Reasonable Ramblings?

Katherine Tate

2008-08-31T22:37:00.000-04:00

Life Explained

2006-11-07T10:28:00.000-05:00

Every month I get an e-newsletter from Russell Martin and Associates about project management. Lou Russell used to speak at my events and I still enjoy corresponding with her from time to time. This quote was included in her latest newsletter and it's a good one to live by. Enjoy!

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin. ~anonymous~

Mashups

2006-04-07T12:47:00.000-04:00

I find this whole mashup thing amazing... Google Maps mashups seem to be the most prevalent.

Dig a Hole is a silly example of a mashup, but who doesn't want to know where they'd end up if they dug a hole straight through the earth? Most of Massachusetts (and perhaps New England) ends up somewhere off the coast of Australia, btw.

The Homes Sold Tool is a mashup built by Fidelity Labs. You can check out what homes in your neighborhood sold for (and when they sold). It's not too much of a stretch to see some pretty sophisticated trending coming out of this mashup as well. More disruption in the real estate industry probably is good for consumers.

This is a cool blog that tracks Google Maps mashups.

Finally, you may be wondering how I got started on this and decided to post? Well, I get a monthly newsletter called TrendWatching and it's got to be one of the best doses of brain candy I get on a regular basis. Check out the most recent issue on infolust.

Why do they make bridges out of grated material?

2006-03-29T17:14:00.000-05:00

I can't even begin to imagine the horror the people on this tour had to endure... We've all heard the story of someone tipping over a porta-potty when some unsuspecting person was in there. This had to be infinitely more shocking. Almost every time I've used a porta-potty there's been alcohol involved, while I'm usually stone sober when I'm on a sightseeing tour. For DMB's sake I hope this isn't true... can you imagine the pain and suffering lawsuits lining up if they (or their bus driver) were in the wrong?

I'm also a big fan of unintentional comedy, although in this case we may have a witty copy editor on the job. Is it me or does the picture they chose to use look like we might have a nasty case of constipation on our hands?

Ok... I think that's my one bathroom-related post for this year. I need to go wash my hands after just writing this...

Workplace Culture

2006-03-17T10:08:00.000-05:00

I found my way to this post this morning by Bradley Horowitz of Yahoo. I'm intrigued by the concept of the Love Machine at Linden Lab and wonder if you need a certain employee profile to avoid having it devolve into a self-serving mechanism for elevating one's popoularity. Creating a feedback loop is an important part of building a solid (and exciting) company - maybe something like this is the answer? I'll noodle on this for a while...

Yankee Wisdom

2006-03-10T09:15:00.000-05:00

Another "ripped from my email" post. I can't wait to put some of these to the test. #17 reminds me of a day from sixth grade. It was the late 70's and when I arrived at class our teacher was a little haggard. He proceeded to set us to work on some math practice (I think), leaned back in his desk chair and put two large slices of cucumber over his eyes and relaxed. I remember a sense that something wasn't quite right, but we left him alone except for the occasional outburst, which he quickly quelled without removing the cucumbers from his face.

Now on to the list...

Sealed envelopes - Put in the freezer for a few hours, and then slide a knife under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed. (Hmmmmm...)
Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.
For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn dishwashing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze. (wish I had known this for the last 40 years!)
Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort...elbow grease that is!
Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt BLUE!) rubbing alcohol on paper towel.
Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads, I immediately take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into halves. After years of having to throw away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally decided that this would be much more economical. And now a box of SO.S pads last me indefinitely! In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get sharpened this way!
Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time! Now, where to put the body?
Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.
Spray a bit of perfume on the lightbulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on.
Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.
Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning. They also don't drip...even if they are the cheap ones!
To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm!
To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop.
Spray your TUPPERWARE with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.
Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces. Left over wine? What's that?! :)
To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.
Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.
Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, and then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.
Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer. Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets; wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China.
Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.
Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).
Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer Tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz....or any....White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, and then run the hot water.

To Mulch or Not to Mulch?

2006-03-07T10:30:00.000-05:00

This entire post comes to you via an email I received from a respected colleague. Based on this release, I tend to doubt this person's assertion that they are trying to get rid of tons of mulch to anyone that will haul it away. But it pays to be informed... FYI...

"If you use mulch around your house be very careful about buying mulch this year. After the Hurricane in New Orleans many trees were blown over. These trees were then turned into mulch and the state is trying to get rid of tons and tons of this mulch to any state or company who will come and haul it away. So it will be showing up in Home Depot and Lowe's at dirt cheap prices with one huge problem; Formosan Termites will be the bonus in many of those bags.

New Orleans is one of the few areas in the country were the Formosan Termites has gotten a strong hold and most of the trees blown down were already badly infested with those termites. Now we may have the worst case of transporting a problem to all parts of the country that we have ever had. These termites can eat a house in no time at all and we have no good control against them, so tell your friends that own homes to avoid cheap mulch and know were it came from."

Experts Warn Against Spreading Termites After Storms
(News Release Distributed 10/12/05)

A scourge of New Orleans and South Louisiana could find its way to other parts of the state and country if people move wood that's infested with Formosan subterranean termites. Experts know the termite was introduced into Ouachita Parish by being transported in infested railroad ties used for landscaping, and they suspect the pest has been introduced into countless homes through re-used architectural wood. Because of the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in across South Louisiana, LSU AgCenter entomologists are warning homeowners not to remove building materials from damaged homes and install them in new structures unless they are absolutely sure no termites are in them. The best way to gain this assurance is through fumigation or heat treating, according to Dr. Dennis Ring, an entomologist with the LSU AgCenter.

To try to prevent moving termites to other areas, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry on Oct. 3 imposed a quarantine for the Formosan subterranean termite in Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes. Ring said the quarantine has three objectives to prevent spreading the Formosan subterranean termite to locations not currently infested, to prevent infesting existing structures that are not currently infested and to prevent infesting new and reconstructed structures." The Formosan subterranean termite may be spread in any infested cellulose, wood, paper or other products," Ring said. He listed railroad ties, utility poles, used structural wood, lumber, pallets, landscape timbers and similar items. The entomologist pointed out the quarantine specifies that all architectural components including beams, doors and salvaged wood cannot be sold or placed in any structure in any parish until they are fumigated or treated for Formosan subterranean termites. "Do not move cellulose from infested areas unless you are sure the material is not infested," Ring emphasized. "Everyone has a responsibility to prevent the spread of the termite."

Experts also warn about re-using wood from damaged buildings unless you can be absolutely sure the wood is termite free. "To determine if material is infested, make a thorough inspection, looking for termites, damaged wood, soil, mud tubes and carton nests," Ring said. Ring said because Formosan subterranean termites build above-ground nests, wood from buildings, trees and shrubs that have been standing in floodwaters may still be infested. In addition, lumber and other woody debris taken from damaged buildings can become termite-infested if left on the ground too long. The entomologist said burying wood is not a good idea because that would supply food for termites, which will then seek new food sources when the buried wood is gone.

The Real Reason for Sport

2006-02-24T17:30:00.000-05:00

Some people consider Olympics the pinnacle of sport, showcasing the finest athletes from around the globe. I'm not sure... I guess it depends on what you think sports are supposed to represent.

I've been watching the Olympics (in so much as I can stay in a bubble in advance of NBC's primetime hatchet-job of the days events) and I'm tiring of all the solo athletes in pursuit of greatness. They all seem so self-involved. One example is Craig Hedrick, the US darling of these games, explaining why he was able to pull out a silver in today's 10,000 meter speedskating final:

"My heart is bigger than anybody else out there,'' Hedrick said. "If another skater had felt like I did today, he wouldn't have been on the podium. That's just me refusing to lose.''

Cool Craig... why don't you go share a root beer float with Shani Davis?

I'm not doubting that there are great storylines coming out of the Olympics, but the majority are not what makes sports so compelling for me. It should be about the development of team, the unselfish pursuit of a dream and the realization of your true potential.

That's why this story almost brought me to tears.

"Jason McElwain, a 17-year-old senior who is autistic and usually sits on the bench in a white shirt and black tie, proceeded to hit six 3-point shots, finished with 20 points and was carried off the court on his teammates' shoulders."

New Audi RS4 Avant

2006-02-24T08:51:00.000-05:00

I'm not currently in the market for a new car, but if I was it would be hard to ignore this one. Can you say Ultimate Ski Car?

The Ultimate Disclaimer

2006-02-23T21:30:00.000-05:00

My in-laws have a house in Key West and until recently it was a quiet corner of the island... then MTV came to town. The Real World/Key West house set up directly across the street. I wasn't "lucky" enough to be down there during filming, but did get a tour shortly after the talent left town. This disclaimer hangs just outside the main gate to the RW house. It's a little scary. If you're ever looking for a template to exploit someone's likeness in "all media throughout the universe in perpetuity", this will give you a head start.

ps.. the series starts on February 28th at 10pm.

Tu Y Yo

2006-02-21T10:54:00.000-05:00

Jen and I went to Tu Y Yo on Sunday night and had a great experience/dinner.

We arrived at 7:30 with no res and were seated immediately (the only remaining booth). We ordered traditional sangria (which was great) and a special beer drink that had salt, pepper, lime and hot sauce (not very good imo, but I had to try it. it was like having a carbonated bloody mary - strange).

We ordered the tamales app (very tasty - we both would have ordered this again, although the coconut wasn't our favorite - the pork was) and the stuffed jalapenos (they were delicious. i've always wondered what authentic stuffed japapenos were like, the standard bar food just seems like an exceedingly cheap imitation. this dish reminded us of a tapas experience in barcelona, where we had a dish of fried local peppers. some are hotter than others and eating them is a sort of gastronomic russian roulette. the same occured with these peppers - three of the four were mild... the four knocked our socks off).

We ordered two main dishes shredded pork and shredded chicken. Both were delicious, but very different in the way they were spiced. They both came with rice (two shades - yellow [??] and green [tomatillo]), black beans (very mellow and good complement to the dish) and hot corn tortillas. The portions were large - we probably should have had leftovers, but ended up eating too much since it was so good. They brought three tortillas with the dishes and refreshed it upon request (nicer to have warm tortillas than have them drop six with the plates).

Mexican coffee (coffee flavored with chocolate, orange peel, raisins and spices) was good, but not something I'd write home about (am I doing that now?). The flan with the cinnamon cream was very good - I'll save more room for it next time.

The service was very good. We never wanted for anything. We never felt rushed, in fact our waitress was very good about patiently explaining/recommending numerous dishes (even while holding several plates in a free hand). I highly recommend Tu Y Yo for a nice night out for traditional mexican.

ps.. If you go on a Sunday, the salsa dancing at Johnny D's is a good way to work off the meal. ;-)

Walk in the Woods

2006-02-17T08:30:00.000-05:00

My grandmother Evelyn (on the left, with my dad and Aunt Libby, on the camp porch in Island Pond) was a "woman of the woods." Growing up in northern Vermont (Montgomery) and spending spring, summer, fall in Island Pond, she took special pride in tending to her woods. As a child I remember walking with her in the woods of Island Pond, taking time to check out beautiful forest flowers and little animals. Of course, we also collected downed branches to help keep her woods clean. The paths that wound around the wooded hillside in IP were a sight to behold.

She died last winter. In sorting through her treasures we continue to be amazed by her commitment to Vermont in general and the woods in particular. What follows is a article we found among her belongings... something she felt compelled to clip out and save. I think it speaks to who she was and why the woods is something to cherish. Take time out from your busy day to enjoy the woods for what it is and what (we hope) it will always be...

New England Notebook
By Haydn S. Pearson

To the unfortunate who is literal-minded and whose approach to Nature is prosaic and practical, a woodland is only a natural resource to be calculated in board feet. Such persons miss much, although many of them are doing their full share to win a great battle in this nation. Since early days of the colonial era, there have been voices crying that we must conserve our forests and soil as a heritage for generations to come. Little by little, year by year we are learning to treat our woodlands as a continuing crop; year by year we are replanting ravaged areas and bringing trees back to steep slopes and thin-soiled fields and hillsides.

This is the time of year when a quiet woodland can offer solace and uplift to the human heart. The leaf canopy is deep green and summer shadows cover the forest floor. Leaves are still fresh and glowing: time and heat have not drained their beauty. He who delights in a woodland has favorite spots to which he goes. Blue and gold day, soft, cloudy hours, or during a gentle rain, one can refresh the heart and refill the reservoir of the soul among steadfast and friendly trees.

Sit quietly for a time in the woodland. Soon the life of the woods goes again on its appointer rounds. Vireos and rose-breasted grosbeaks sing their June music; small rustlings among dense shrubs tell of woodland lives moving in their habitat. Reach down beside you and feel in the surface carpet of dried, faded, brittle leaves; beneath the upper covering there is black, rich, and mellow humus, the primal stuff of our Earth, a bank which pays perpetual dividends on food for plants and animals. Inhale the aroma of the woodland-a pungent, satisfying fragrance that tells of making humus. One woodland hour can be an experience in which the frustrations and tension of the marketplace fade away and a man regains a glimpse of the meaning of life.

John Butler Trio - Coming Back to Town

2006-02-13T09:44:00.000-05:00

Just quick not to give everyone a heads up that JBT is back in town in April. It's a GA show at Avalon on a Sunday night. If you've never heard JBT you're in for a treat. Here's the link (login with password "johnbutlertrio").

FYI... The Red Sox play an afternoon game in Baltimore that day, so the Fenway area should be relatively quiet.

Always Stretch Before Running

2006-02-08T17:39:00.000-05:00

Ok - we moved. We moved and then packed the whole family up and went to Florida for the holidays. And then I caught a cold. Not just a wimpy, one box of tissues cold... this was a full on head cold that lasted for a full two weeks and drove me to invest in Kimberly-Clark. And then it lingered for another few days, not sure if it really wanted to exit my body. So, that's why I titled this one the way I did... this post is all about stretching. I'm not promising daily posts or anything crazy like that, but we'll see where this takes us.

So in the spirit of stretching I'd like to share a link to an article I found while surfing the internet. (In fact I typed curmudgeon into Google to confirm I was spelling it correctly and then got sidetracked into looking at something that looked interesting, The Curmudgeon's Home Companion. Anything with a name like that must be good, eh?... back to the point). I found this a great diversion and right on point. Getting stupid a few times every year should be mandatory. Maybe more than a few times for some people.

Anyhow, not much more right now. I'll see about getting (and staying off) the dinosaur listing.

I'm going home to open a bottle of wine.

Olive Musica

2005-11-16T17:23:00.000-05:00

I just read an interesting NY Times article about the Olive Musica. For fans of digital music this seems like a godsend. I component that stores all your digital media and distributes it via a wifi network. The integration sounds too good to be true - we'll see. As an iTunes user it's a bit disturbing that it won't play songs purchased from the iTunes Music Store (just another example of how the music industry in general continues to betray consumers, inmho).

In any event, this seems like a neat addition to any home audio setup. I may into it next year.

Mohegan Sun

2005-11-07T13:56:00.000-05:00

A big group of us went to Mohegan Sun on Saturday to celebrate my brother's 40th birthday. Good fun. I'd never been to Mohegan Sun before and was pleasantly surprised. We all had a good time donating money to a native american tribe. So why am I posting? I always find it disturbing to watch people playing the slot machines and this weekend was no exception. This mind-numbing activity takes little more than a tap of a finger to play and it's exceedingly random. It's only mildly more challenging than watching Oprah on a television. Brilliant!

Flock

2005-10-21T14:08:00.000-04:00

So I'm trying out a new browser today called Flock... I'm going to keep this post short since I'm posting right out of the Flock browser. Cool...

H5N1

2005-10-19T11:11:00.000-04:00

We've been hearing a lot about the Avian Flu or H5N1 virus in recent weeks. Talk of a pandemic sweeping the globe is all the rage. Scary as it sounds, we need to keep a level head amidst the hysteria. A recent Washington Post article puts it all in perspective.

SARS was scary for a bit a few years ago and apparently there was a swine flu craze in the 1970's that never really panned out, killing many more people from innoculations than the actual flu.

Stay cool, wash your hands and try not to swap too much spit this winter.

Watered Down Wine?

2005-10-07T09:40:00.000-04:00

Here's a great article about the practice of adding excess water to California wines during the fermentation process. It sounds like the industry is a little annoyed at the Economist for even bringing it up. Personally, I'd like to try a cabernet that's 24% alcohol, but I've never been accused of being an oenophile. Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: wine, california

John Butler Trio and Live Music in General

2005-10-05T11:52:00.000-04:00

We went to see John Butler Trio the other night at the Somerville Theater. It was a great show - kind of a mix between Rusted Root, Midnight Oil and Phish, but a pretty original sound. He mentioned a return to the area in Feb/March 2006 - get tickets if you like any of the above bands... you can thank me later.

We enjoyed beer and a BBQ dinner at Redbones before the show. Not the best BBQ on the planet, but certainly worth the visit. The beef brisket was to die for on this trip and the spicy corn relish almost killed the three of us that tried it... we ordered milk to kill the inedible heat. The "beer wheel" in the bar keeps me coming back - spin the wheel and get one of the 20+ beers they have on tap. Good times.

The whole experience reminded me of how important it is to get out and support live music... on several levels. Supporting young artists and seeing them in small venues is something I really enjoy. We saw the Rolling Stones at Fenway this summer (another experience altogether) and it's just not the same. I prefer seeing the lesser know, up and coming artist in a small, intimate location (the Stones were an experience, but you get the point).

I also realized how living in the "burbs" and having children has impacted my consumption of live music. Getting a sitter for seven hours adds a significant "surcharge" on top of the ticket prices and keeping in touch with what's happening in the city isn't something I've been doing a very good job of... but the internet makes it easier.

So I just bought tickets to G Love and Special Sauce at the Orpheum in November. Whether this is a long term fix and I continue seeing live music remains to be seen... I hope so.

Honest Boss

2005-09-27T09:56:00.000-04:00

Am I the only one who hears someone in particular when this character is speaking?

I Hope You Dance This Summer

2005-07-14T22:43:00.000-04:00

I picked up this story from a friend's online newsletter. It's just a reality check for all of us that are working too hard for tomorrow, not always thinking about what we want to do today... I'm going to eat some barbequed ribs this weekend!

From an 83 year old woman to her friend - I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time working. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first Amaryllis blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties, but wearing it for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank. "Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.

I'm not sure what others would've done had they known they wouldn't be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted. I think they would have called family members and a few close friends. They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner or for whatever their favorite food was. I'm guessing; I'll never know.

It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited.Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and parents often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special.

Letter to Bill Simmons

2005-07-13T23:54:00.000-04:00

Here's a recent email I sent to Bill Simmons (ESPN.com) after reading that he's on 20 year quest to find the perfect BBQ rib.

It's also my recipe/methodology for the perfect BBQ ribs - enjoy!

-----

Hey Bill - In your last mailbag you mentioned that you're on a 20 year odyssey to find the perfect bbq ribs - look no further. If you're even barely capable around a grill (gas or charcoal), I can coach you through the process of cooking ribs that might end your quest. Here you go:

Buy a couple racks of baby back ribs. The night before you want to cook them, mix together the following in a bowl:

2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons cumin
2 tablespoons black pepper
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
4 tablespoons paprika

Cover the ribs (front and back) with the rub. Don't be a wimp - lay it on there. Cover them in the refrigerator overnight.

The next day, about six hours before you want to eat, start up the grill. Once it's hot, turn down the burners (or move the coals to one side) and put the ribs on the grill... this in the important part... but not over coals or direct flame. Ideally, you want the grill to be between 200-225 F for the total cook time. If you want to get fancy, put a foil pan with water and leftover spices over the fire.

Over the next 6 hours just make sure the temperature doesn't get too hot and ribs aren't getting over-cooked.

Once they're pulling off the bone, take them off the grill and let them "rest" for 5 minutes, cut them up and enjoy with your favorite cold beer (PBR tall boys are my recommendation).
If this is a little much for you, give me advance notice when you're planning to come back to Boston and I'll make you a couple racks... If they're good enough to slow (or end) your quest, I'll take a pair of monster seats - that's got to be a fair trade.

Happy cooking!

JSR 168, WSRP, Portlets & Enterprise Portal

2005-07-01T11:43:00.000-04:00

JSR 168, WSRP, Portlets & Enterprise Portal

NH Gets the EZ Pass

2005-06-20T12:54:00.000-04:00

This is long overdue, but better late than never. Hopefully it will help ease traffic headed north for summer weekends.

The full info is below - here are the highlights :

1. Devices ordered today will arrive in mid-July.
2. Hookset is expected to be online first - again, in mid-July.
3. Discount for NH E-Z Pass Accounts will be 30% (vs 50% for tokens).
4. MA Fast Lane Accounts will work, but no discount will be given.

Bottom Line: I've ordered NH EZ Pass transponders for both our cars, but will probably continue to use tokens in non-traffic conditions.

------------------------
On June 2, 2005, a resolution to move forward with the implementation of E-ZPass was approved by Governor John Lynch and the Executive Council.

No transponders will be distributed from the walk-in centers during the initial enrollment period. All transponders purchased will be mailed to customers between the first and second week of July. The activation of the E-ZPass electronic tolling on the New Hampshire Turnpike System is expected to be phased in over several weeks, beginning with the Hooksett Tolls in mid-July. Under New Hampshire’s E-ZPass program, private accounts will receive a 30% discount with each toll transaction.

The highlights of the approved resolution are as follows:

Transponders (both private and commercial) will be sold for $5.00 each until May 1, 2006. The cost for transponders after May 1, 2006 will be at the wholesale price to the State.
There will be no monthly account maintenance fee.
Monthly statements will be available via the internet for free or to receive home or business mailings at a cost of $1.00 per month for private accounts and $2.00 per month for commercial accounts.
The discount rate for private NH E-ZPass accounts (4 transponders or less) has been set at 30%.
The discount rate for commercial NH E-ZPass accounts (5 transponders or more) has been set at 10%.
Only NH E-ZPass accounts with NH transponders will receive a discount when the E-ZPass system is used for toll fare payment at NH toll plazas.
E-ZPass Transponders from other states (Maine, Fast Lane (MA), NY etc.) will work at NH toll plazas when the system is deployed.
NH Turnpike tokens will continue to be sold and accepted for toll fare payment until July 1, 2007.
The token discount will remain at 50%.
E-ZPass is a prepaid system.
Private accounts, with one to two transponders on the account, will require an initial toll revenue deposit of $30.00.
Private accounts, with three to four transponders on the account, will require an initial toll revenue deposit of $60.00.
Commercial accounts (5 or more transponders) will require an initial prepaid toll revenue deposit of $75.00 per transponder on the account.

It is anticipated that on June 20, 2005, customers will be able to open E-ZPass accounts via the internet, phone, fax or local NH walk-in centers located in Hooksett, Nashua and Seabrook, NH.

http://www.nh.gov/dot/turnpikes/ezpass.htm

and

http://www.ezpassnh.com/static/faq/index.shtml

80's Wish List

2005-06-08T21:53:00.000-04:00

I was born in the 60's, grew up in the 70's, but I'm really a product of the 80's when it comes to music. Don't get me wrong, I love music from earlier (Grateful Dead, Eric Clapton, etc.) and later (Rusted Root, DMB, etc.), but music from the 80's really brings me back.

My iPod has given me new ways to capture, store and listen to 80's music. I listen to iTunes radio at work, keep track of songs I like but don't own and then download them onto my machine at home in the evening. The problem is iTunes doesn't have them all in their library. Here's my current wish list of 80's tunes (some are from the last couple of days and I haven't checked for them on iTunes yet):

The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star
Timbuk 3 - The Future's So Bright (I've Got to Wear Shades)
Vanity 6 - Nasty Girls
Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl
Slade - Run, Runaway
Nails - 88 Lines about 44 Women
Almost Famous Soundtrack
Wall of Voodoo - Mexican Radio
Duran Duran - My Own Way (Night Version)
Polecats - Make a Circuit with Me
Taco - Puttin on the Ritz
Hall and Oats - You Make My Dreams Come True
Pete Townsend - Let My Love Open the Door
Pat Benatar - Innocence
The Vapors - Turning Japanese
When in Rome - The Promise
Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy

I imagine I could look elsewhere (Napster, et al), but it just isn't as easy as iTunes.

(8/20 update: Thanks to Matt S for helping trim this list a lot!)

Road Rally Posting

2005-06-01T00:04:00.000-04:00

I'm posting a lot over on my Road Rally 2005 blog and adding descriptions to photos on Flickr. Check them out the see what you're missing.

Viral Video

2005-05-11T21:25:00.000-04:00

Every so often someone sends me a cute video clip that's making the rounds on the email servers of the globe. Most of the time I delete them before viewing, but sometimes I'm in the mood for a quick pick-me-up. Now I can delete them all... Viral Video is short, cute videos on demand.

Which one is your favorite?

Road Rally Central

2005-04-27T21:46:00.000-04:00

Hey folks - Time to start planning for the end of the summer bash in Island Pond.

First of all the date: August 26-28, 2005

The Rally starts at 12 noon somewhere in NH. Last year we started at the Anheuser-Busch plant in Merrimac - great spot! Hmmmm... we'll see. Please take time on the eVite to indicate whether or not you'll enter a team in the Road Rally... it really helps with the planning. In the future I'll attach the 2004 rally documents for rookies wondering what it's all about.

If you're not planning to Rally and can come up early on Friday (or Thursday for the real slackers), your help is appreciated. Please let us know your availability in the "Comments" section.

As always you're welcome to hang around on Sunday night and well into Monday if time allows.

Here's a link to some photos from past weekends. I'll add to it throughout the spring/summer. Please send me photos and/or links to photos to include in future updates.

We're looking forward to having a good group up for a great weekend!

States

2005-04-27T17:37:00.000-04:00

This is an interesting little ditty... Thanks to David for finding/sharing.

bold the states you've been to, underline the states you've lived in and italicize the state you're in now...

Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C. /

Go HERE to have a form generate the HTML for you.

Tom Tom

2005-04-26T16:42:00.000-04:00

We just returned from a week in Key West. The weather was ok - warm and windy - not the best boating weather, but we did get out to Snipe Point for some wonderful swimming with the kids.

We rented a car from Hertz and had the onboard navigation (NeverLost by Magellan). Very cool. I'd never used a nav system and found it very useful. For the navigationally challenged (my wife) it's very nice to have. So I'm doing some research and considering a future birthday present. Has anyone out there had experience with after market in-car gps systems (not factory installed)?

I'm currently looking closely at Tom Tom and looking forward to their upcoming release on the TT 700. We'll see...

Opening Day

2005-04-25T22:03:00.000-04:00

I went to opening day at Fenway Park earlier this month... what a time! I have a 1/8 share of season tickets and was the lucky one to get this game.

The ring ceremony was cool, especially when long time Red Sox player Johnny Pesky was given a ring. Still gives me shivers just thinking about it.

The Yankee intros were amazing too; check out the video called Yankee Introductions and ffwd to the 2:25 minute mark for Randy Johnson and Mariano Rivera. I have even more respect for MR after seeing the way he handled the situation. All class.

On a related note... this graphic gives a breakdown of the cost for four to go to a baseball game - all the way from the Single A Lowell Spinners on up to the Red Sox at Fenway. I'm feeling poor all of a sudden.

Tivo

2005-03-30T20:55:00.000-05:00

I got a Tivo box just before my first daughter was born over three years ago. I'm such a huge fan that friends and co-workers got tired of hearing me talk about it. Now they have Comcast DVRs and understand my passion. I just found a blog on the topic and thought I'd share.

RSS Feeds

2005-03-25T13:30:00.000-05:00

I've been playing around with RSS feeds at work recently and came across a neat tool that converts any xml feed into javascript. For a non-techie like me it was a real find.

The Fish Story

2005-03-24T21:45:00.000-05:00

This is a photo of my great grandmother and her 2nd husband on the shore of Lake Champlain. My aunt just sent along the text from a letter she found from my great grandmother to my grandfather recounting the events leading up to this picture. It's an interesting tale and gives insight into the life and times in the late 1940's in rural Vermont. Enjoy!
----
St. Albans, VT R.F.D. 3
Sunday Aug 28,1949

Hi Dick,
Now don’t get excited for it’s just your Mother-in-law by marriage, that’s taken pencil in hand to write you a few lines-(couldn’t take pen because there’s no ink).

Well I have a long story to tell you and you will no doubt tire out before you get through it, but you can let your wife take over if you do. When I tell you it’s a fish story you will be interested I am sure.

We thought we would go out fishing Monday morning. After sitting all the forenoon most I got - about five small perch, and my bus driver pal got a couple, just as we were coming in we met the McGreggs who are camping around the point in Dr. Howard’s camp for their three week vacation. (Ed’s son-in-law) They came over here and brought their fish to dress them. The oldest girl had caught 3 nice bull pout and they had a dozen nice perch, had only been out a couple of hours.

We decided to go out again that night. I got 9 better perch and Ed 5. So you see I beat him all day. It was getting quite dark so we decided to come in; I started reeling in one line and the other pole started across the boat. It was just going out the back of the boat when I grabbed it and threw the one I was reeling in down in the back.

I had some time trying to get the line up where I could start pulling it in. As soon as I had enough line in my possession so I could, I gave the pole a fling and it seems I threw it out in the lake on the other side, I could not reel what ever I had in. It felt like I had hooked into a bag of grain, didn’t give any fight at all. I pulled and pulled. Ed sat there with his eyes bulging out. He says you better let me take over a while. So he pulled a while. He was standing up in the boat and I expected the line would break and he would go nar in the lake. I got the net ready which we happened to take with us that time. Finally the thing came up and dove into the net headfirst. Ed grabbed it with both hands and pulled it over board. He and the thing were both tired out. It was so dark it was hard to see what it was. I kept it wrapped up in the net and both feet on it, so how could it move? But it gave a couple of lunges.

When we got to shore they were having a card party at Jarvis’. Ed says Vick, come out here and see what kind of an animal we have got here. They flocked out by the dozens to see it. We brought it up on the front walk and turned on the light out side. About 25 came by and stopped that night and they all decided it was a catfish. It weighed 25 lbs. and measured 9 inches across the front of the head and was 36 inches long. Ed hitched a long rope to it and tied it to the dock. It lived 3 days out there.

Well that news traveled like a forest fire. People came by carloads from far and near to see it. Ed kept his boots on for 2 days bringing it in to show it. He said he had it well halter broken. As soon as Ruben, that’s the fish, heard him coming in the water, it would start swimming to shore, to have it’s picture taken and be looked up on.

A newspaperman and his wife came down. She with pad and pencil, he with a camera, wanted a picture out of water. I said just a minute, I’ll ask the boys at the next camp to come over and hold it up. He said No we want your picture with it. I didn’t like that very well you know. I said I guess this man will have to help me hold it. So here we are.

We buried Ruben out in the pasture with Golden rod and weeds, people say they are very good eating – he looks ? was enough for me. Now I will let you go and take a couple of aspirins and a rest,- and if you have any better fish stories lets hear them. Love Ma

Dear Evelyn- will add just a line I heard this morning they had found Clara Parker dead in her home. She was 80 years old I believe, this is all I heard. Madeline is camping a couple days a few camps over. So I went over and told her this morning. She had not heard.

Your spoon came this week I will try and get a box packed and sent next week The sacks and furniture polish and spoon and have a few more cupons too.

Some friends drove me up to Enosburg a couple weeks ago. When we arrived the steps were full of kids. Fern and Edith and June and her baby were there, it seems Fern was having a party for Peter’s Birthday and had come down after the Coynes and June came along and held them up so I arrived in time to get loaded in too. In 5 min. more they would be gone and I would have missed out on it. Ray came up and got us so I stayed a couple days and made her a batch of Mustard Pickles. Mike and Brian stayed on the farm a couple days. Ed came up after me and stayed for supper. We brought Shelia Rae home with us on Wed. and she stayed till Sat. It was cold and windy so she could not go in bathing but she played with the Mc Gregg’s kids. I had them over to lunch one day and we took them all up to Fielding’s for groceries. Ed got them some bubble gum, candy and grapes. Then she went over to their camp and they took them all up street and got some more candy. I hope she had a good time but I don’t know as she did. Probably will hear.

Well I must close and go to bed. Ed has gone out after night crawlers. We have had a beautiful rain this evening. Hope every one is well and not parched with the heat. Be sure and wash all vegetables and fruit to help prevent Polio, Dr Howard says. Love to Ruth and Kalc and all the Clarks. Ma

Bees Knees

2005-03-10T23:45:00.000-05:00

My grandmother took a tumble last week and landed in a hospital in northern Vermont. My brother David and I drove up early on Sunday morning to spend some time with her. We arrived in Stowe at ~8:00 am and soon after began the drive to Morrisville and the hospital.

It's never easy seeing a loved one in a hospital bed, but it was nice to see and talk with her. She seemed in good spirits and soon nodded off to catch up on much needed sleep.

It was after noon and we were starting to get hungry, so we followed my sister Amy (a local) to a place she'd heard about but hadn't yet tried out. It's called Bees Knees and it's located right in the heart of Morrisville.

We couldn't have been happier with her choice. It's an inviting oasis in the middle of nowhere (ok, maybe not nowhere, but a picture of Morrisville can be found in the dictionary next to the phrase "sleepy Vermont town").

We had a great lunch and then sank into their comfy chairs, listening to eclectic music softly wafting from the rafters. To the delight of the owners I'm sure, both David and I found ourselves nodding off (no doubt from a combination of food coma and sleep deprivation).

The bottom line? If you're ever in the area give them a look. It felt like a home away from home.

We watched the end of a Red Sox pre-season game with my grandmother and then made the long trip back to Massachusetts. She's since had a pin put in her hip and is on the long road to recovery. If you read this send some good karma her way... she could use it right now.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

2005-03-07T23:00:00.000-05:00

I was giving my two daughters a bath tonight when the one-year old begins checking out her belly button. The three-year old starts doing the same. It doesn't take long for them to ask to see mine.

[Sidebar: I've lost 20 pounds over the last eight months and though no one would call me "skinny", I have a lot less there than I used to. ]

Well, I pulled up my tshirt to give them a look. After they each took a look and stuck a finger in there, my three year old came up with this gem...

"Echo... echo..."

She completely deadpanned the comment and then burst out in a long string of belly laughs. Gotta love it.

Ginger Dressing

2005-03-02T21:04:00.000-05:00

My wife is a huge fan of the ginger dressing you get on green salads at Japanese restaurants, so I took it as a personal challenge to either duplicate it in the kitchen or find it on a store shelf. My cousin Alexandra brewed a good batch last year, but she doesn't seem to be keeping up with demand. I found an import from Japen that scores an "8" on a scale of 1-10.

Last week, during a seemingly innocuous trip to Stop & Shop for milk, eggs, etc., I struck gold! Makoto Ginger Dressing is the real deal. Full of real onions and ginger and just the right amount of soy. If you thought you were lost in your quest for the real ginger dressing, look no further.

Enjoy!

Trip to Vermont

2005-02-22T21:22:00.000-05:00

I went snowboarding this weekend in Vermont with my brother David and friends Barry and Todd. We all piled into my Volvo station wagon Saturday morning and all I can say is thank goodness for the Thule box on the roof. We were able to get all our boards, skis, and some of our gear up there, leaving plenty of room for four grown men to ride in relative comfort. We went to Jay Peak which, if you've never been, is well worth the trip.

Some observations from the weekend (in no particular order):

One can never have enough Fritos on a long road trip.
Never underestimate the importance of Foosball.
Men, left to their own devices, are usually up to no good. Harmless, but still...
Ice fishing is alive and well in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont (especially on Lake Seymour).
Despite conventional wisdom, it's still possible to enjoy a ski mountain without keeping in constant contact with everyone in your party via remote radios.
Driving in a snowstorm is inherently more dangerous if you're in an SUV with NY plates.
Given enough alcohol and proper outside temperatures it's possible to move a Foosball table over 100 yards, in one foot of snow, and into a house without breaking a sweat.
Liquids with names like Hot Damn and Barenjaeger are better left alone.
When a driver brings up the topic of "chine walking" during a road trip over snowy roads it doesn't instill confidence in his passengers.
The current incarnation of NASCAR is offensive to old school NASCAR fans.
Watching the 4th quarter of a classic Celtics/Sixers playoff game (#7 of the 1981 Eastern Conference Finals) from the comfort of one's couch is a great way to wind down after a long drive.

That's it for now. I'll post more as they bubble to the surface. Photos to follow.

Road Rally Revisited

2005-02-17T21:58:00.000-05:00

Well, we've rented the lakeside cottage for the week of August 27th - September 3rd, so it's official! The 2005 Pond Party/Road Rally will commence on the morning of August 26th (location tbd) and run straight through the weekend into the next week. For those of you unfamiliar with the tradition, I'll post some photos to give you the flavor of the weekend. For those of you who have never stayed through the weekend into Monday, consider it this year. Sunday night is especially peaceful.

I've been watching the latest installment of The Amazing Race and have been thinking of how I can implement some of their elements in the 2005 version of our "amazing race." It really annoys me when all the teams hit an unrealistic "hours of operation" that dissolves any lead a team may have had, so we won't have that in there. But I did like the episode when they had to eat 60 ounces of very spicy soup! Stay tuned.

Ninety Birthdays

2005-02-14T22:05:00.000-05:00

We spent last weekend in Stowe, VT with extended family celebrating my grandmother's 90th birthday. It was nice to see cousins, 2nd cousins, etc. I hadn't seen for a while. It was also a bit strange. I was so close to some of them growing up and now we have very different lives, locations, etc. Despite all the advances in technology and the ability to communicate over long distances, there's still no substitute for good old face-to-face communication. It was nice to re-connect and I hope it helps us all renew our commitment to stay in touch. Maybe this blog will help?

With help from my mom and aunt, I scanned a bunch of old photos of my grandmother and our extended family and put them together in a slide show for the party. I used my iPod Photo to drive the slideshow and it worked incredibly well! There were 162 photos in the collection and I had them scrolling through one each 20 seconds. The coolest part of the iPod was that I was able to combine the photos with a playlist from my music library I created the night before. We listened to Billie Holiday during the really old photos, early Beatles in the sixties and some grooving disco during the 70's shots. Click on any of the photos or the Flickr link to see/download the photos. Feel free to add comments, tags, etc.

Road Rally/Pond Party 2005

2005-02-11T00:03:00.000-05:00

We're looking at dates for the summer gathering in Island Pond... right now we're floating August 26-28, 2005. What do you think?

Foo Camp

2005-01-29T14:38:00.000-05:00

I've had the opportunity to begin working with David Weinberger - we're hoping to have him present at our events this year - and read about Foo Camp as a result of some preliminary investigation into his writings. I don't suspect I'll be invited to Foo anytime soon, but like the concept and wonder if others should do the same around other topics?

Coast2Coast

2005-01-29T14:18:00.000-05:00

I just finished up reading a very entertaining account of a coast to coast summer trip. My cousin Tricia, her husband Geoff, son Liam and daughter Elsa hopped in a 1975 VW camper and set out from Victoria, BC this past summer. We were lucky to see them mid-way in Island Pond, VT and were truly envious of their "ride", despite the issues they encountered on the road. Enjoy!

New England Patriots Football

2005-01-20T21:15:00.000-05:00

So I got a chance to go to the Patriots/Colts playoff game this past weekend. It was both my first professional football game and first time in Gillette Stadium. Not a bad way to start!

There were six of us and it was a cold one. We had a good time staying warm by the fire, grill and with the help of our friends from the Shipyard Brewing Company. We tailgated for about three hours, the snow started and then we found our seats... in the club section on the 40 yard line!

Some called it the best game the Patriots have played this year, others the potential defining game of a dynasty. Bill Simmons from ESPN's page 2 does a good job of summarizing the game in this article. Was anyone else out there at the game? Any stories?

Storage Tips

2005-01-14T11:10:00.000-05:00

While storing glue in the fridge may be a good idea, take care in selecting it or other items in haste.

Shedding the Dinosaur Image?

2005-01-13T22:04:00.000-05:00

Apparently this blog has been deemed a "dinosaur" by the powers that blog... sorry, life got in the way. I'll get the hang of this and eventually post regularly, but for the meantime I'll likely go in fits and starts.

We spent the holidays in Key West, just soaking up the sun (and wind) and enjoying the sights and sounds of Duval Street. The kids kept us running and we didn't go out on New Years Eve (lame), but we had a great time away from the snow and cold in New England.

I did find time to read while in Florida, which was nice for a change. I read Fast Food Nation several years ago and have had The Jungle on my list ever since. I finally picked it and up and finished it mid way through the trip. I realize it's a novel of sorts, but what a story! Not for the faint of heart and likely a bit extreme, but a good depiction of turn-of-the-century Chicago just the same. I also started Faithful, the story of the 2004 Red Sox season. I'm nearly to the point where Varitek suggests ARod should eat his Rawlings - the accepted turning point in the season - so it should start to pick up. (note: I absolutely love the fact that it turns out ARod is the Rawlings cover boy).

One more thought... I'm researching motivational speakers as part of my job and came across David Weinberger. Interesting fellow. If you have even a mild interest in the internet and haven't heard of the cluetrain manifesto, take a look.

Good night...

Notes from the Road

2004-12-20T21:09:00.000-05:00

Hi there - A friend just pointed me in the direction of a cool web site called Notes from the Road. The depth of the writing and beautiful photos make this site a very interesting diversion. In particular, I really enjoyed the entry called A Pomeranian Feast. Cheers!

Christmas Cards

2004-12-09T20:37:00.000-05:00

My wife and I spent close to two hours last night putting together our holiday cards. What an endeavor! We purchased photo cards from Shutterfly and wrote an letter summarizing our year with the girls to include in the envelope. Imagine our surprise when we found that the envelopes supplied with the photo cards were just about 8 1/4 inches wide! So, we added a step in the process and I started trimming 100 letters with scissors.

During the trimming, my mind wandered and I wondered aloud whether Hallmark has lost significant market share in the holiday card business? Does anyone know? The whole photo card phenomena seems to be a relatively recent one, I can't only imagine they've taken business from the old line card companies...

Getting Started

2004-12-09T19:36:00.000-05:00

Well, I finally took the plunge and decided to start blogging. Who knows where this will lead, but I figured it's time for me to get started...

I've been reading a friend's blog for a few months and like this method of information sharing. I hope I can be nearly as interesting as David. We'll see...

I work for Shared Insights, so the whole concept of peer-based information sharing is very "near and dear" to me. We're working on bringing together networks of IT professionals to help them share best practices and insights with one another. We're very early stage in an industry just beginning to open up, so we spend a bit of time re-setting how we position ourselves and what our products look like. It's cool being part of an internet start-up after the window has "closed" on the internet age. We'll make a go of it...

Stay tuned.