Well, I’m not too cold. The furnace is working nicely on this day, and bundling up in hat, gloves, boots, and a scarf worked. I think Uma was a bit cold, and wouldn’t stand still for a jacket.
A decent blizzard made driving hard last night. Delaney had a sleepover and I had to get him over there.
Today it’s sunny and the snow is melting quick, even if it’s not warm. We’ll see what happens tonight.
Everyone gone from the house, just me and the animals. They took advantage of me working to chill out today
I had a Sunday.
She was doing some measuring for me,helping get the roof rafters into the structure so they fit the spaces between the joists.
This was after we’d pulled off the roofing on the west and re-aligned the tops of the poles. There was a decent gap, I think from my poles warping slightly in the weather. Once I measured the top front, we found a significant gap.
I was able to tie this back, recut the rafters, and put them back in, getting a good, fairly square top. The other side must have been slightly out of whack as we found that a few pieces of the roofing didn’t quite align, but since I’m covering everything with metal and this was close, I left it.
Apparently I was pretty slow, because Kendall found time to draw while I was going up and down the ladder, moving wood around and getting things screwed together.
My helpful daughter earned some money and made it easier for me to cover everything and we are looking good. Now I just need the metal to arrive.
We need more people like Marc Benioff, willing to act now. A billion dollars is pittance for a government, but an amazing amount of money for a person. It’s more than you can spend in a life, your kids, perhaps even your grandkids. I’d argue that it’s more than one person deserves to spend on themselves or their desires, no matter how they earned it.
We won two of the three games at volleyball last night, somewhat surprising. In 6 or 7 matches, we’ve won just two games, usually losing 3-0 each night, sometimes badly.
Last night was the second time we’ve had just 6 people when I’ve played. Tia wasn’t feeling well, so there were two other couples, me, and another lady. We didn’t do a lot of strategizing before, but did talk about trying to set each other. We ended up with some good back and forth with the other team, though we had 5 or 6 balls fall between people with no one moving. We lost a close one, 21-18 or so, but it was a good game.
I’m not sure if I started calling balls, or someone else, but in the second game we did a better job of talking to each other, calling balls, and ended up playing from slightly behind to go on and win. We had some good put backs, good volleys, and a touch more energy, with some high 5s between points.
It helped the other team had a couple good players, a bunch of marginal ones, and two poor players. Plus with 8 or 9, lots of rotations in and out. I was careful not to serve to the good players, and even had a few good spikes, though they were more like “pushes down” for points.
We played well and won the third game as well, also close. I did have a nice save, running to the side wall and getting the ball back in for a point.
A fun game, and I was surprised when it ended. I hadn’t been watching the score, just enjoying playing. I wouldn’t have cared if we lost since we had some good volleys and plays. Hopefully we can do it again next week.
It started out alright. Up, getting kids to school, coming home, grabbing coffee and starting to get ready to host a webinar. About halfway through I started to get dizzy and saw some spots. Low blood sugar, so I struggled to finish and went to lay down.
I woke up 4 hours later with a headache still. I managed to get downstairs and do a little work, but it’s been a slow day since then, not doing too much.
Hopefully things get back to normal tomorrow.
A somewhat sad subtitle to this piece about the SCOTUS look at affirmative action today. It is amazing to me that this issue, which generates so many feelings, is primarily being argued by a mostly white group of people.
You could say that these white lawyers are the best and were chosen for that reason (non affirmative action). You could say that choosing lawyers color would be a cheap way to make a case or send a message. You could say that’s just the luck of the draw. No matter what happens, entirely too many non-minorities are focusing on this issue. I don’t know how to solve it, but as a person of color, let me say that life for me hasn’t been the same it’s been for white people.
Period.
I don’t quite know how I feel about affirmative action. I do know that our racial makeup in the US (from the Census bureau) is:
If we discriminated against every white person to give a non-white something, we’d be discriminating against 37% of the US. Not an insignificant percentage, but since nothing is absolute, let’s realize that this isn’t as widespread a problem as the lawsuit and discussion seems to allege. The case against women is much worse, especially when they are more than 50% of the population.
In the particular case, there’s an argument that using race instead of taking the top 10% of high school students in Texas public universities (UT in particular, hook ‘em horns) is discrimination. It’s curious that the plaintiff wasn’t discriminated against since she didn’t qualify for admission as a top ten percent student, but to me that’s beside the point. This is a discussion that should be examined.
There is an argument that it’s discrimination against Texas seniors, but that assumes that seniors in particular have had fair options before that. The fact that admissions is a mess anyways, and uses all kinds of subjective criteria, including ten percent by grade, not by skill, is a valid point to make, but I’m not sure it matters in the law.
Personally I think that using race to decide admissions is a poor way of building a diverse student body (or workforce). However I also think that Justice Robert’s comment (“the way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”) is equally short-sighted and naïve if it means that no examination of race should ever be made.
I firmly believe people are racist. Prejudiced and bigoted as well, but race comes into play. Not with everyone, though not everyone that has a “colored friend” ignores race. Plenty of people are racist towards groups, but are fine with individuals. That weird “education/information” issue that solves problems hasn’t quite caught on enough.
I’d like us to have a way to examine and deal with discrimination when it occurs, not assuming we need to prevent it, or that it’s always going to happen. Let’s have some arbitration or easy-to-report/implement way of having review of cases. I’d also like to see colleges be more transparent with their admission process. Disclose notes on what someone was/wasn’t picked, perhaps even only to the applicant, but allow them to appeal the process somehow.
We won’t eliminate discrimination, but we can make things more transparent and deal with the real cases of discrimination without assuming that it will, or won’t, happen as a general rule.
LZ Granderson has a good take on the topic as well.
The book is divided into a number of chapters, each covering the difficulties that humans present for space travel. We are frail, we require maintenance, and a lot of the effort, fuel, and money spent on the space program is to take care of humans.
I found it interesting, learning about a number of things I’d never thought about before. The hassles of food (and crumbs), the effects of gravity or the lack of it. The psychology, religious issues, even the problems of odor. It’s kind of amazing and I can see the challenge.
Every astronaut wants to go back, and most would risk their lives. I thought this described a world full of so many hassles, I’d never want to go to space.
The legs have been sore after my tour around the country and lots of running on cement. I should have done a few treadmill days to be safe, but didn’t.
All the work around the house, volleyball, etc has made them sore. They were cold and stiff this morning and going up the stairs was hard. I definitely need some stretching and some easy days. I had a light run today, slower, and I think I need to continue that for a few weeks.
And get pads for my outside work.
This book was enjoyable, as it continues the journey of Black Jack Geary, this time taking the fleet to explore the limits of the alien territory. After proving that the fleet can match the Enigma race's capabilities, this book starts the journey home for the fleet.
It's interesting, as Jack learns that he's once again caught in the middle of various politics at home, even while out in space. He must deal with multiple alien races, and the challenges of keeping his fleet together and managing all the disparate personalities and desires. His instincts work out and lead him in the right direction, even as he questions himself in the book.
It ends with another cliffhanger, almost like a weekly series on a TV show. Not sure I like that, especially as the next book takes a different direction, looking at the Syndic side of the war.
Delaney brought his cello home Friday, wanting to get some practice in for this week’s concert. I managed to get a little video:
I knocked off a little early yesterday and did some work on the shelter. It’s coming along nicely.
I had planned on putting the plywood up there sideways, and only covering half of the shelter, but I decided to cover it completely, giving a little more shelter and warmth in winter. Plus it should improve structural integrity and a little durability.
The plywood needs to be cut, as every piece is a different shape with the land sloping. I had to put every piece up there and cut it to fit the shape of the roof. I made the measurements as well for ordering metal.
There’s one problem:
The first few pieces I put in had a gap. When I measured the roof, and then base again, I realized that the posts had warped or bent slightly, pulling the SW corner further away at the top of the post. So much for wood being straight, or remaining so.
It’s not a lot, and I could leave it, but it’s bugging me, so I think I’ll pull up this plywood from the roof and tie in the fronts square. It means recutting the joists, but that’s not a big deal. It won’t take that long and I’ll feel better.
Now I need to get to the store and purchase a few more sheets of OSB.
I took the Prius down to get the oil changed/tires rotated this morning and thanks to Tires Plus for fitting me in and getting it done quick this am. My plan was to swing by the Toyota dealership afterwards for a few things.
My height adjustment sensor arm had broken and it seemed like this should be a cheap and easy part. It’s a rubber arm, about 3-4” long that bolts to the sensor and the axle. The dealer doesn’t sell that part. They want $400 for the entire thing.
Pass.
I next asked about the mirror cover for the one that doesn’t work. I paid $40 for an aftermarket mirror and was thinking I’d be able to get a new cover for about that. It’s just a plastic piece. The dealer wants $70 for a new one.
Pass.
Two for two failures, so I didn’t bother to ask about the underbody cover panels.
It’s crazy that the dealer wants so much for parts, especially parts that are available elsewhere. Crazy.
I finally had time to work on the side view mirror on the Prius. I’d whacked it on the garage frame and broken it recently. My project today was replacing the passenger side mirror assembly on our 2007 Toyota Prius.
Not a great photo, but I cracked the glass and chipped the frame. I looked at Toyota and they wanted like $200 for the part. I saw it for about $35 from Partsgeek.com and thought I might be only getting part of the replacement parts, but it was the whole thing.
My first step was to slip the speaker off to get to the bolts. I popped off with a screwdriver and I disconnected it.
Next I used a 10mm socket to loosen the bolts and remove the item. However the wiring was buried inside the door.
A couple of screwdrivers and some muscle let me pull the forward edge of the door trim loose and I could reach inside and undo the clip.
From there I reattached the door trim and screwed the mirror assembly tight. Easy to do.
Now the two half steps back. I must have bent the speaker clips slightly as the top is a little loose. We’ll see as I drive how big a deal that is. The other problem?
I went to get the trim piece on from the old mirror and something was bent by me or not working since it wouldn’t slip on correctly. When I tried to slightly bend out the top clips, which weren’t catching, they broke.
#$%#%@#$
Now I need to order a new part, but since I need a new weight sensor, that’s OK. I’ll go by Toyota this week and get those moving. Hopefully they cost less than the mirror.
Not my favorite thing to do, but fortunately I was about 8-9 feet off the ground today.
I added 3 sheets of plywood, but then I realized Tia had the braces in her truck. I did manage to measure out for metal, so I’ll order that tomorrow.
I also found that the top had pulled a little out of square. I’m guessing the posts moved a touch. Not sure if I should attempt to pull it back, but I know I’d need to recut all the braces and also get a board on the end. Seems almost like more work than I’d like. I think it will be easier to just cut the metal to fit and trim the top boards in a few places.
After volleyball, Kendall and I had a short afternoon together. Lunch, then running food to Delaney, and then ski shopping and Halloween shopping. Lots of fun to spend time with my little girl and chat with her during the day.
Micro is the story of micro-sized organisms and technology, but not what you might expect. It starts with a PI in Hawaii investigating a Nanigen technologies. He appears to be mysteriously attacked, with cuts on his body and flees to his employer. When he and two others are found dead, apparently stabbed in a locked room, it’s a mystery.
Meanwhile we have a group of post-grad research students working in Cambridge at Harvard. They are approached by a venture capitalist who funded Nanigen with the offer of employment, and exciting work in Hawaii. One of the student’s brother is high up in the company, and they decide to go on the trip. As they prepare, the brother is apparently killed in a boating accident in Hawaii.
I was expecting nano-technology, or micro robots, but that’s not what the movie is about. It’s a much different story, and I don’t want to give it away, but it’s rather exciting. Not really plausible or believable, but if you accept the premise, it becomes an amazing look at the micro-sized world of a rain forest in Hawaii mixed with action, adventure, and biology.
I enjoyed it, and while I kept thinking of snags in the technology, I ignored them an enjoyed the story and was surprised at the almost horror movie rate at which people were killed. The ending was a bit cliché, though the route to get there wasn’t. An enjoyable read.
I read a decent amount over the last few months, including a few partially read books I hope to finish. Not sure I’ll get 100 this year, but looks like I should hit 90 with some travel in my future.
This book starts shortly after the end of the Lost Fleet series. Black Jack and his bride are on their way back to the fleet, having been married quickly while they were both captains. Jack is promoted to Admiral again and there’s concern over what the government plans as well as possible rebellion from the fleet.
Soon enough the book goes into the journey back to the alien lands, the concern over the alien capabilities and intentions, as well as some Syndic interactions. There are also the issues with Rionne back on the flagship, Dauntless. It’s an interesting journey, and ends with a cliff hanger. I can’t wait for the next book to be released at a reasonable price.
It’s an interesting novel, told in the first person (for the most part), by the survivor of a particle accelerator experiment gone wrong. We pick up this “mutant” on the run from the “Shop”, which seems like some top secret organization associated with the government, but based in Italy.
As the story unfolds, Gavin found by a former Shop employee, and not sure if can trust her, and also pursued, he believes, by the Shop, we slowly get some background on him and what happened. It comes in fits and spurts, which is slightly annoying as it felt like I was lost for much of the book. I’d have rather a few sections early on that explained what had happened.
The book is basically Gavin investigating the murder of the girl that found him and learning there are multiple groups that could have done it. Along the way we learn just a touch about his powers, and those of the others.
I didn’t love this, and the action was tempered by a feeling of confusion and loss at not having more of a back story. I need to check and see if this is part of a series.
I’m done traveling for three weeks. I got home last night from Boston, at 1am after flying there Sunday morning, running at night, working all day, and then flying home after the event.
It was nice to get home, lay next to my wife in a comfortable and familiar place. It didn’t last that long as I was up at 7 to get kids to school. Back to the routine, at least for the next three weeks.
Yesterday was somewhat quiet, being a holiday, I think our attendance for down for the event. However it was still a thrill to be at Harvard Medical School.
Here was the door, and then the schedule for my talks
It was just an amazing place to be. A nice new building
across from an old one in Boston.
I had a great run there. Not along the Charles since that wasn’t close and time was short, but I did shoot by Fenway Park. I went there about 4 years ago, and it was neat to go back. Glad the Red Sox aren’t playing, but still a thrill for a baseball guy.
The event went well, I caught up with a few friends, and then came home. It was a neat place to speak, and even though my company rented the venue, it still felt a little special to me. The view just before I stated my first talk.
Quite an experience, but glad to be home.
As you might expect it starts in Maine, but not quite as you might think Jake is a teacher who’s just finished the year and has papers to grade. However he’s asked to meet the owner of a local diner, a place that he loves but most people suspect serves questionable meat since it’s so cheap. What he learns is astounding.
The owner leads him into a storeroom as has him shuffle towards a corner, warning him that he’ll be stepping down. He does and finds himself stepping outside in 1958, in the same town. With a set of instructions on a few things to do, he returns to the past to spend an afternoon wandering around a bustling Maine town. When he returns, it’s 2 minutes later in 2011.
It’s an amazing premise. The diner owner is dying, and wants Jake to go back to the past and save Kennedy. He says it’s imperative. Think of all the things that follow Kennedy: his brother, Vietnam, and more. Jake isn’t sure, but he learns that the past can be affected. He decides to try it by going back and living for months, in an effort to prevent the present day’s school janitor from being injured by his father and the rest of the family killed. It works, and he decides to go back and save Kennedy, killing Oswald and most of the book is his life in Texas between 1958 and 1963.
An amazing story. One that made me think and appreciate the past, and one I had to put down some times just to speculate and absorb the story. It was one of my favorite reads of the last few years and I highly recommend it.
Kendall had volleyball this morning, and her team played fantastic. It was a rematch with one of the weaker teams, and we completely dominated, winning all three games going away.
For the most part we had great serving from everyone on our team, including some great ones from Kendall. The other team just couldn’t return them, and the few they did, we played them well. So proud of the girls and their efforts here.
Two games left, then the tournament. Gonna be a fun finish.
That’s how long I’m home for. I landed at 10pm last night and I leave at 10:am tomorrow.
Another quick trip home, but fortunately only a 26 hour trip to Boston and then I’m done for a couple weeks. Looking forward to the break, especially as I can’t sleep in any day this week.
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