Asymptomatic

There must be intelligent life down here

Walk Once Around
July 20, 2013
life work job walk

A month or so ago, I took a walk around the neighborhood with Berta, as we often do after dinner when there's still light out and the heat isn't overbearing.  These walks often contain what feels like awkward silence, or rather, they would if I would ever shut up.  For whatever reason, regardless of the breathlessness the pace and incline induces on my completely out-of-shape and asthmatic self, I can't help but take the opportunity to fill the silence with some chatter.  At some point, I'll have to ask Berta if she feels this is my habit and whether she'd rather walk silently, since although she does contribute, I feel like she'd rather just walk with her thoughts unpolluted.

Anyway, it was on this one walk when I found myself resisting the urge to offer the usual rhetorical diarrhea, and instead focused on some of my own internal contemplation.  It was actually a really nice day, I remember.  The temperature was just what you'd want in an early summer evening.  The sky was not cloudless, but full of colorful pink and purple twilight-lit clouds.  No cars on the road and a gentle, comfortable breeze.

Google Maps Quirks
July 16, 2013
Google maps UX

I've been using Google Maps at home to find out how long it would take to get from one place to another before I actually do it.  Route planning is really essential to arriving on time, and planning ahead for traffic, when possible, is a useful way to avoid being late for that important meeting or missing the bobblehead give-away at the ballpark.  But it's with this use of Google Maps that I am frustrated, in part because it could do more, and in part because it seems like some features have been omitted in Google's latest Maps re-build.

My first issue is with a new feature that is actually something I've been longing for on Google Maps for the longest time.  I can now create a "Home" address and a "Work" address that reflect those locations, so I no longer have to enter the addresses for those places instead.  This is so handy, since (let's admit it) when Google knows everything about me already, it seems stupid for them not to use that information to make my life easier.  But it has one quirk that I'm not easily able to figure out.

Your Flat-File "CMS" is not a CMS
June 28, 2013
CMS content management

There are a ton of these things popping up these days, these small-footprint flat-file "CMS" tools, and I'm here to tell you that they are not content management systems.

Yes, they manage content. I suppose. I mean, you could say they manage content by allowing you to organize your own content in some pre-determined file structure, if that's what you mean.  If you consider that "content management".

Fast Accomplishment
June 26, 2013
accomplishment knitting TV fascinating

Watching TV is a fast accomplishment. I can easily be a good TV watcher. I can sit down, watch a show, and be done. I can even have an opinion on what I watched and be an expert. So easy. Watch a season, watch a complete series; accomplished. Nothing like TV for a quick win. Maybe this is why people fall so easily for TV.

I want a quick win that isn't superficial. Brewing beer has been like this for me, I think. It's easy enough to get to success. Mastery is another story, but practice brings it all within reach. It's hard to brew beer all the time, though. Frankly, I'm tired of drinking it all.

Grand Summer Plan
June 25, 2013
summer break kids

The kids are basically home on their own this summer.  Nana is there to keep them out of my hair three days a week, but apart from that, they're on their own to figure out what they're going to do all day, be it outside or playing games indoors.  But this undirected summer "activity" selection more often than not ends up with the kids on the couch staring at the screen, with or without a game controller in hand.

This summer, we wanted to give them something to focus on, maybe attract their attention and learn something.  We wanted to provide them a direction for discovery, and not necessarily some mandatory activities to try to force them to enjoy.  Obviously, there are chores to complete.  And there are some activities that are mandatory for this discovery, but I think we've worked out a good plan.