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Author Archives: Steve
Recent iTunes winner thought it was a prank
We have reality television to thank for the winner’s skepticism. I’m more shocked about making a link to Rolling Stone, the boring old hippie rag that lost its last inkling of musical credibility with its top albums of all time … Continue reading
Posted in Music
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2000: Backfill manager position starts
This story of looking back is way overdue (since February 7th) but since the events surrounding my backfill went on for several months, led to a key friendship, my inevitable transfer to the group I remain with and some painful … Continue reading
Posted in History
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Somara won (another) iPod!
What happened to the first one? I will defer that to Helen because I bought Somara’s first one (from an overtime contest at work last year) and gave it to the Matriarch of the Silder Republic of Potomac. A birthday-Christmas-anniversary … Continue reading
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Ten billion songs
Apple’s iTunes Store achieved this milestone this afternoon. Pretty impressive since the downloadable part of the store was launched less than seven years ago. I’m curious about two things in regards to this achievement: Did the Music Industry traditionally sell … Continue reading
Posted in Music
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Snow Storm 2010 was a bust
Overall I’m happy that the snow the Austin area didn’t stay very long. Somara and I drove into work yesterday around 730 AM. By then the rain was transforming into sleet. Most co-workers arrived on time; no massive calls of … Continue reading
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Old Man Winter will take one more swipe at us
According to the forecast for tomorrow, Central Texas will receive freezing temperatures with a strong possibility of snow and/or freezing rain by 10 AM. How I can’t wait. Not over the conditions making our commute stink. Not over the co-workers … Continue reading
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My bookbag of (with)holding…
…or it’s a broken TARDIS. Over a week ago, I couldn’t find my checkbook. Yeah, checks, quaint in this era of debit/credit cards and online banking yet there’s no other way I will pay the mortgage (Wells Fargo charges for … Continue reading
Posted in D & D
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Star Trek already “answered” this in the Sixties
Physicist William Edelstein and his son Arthur recently published a report on how FTL travel via Warp Speed (Star Trek), KK Drive (Alan Dean Foster’s Commonwealth novels) and Stutterwarp (GDW’s 2300 AD game) would kill the starship’s crew immediately. Other … Continue reading
Posted in Diversions
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1980: Miracle on Ice
How fitting that the US won last night against Canada (5-3) in hockey, the game our northern neighbors practically own at every level (from the NHL down to Mites), on the eve of America’s last Olympic triumph in my opinion. … Continue reading
Posted in History, Hockey
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Happy belated birthday Sheila
I think she gave me the kiss off in an e-mail before my 40th birthday a couple years ago but I didn’t care. Sheila will always be my friend and the door will be open to her until one of … Continue reading
Posted in News
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A car is born!
On a lighter note over the so-called news today, I tried to do a little pun based upon the famous Judy Garland movie. So yesterday Somara received a phone call from Sam, our car salesman. He our customized Honda Fit … Continue reading
Posted in News
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Contrary to the SCLM, we weren’t in danger
As the truth will gradually push out the rumor-mongering fueled by the Punditocracy, Internet and ravenous 24-hour Infotainment our civilization calls “the news,” Somara and I were already at work when this went down. I had a rough idea of … Continue reading
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My teeth and gums are progressing
Yesterday’s cleaning and inspection was great. The worst ratings I had on my gums were fours. Last session in October had a couple of fives (the purple numbers). I had accrued some extra fours but I can live with them … Continue reading
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Oh Admiral Ackbar…
…still getting suckered into those rather obvious traps that even the eight-year-old audience members can see coming.
Posted in Funny Ones
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Happy 60th Birthday Peter Gabriel
For years, the moniker “genius” is overused in the realm of popular music but Peter Gabriel rightfully belongs there on my short list. (You’ll have to bug me directly for the other nine.) While David Bowie is the grandfather of … Continue reading
Posted in Music
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