09:27:00.000-07:002007-05-03T09:31:57.840-07:00

Why, indeed. I'm well past 30, have a growing business and 2 kids. Here's an example: Yesterday, after yet another day of fighting with our phone guys and our internet provider, I came home, wrung out.Playing WoW (that's World of Warcraft, for the uninitiated), I got challenged to a duel with another player.Duels have zero impact on the game, but they're fun and rather therapeutic.The challenger

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-89424279042609988082007-05-02T08:32:00.000-07:002007-05-02T08:42:21.728-07:00

Half of the office at Portent Interactive, my company, looks like a cave. Everyone said they didn't like the flourescent lights, so they turned them out, which left that side of the office pitch dark. I don't mind, except that clients who come visit think I'm running a sweatshop, and I think some of my staff might die from vitamin D deficiency.So, I ordered full spectrum lighting. Which cost

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-54566358336868840942007-04-27T09:38:00.000-07:002007-04-27T09:49:50.182-07:00

Lo, and I strode upon the battlefield,Armed with the latest browsers and preparedAs rosy-fingered dawn spread her lightacross the horizon to repairthe pernicious Black Bar of Deaththat appeared, without mercy, to allusers of IE 6.Once I charged with troops in armorof knowledge and swords of Textmate,But was thrown back by Windows XPWhich cried "You have a newer version of Internet explorer" but

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-80158668969270695182007-04-26T22:07:00.000-07:002007-04-26T22:08:10.983-07:00

I've applied for a job at Primatech Paper. I'll let you know how it works out.(for all you Heroes fans, you'll know what this is about)

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-8690732576279800062007-04-26T16:45:00.000-07:002007-04-26T16:53:20.762-07:00

I read a great Fortunately/Unfortunately post on a friend's blog today. It inspired me, as a historian, to compare things we've accomplished over the ages:1969: Man on the moon.2006: Meals available for purchase on airline flights.1769: Arguably, the first car invented.2007: Universal availability of extra-large cupholders.1928: Penicillin.2002: Botox approved for cosmetic use.1947: Chuck Yeager

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-43192571286032403812007-04-25T21:48:00.000-07:002007-04-25T21:55:04.423-07:00

Hired this great phone guy to install a new voice over IP phone system at my office. He swore the system would provide great voice quality. I paid to get an additional T1 line brought to my office just for this system.The guy shows up with his weird crew the first day. They start working on stuff the first day, then leave 2 hours later.The next day they do the same thing. The day after, again.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-37074239838177067882007-04-25T21:24:00.000-07:002007-04-25T21:25:51.517-07:00

I am writing an entry for my marketing blog and did a search on Google for 'Gaussian Balls' - I needed to find an image of the classic Gaussian distribution bell curve using marbles or some such.Google showed me this:Nice...

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-47866184055487080542007-04-24T08:37:00.001-07:002007-04-24T08:37:56.679-07:00

"As long as there are 2 people in a room, one will feel inferior and resort to stupidity to make up for it."Time to change the meds...

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-23342024234084234212007-04-23T19:31:00.000-07:002007-04-23T19:36:13.291-07:00

"Daddy, is God a mountain?"Um. My overly precocious daughter popped this one on me last week. Harrison went through the same thing a few years back.I tried the enlightened tact: Lots of people believe God is lots of different things. To me, God is what made Mozart create his music, or DaVinci paint the Mona Lisa. It's what makes your kids ask questions like these as a test. He/she/it is a sneaky

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-80596611860566275542007-04-22T21:27:00.000-07:002007-04-22T21:30:51.999-07:00

Honeybees are disappearing. No one knows why.Happy earth day...

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-45533552524352922252007-04-19T13:07:00.000-07:002007-04-19T13:08:12.362-07:00

We've all felt this way at some point:

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-87884516590707635602007-04-18T20:58:00.000-07:002007-04-18T21:05:28.480-07:00

My son may just be too smart.He just took his CAT (California Aptitude Test), and scored, well, he just scored really high. Crazy high.Yes, I'm preening just a bit at the idea that the little geek might just be a wunderkind.I've always suspected. When he was two, we were at a museum. He wanted a chocolate chip cookie. I refused. He got angry. Then he stamped his foot and yelled, "I'm opposed to

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-12789942487050519522007-04-13T18:23:00.000-07:002007-04-13T18:32:04.102-07:00

I'm thinking about replacing my Mazda 6 (which I love) with a hybrid. So, I just calculated my carbon production at https://www.climatefriendly.com/.My car, a Mazda 6S with a 4 liter, 6-cylinder engine, produces 5 tons of carbon per year, assuming I drive 200 miles/week, which is about right.My house? 5 tons/year.My air travel, which totals out to 4-5 trips from my home to New York, 3-4 trips to

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-45588944591235683902007-04-12T16:14:00.000-07:002007-04-12T16:15:45.342-07:00

Just a quick blatant plug for my firm's latest creation, Bridezilla.com.Its birth process was sufficiently agonizing that it's worth special mention...Have a look!

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-49556511419348062162007-04-11T11:39:00.000-07:002007-04-11T11:40:11.601-07:00

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-29824401332508712172007-04-09T15:24:00.000-07:002007-04-09T15:39:59.284-07:00

The world is filled with really smart people who could make it better. But they make the conscious choice to be dunderheaded idiots instead.They think that because they have a JD, a PhD, or some other piece of paper, that they don't have to think. They vote for the idiot who started the Iraq war, they ignore global warming, they buy products they know are made by slave labor, they drive huge cars

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-72809435360948326672007-03-19T19:54:00.000-07:002007-04-02T17:27:00.860-07:00

Hello, my name's Ian, and I'm a WoW addict. And I'm 38.Gasp.I know there are a lot of us out there, but we're outnumbered by cocky teens and twenty-somethings with (apparently) a lot more time on their hands. What's a fogey to do? Here are a few pointers:1. Play a character that can solo. It's hard to set up raids and group stuff when you get to play between kids' bedtimes, late night work

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-1159200040613432212006-09-25T08:55:00.000-07:002006-09-25T09:00:40.633-07:00

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-1159069557695600122006-09-23T20:36:00.000-07:002006-09-23T20:45:57.703-07:00

Why do people insist on being crooks? This client of mine, Survival Inc, has just disappeared from the face of the earth. They owe us over $10k. Their phone number now returns a fast busy signal. Their e-mails bounce. We shut down their site (as you can see).In the mean time, their owner retained a lobbying firm for $10,000/month, per an article on Salon.com:Begin with David Keene, ACU's chairman

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-1155918469028974022006-08-18T09:22:00.000-07:002006-08-18T10:01:30.620-07:00

Some quick math:When you fly across the country, you move 3200 miles in about 6 hours, at worst. That's 5,632,000 yards, or a brisk 1,024,000 yards/hour.Once you arrive at SeaTac airport, though, your bags take about 45-60 minutes to move 500 yards. That's 500 yards/hour, in case you're wondering.People in complex flying machine: 1,024,000 yards/hourBags attached to tractor: 500 yards/hourWTF?I

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-1154883355837455342006-08-06T09:42:00.000-07:002006-08-18T10:21:46.560-07:00

It's totally trivial in the face of war, missles, terrorism and other madness, but why does air travel so utterly suck, now, in the 21st century?I am currently on hold with Continental Airlines. Yesterday I flew from Seattle to Newark, and then to Halifax. I had a 45-minute connection in Newark. We took off from Seattle 30 minutes late (no explanation), but made up the time. We landed at 8 PM.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-1154876515282305582006-08-06T08:01:00.000-07:002006-08-06T08:01:55.283-07:00

Jimmy Carter, no dummy, thinks that George Bush's policies have fostered violence. Read more here.

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-1154876029665475652006-08-06T07:43:00.000-07:002006-08-06T07:53:49.673-07:00

No, not Iraq. If you're wondering why Israel attacked Hezbollah, and as a result Lebanon, with such ferocity, I suggest you look at two things:Current EventsAndA little history: In 1967, Syria was still shelling Israeli settlements from the Golan Heights. In 1973, Syria and Eqypt led a surprise attack on Yom Kippur.Can you really expect a country that less than 50 years ago had enemies shelling

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-1154323280029207542006-07-30T22:16:00.000-07:002006-07-30T22:22:50.423-07:00

I caught Floyd Landis' interview on Larry King Live. It confirmed my gut feeling about him - he can be confrontational, and headstrong. Common traits in the sport. But a cheater? I don't think so.He and Lance Armstrong have apparently made up, too. Suddenly Landis understands why Armstrong was so tense for 7 years.Of course, you do wonder just a bit, but if nothing else, this clearly confirms

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-1154195040939100282006-07-29T10:33:00.000-07:002006-07-29T10:52:12.583-07:00

Bush is elected, and we disengage from the Mideast peace process.Iran starts to thaw, under a moderate president.9/11 happens.We invade Iraq, because of 9/11 to stop wmd to spread freedom to fight terrorism to stay the course.Iran drifts back to fundamentalism and anti-Israel, anti-US rhetoric.Hezbollah and Hamas gain new momentum.Hezbollah and Hamas kidnap Israeli soldiers.Israel

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-1154194371663115472006-07-29T10:28:00.000-07:002006-07-29T10:46:11.436-07:00

Dear President Bush,I know you're really busy these days.But since someone walked into the Jewish Federation in my home town yesterday and shot six people after announcing he's 'angry with Israel', do you think you could say a word or two? Maybe just a "That's a bummer", or some other typically pithy remark?Thanks! Appreciate it! Technorati Tag:seattle politics George Bush

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-1154128832146133812006-07-28T16:17:00.000-07:002006-07-28T16:20:32.146-07:00

Some great comments from my last post about Floyd Landis.Wouldn't it make sense to actually, I dunno, verify test results before you take them public?Call me crazy.I dunno...

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-1154050138952571062006-07-27T18:21:00.000-07:002006-07-28T15:59:12.503-07:00

I'm sure you've seen that Floyd Landis is now accused of doping.Sorry. I don't buy it. I don't want to buy it. No one can tell me that this guy was that painfully, unbelievably stupid.I watched him win the Tour of California. I saw him go dutifully to the drug testing van after every stage where he held the yellow jersey.He's never cheated before. Why would he cheat now? Using something as easily

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-1140889938855194462006-02-25T09:50:00.000-08:002006-05-03T21:12:12.266-07:00

We discovered last night that we were booked into a hotel in Redondo Beach, even though today's race finishes in Thousand Oaks. That's a 90-minute drive. So we took the initiative, grabbed rooms at a Best Western, and had a nice treat: Separate rooms, and we were at the hotel by 7 PM. The luxury...

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-1140822165077778042006-02-24T14:56:00.000-08:002006-02-24T15:02:45.093-08:00

Did stage five today, and it went so smoothly that I have nothing fun to report. It was a great, great race. Video and photos worked perfectly, internet was great, and Santa Barbara is just beautiful. I do, however, have some great photos:That's me on the right, then the editor of VeloNews using our Internet access (he gave me a cool vest) and then Tracy doing video.And here are the stars of the

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9570602.post-1140739600058998432006-02-23T15:51:00.000-08:002006-02-23T16:06:40.070-08:00

After making the 3 hour trip from San Jose to San Luis Obispo last night, we stayed at the Madonna Inn. We were originally booked in the Oriental Fantasy suite, but Tracy wanted to stay in the Cave Man Room. We ended up in the Captain's Bridge, which must've been made for a really short captain, because the beds were 6 inches too short and the showerhead just about hit me between the

Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215842331067516399noreply@blogger.com0