Sunday, April 30, 2017

The block by @kendallaj26


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Warming up @whale_antlers


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Friday, April 28, 2017

Prepping for snow


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Loading up


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Thursday, April 27, 2017

Moving more than bits, but certainly bytes


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Lunch chores


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What can I do at the border?

I’m on the Quora list, for some reason, and I haven’t unsubscribed. Today I saw this question in my list: what can I do when treated in a rude manner by US immigration officers? I almost wrote an answer, but stopped. There are some good ones and no reason for me to respond.

However.

I have had some experience here, both in the US and other countries. The worse experience was going to Ireland in the late 80s, with IRA troubles and me stupidly arriving half drunk, early in the morning, with a full, scraggly beard.

The second worst was February of this year, coming home to the US. I’ve related the story to a few close friends, and it was incredibly frustrating, humiliating, and shocking.

I had one friend apologize on behalf of the US. As a citizen, this person was appalled and saddened that I would get searched and asked if I was a US citizen by an officer that had my US passport in his hand.

There was no win for me at that time. Nothing I could do. Even asking for a supervisor or registering a complaint wouldn’t help. They have valid reasons to be concerned of anyone, no one directly said anything about the color of my skin, and they were polite. Even if they’d been less than polite, I had a tight connection and had to just remain calm and obedient through the experience to speed things along.

In many situations like this, there’s little you can do. If a law enforcement officer stops me, I have to live with the situation, obey, and keep calm. I also have to hope he/she doesn’t attack or physically abuse me. Again, I can’t win that battle. I might be able to record, and I am ready to turn on my cell phone video if I ever see a police officer. I won’t hold it or point it, but I’ll have it on.

At the border, that’s illegal. I can’t record, and in fact, I try to keep my phone out of my hand at any border.

It’s hard, I’m seething inside and I’m frustrated. In addition to all of the nonsense the US has experienced in the last year with our election, this was really one of the experiences that has me thinking about retiring outside the US.

I can’t believe that’s the case, and it’s the first time I’ve even considered that in my life. But I am. If the US continues to turn towards the direction quite a few of President Trump’s supporters want it to, I’ll really have to consider leaving.

Sad smile

Big dog enjoying spring


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Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Post recording, at the airport, ready to go home


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The plant and I are tired of recording


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Monday, April 24, 2017

Low low rider


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My view inside the studio


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Ready for work


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Sunday, April 23, 2017

Assistant exterminator


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New job today: prarie dog exterminator


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Hanging with Ross at the Microsoft tech center


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Saturday, April 22, 2017

Using my hands for this explanation


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Watching the keynote in silicon valley before my first talk


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Friday, April 21, 2017

Walking around Mountain View


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Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Slightly happy, slightly sad face


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Afternoon ride


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Sunday, April 16, 2017

Sunday at the ranch


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A Working Weekend

I’m not sure where the days have gone. A few big projects at work, so I ended up sitting down yesterday around 11 and didn’t get up until 5. Crazy. At least I managed to get some things off my plate and one project done.

Today, more work, though some fence fixing in the middle to get outside and do at least 5000 steps.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Stole the kids bike


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Wednesday, April 12, 2017

beautiful Colorado day


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Saturday, April 8, 2017

London train stations are beautiful


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Friday, April 7, 2017

My Scottish soda gift


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Relatively full house


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About to start


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Thursday, April 6, 2017

A nice geek ride outside the conference


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Tuesday, April 4, 2017

I should have brought @kendallaj26 with me


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My mind of place


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Saturday, April 1, 2017

Thanks, London, for not raining during my 5k


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