Yes. That is a coating of soot on the outside of that Mercedes. I love smelling carcinogens in the morning...
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
A Compelling Case for Diesel Particulate Filters
I came across this Mercedes on my way to the office today - suffice it to say, the moment I saw it, I reached for the recirculate function on my climate control.
Yes. That is a coating of soot on the outside of that Mercedes. I love smelling carcinogens in the morning...
Yes. That is a coating of soot on the outside of that Mercedes. I love smelling carcinogens in the morning...
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
The City Council tonight is meeting to discuss the usual array of issues, including a draft ordinance to either allow or extend the current prohibition of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in the City of Sunnyvale.
When the voters of California approved Proposition 215, the Compassionate Care Act, it was because they believed that despite whatever restrictions the Federal Government had in place on medical marijuana, there was enough medical evidence to support the limited medical use of marijuana by groups of people who have received prescriptions from doctors.
Sunnyvale currently had a temporary moratorium in place which is set to expire in March of 2011. At issue is whether or not to make the moratorium permanent, or whether or not to allow dispensaries to be implemented - and if they are implemented, which regulations should be enforced.
I am a firm believer that Sunnyvale should uphold the will of the voters. We supposedly live in a democracy, after all. That having been said, however, special care does need to be taken as marijuana is still a Schedule I substance under Controlled Substances Act.
A number of provisions that should be considered are as follows:
1. This is a Medical Dispensary intended to provide patients with their medication. In that light, any employee operating these dispensaries should be, at a minimum, carry a certification from the California State Board of Pharmacy.
2. All product sold by these dispensaries should be tracked from point of origin/growth to point of sale. This is a pharmaceutical operation intended to provide patients with medicine, and the provenance of any goods sold by these dispensaries must be known; profits from these goods must not be going to cartels.
3. All product sold by these dispensaries will be tracked with a barcode or ID number to the individual that has purchased the item. Theoretically, if these products are then resold, it will make it easier to track the product to the place where control was lost.
4. In light of this being an issue of access to medication, locations should be restricted to within a quarter mile of major trunk routes for public transit - VTA Light Rail, Busses, and CalTrain. Downtown Sunnyvale is a perfect location for a dispensary, as a number of bus lines and CalTrain converge. Sunnyvale also has a number of spots where bus lines and VTA Light Rail converge.
In sum, that is my thinking regarding the Medical Marijuana Dispensary issue. As an issue of compliance with the law in spirit, we need to be able to exert some form of regulatory control over the dispensaries that open - if only to verify that the medicine being sold is not intercepted or otherwise used improperly.
When the voters of California approved Proposition 215, the Compassionate Care Act, it was because they believed that despite whatever restrictions the Federal Government had in place on medical marijuana, there was enough medical evidence to support the limited medical use of marijuana by groups of people who have received prescriptions from doctors.
Sunnyvale currently had a temporary moratorium in place which is set to expire in March of 2011. At issue is whether or not to make the moratorium permanent, or whether or not to allow dispensaries to be implemented - and if they are implemented, which regulations should be enforced.
I am a firm believer that Sunnyvale should uphold the will of the voters. We supposedly live in a democracy, after all. That having been said, however, special care does need to be taken as marijuana is still a Schedule I substance under Controlled Substances Act.
A number of provisions that should be considered are as follows:
1. This is a Medical Dispensary intended to provide patients with their medication. In that light, any employee operating these dispensaries should be, at a minimum, carry a certification from the California State Board of Pharmacy.
2. All product sold by these dispensaries should be tracked from point of origin/growth to point of sale. This is a pharmaceutical operation intended to provide patients with medicine, and the provenance of any goods sold by these dispensaries must be known; profits from these goods must not be going to cartels.
3. All product sold by these dispensaries will be tracked with a barcode or ID number to the individual that has purchased the item. Theoretically, if these products are then resold, it will make it easier to track the product to the place where control was lost.
4. In light of this being an issue of access to medication, locations should be restricted to within a quarter mile of major trunk routes for public transit - VTA Light Rail, Busses, and CalTrain. Downtown Sunnyvale is a perfect location for a dispensary, as a number of bus lines and CalTrain converge. Sunnyvale also has a number of spots where bus lines and VTA Light Rail converge.
In sum, that is my thinking regarding the Medical Marijuana Dispensary issue. As an issue of compliance with the law in spirit, we need to be able to exert some form of regulatory control over the dispensaries that open - if only to verify that the medicine being sold is not intercepted or otherwise used improperly.
Carpal Tunnel is Fun
Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment to get my hand treated with a cortisone injection to treat carpal tunnel - to see whether or not my persistent hand pain was in fact carpal tunnel related, or another sort of repetitive stress injury.
The one thing I hadn't counted on was that there would be a fairly hefty lidocaine injection along with the cortisone - which certainly made the drive home interesting. Manual trans, and not able to feel what my right hand is doing - odd combination.
Of course, this morning I wake up to a fairly nasty bruise (which has cleared up pretty quickly), and no pain at all. My hand is very happy now. Cortisone is some seriously powerful stuff.
Now I get to look forward to having the next hand done on January 3rd!
The one thing I hadn't counted on was that there would be a fairly hefty lidocaine injection along with the cortisone - which certainly made the drive home interesting. Manual trans, and not able to feel what my right hand is doing - odd combination.
Of course, this morning I wake up to a fairly nasty bruise (which has cleared up pretty quickly), and no pain at all. My hand is very happy now. Cortisone is some seriously powerful stuff.
Now I get to look forward to having the next hand done on January 3rd!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Computer Tech Anecdote for the Day
Very funny, very vulgar, highly imaginative, and original. Not work safe:
How Fucked Is My Database.com
How Fucked Is My Database.com
Warning: oci_connect(): ORA-$$$$: Insert coin to continue
Le Sapeurs: My Fashion Heroes
Nestled deep within the interior Congo, where people subsist on pennies a day (Congo, as of 2003, ranks as #204 of #208 ranked countries in per capita income), has an unlikely society, wherein high couture is the rule, and members are held to a strict code of professional and personal conduct embracing morality and ethics as their core values.
It's a society called "La SAPE", or spelled out it is "La Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes" - roughly translating to "The Society Practicing Ambiance and the Elegant People". These gentlemen live their lives in Kinshasa and Brazzaville, in conditions that would be intolerable for those of us with 'western sensibilities'. That they are so devoted to their cause is admirable.
Not much content here since it's poached from other blogs, but I will provide a number of links to the original sources for this material.
Firstly, buy the book, "The Gentlemen of Bacongo" by Daniele Tamagni. It's available on Amazon.
Gentlemen of Bacongo review from Coolhunting.com
Jezebel: Gentlemen Of Bacongo: The Dandies Of Sub-Saharan Africa
New York Times review: "The Gentlemen of Bacongo"
It's a society called "La SAPE", or spelled out it is "La Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes" - roughly translating to "The Society Practicing Ambiance and the Elegant People". These gentlemen live their lives in Kinshasa and Brazzaville, in conditions that would be intolerable for those of us with 'western sensibilities'. That they are so devoted to their cause is admirable.
Not much content here since it's poached from other blogs, but I will provide a number of links to the original sources for this material.
Firstly, buy the book, "The Gentlemen of Bacongo" by Daniele Tamagni. It's available on Amazon.
Gentlemen of Bacongo review from Coolhunting.com
Jezebel: Gentlemen Of Bacongo: The Dandies Of Sub-Saharan Africa
New York Times review: "The Gentlemen of Bacongo"
Monday, December 6, 2010
Are We Really All That Different?
Do men really not have specific dreams? Perhaps I'm just an aberration - but I've had some pretty detailed hopes and dreams from the time I was really young. A blogger I follow, Chloe, has postulated that men are not as willing or eager to be open about their big fairy tale-esque dreams.
One thing I do admit, before I launch into a full bore rebuttal - in pragmatism it's all too easy to write off our hopes and desires in life to reconcile with the stark reality of our means. I'm very much on the fence as it pertains to holding onto unrealistic fantasy whilst pressing forward with life as it comes and presents itself, often at odds with the direction I want life to go in. It's better to lose than to never have tried. We've got to be a step ahead of the rest, if we are to be the best.
Here is what I wanted (and still want) in life:
I wanted to be a commercial pilot. It's what I wanted to do with my life from the earliest time that I was really cogent enough to understand it. More specifically, I wanted to fly Boeing 747 freighters for a living. I envisioned many trips, from start to finish, from taking the plane over in Bucharest Otopeni Airport on a snowy winter day. We'd depart at 11:35, late because of issues with getting the cargo door latched. After an uneventful flight to Lagos, we'd all have dinner at the Sofitel before heading out to the local jazz club for drinks before turning in for the night. It's a very 'male' fantasy, but nonetheless, very specific in scope, detail, and plan.
Regarding aviation: I've worked in the field, and want to get involved again - but the reality is that this is not a viable career path, and won't get me to the rest of my fantasy fairy tale-esque life. I need an actual revenue stream for that, and that requires a real job, with real responsibility. Real risks must be taken to make these things happen.
My home will be a starkly modern building, fashioned after the designs of Joseph Eichler, on a hillside in the Palo Alto hills, looking back toward I-280 and Stanford University. The entire side of the house would be modern glass, with a balcony on the main level. The rest of the home's materials would be unpainted redwood for the support beams and structure. The master bedroom would be on the main floor, with a two large french doors leading in, to a king-size bed with 1,000 thread count satin sheets over a pillow-top mattress. The bedroom, too, would have a view. I would get home, and be greeted by two white cats and a German Shepherd. This is my fantasy life - and while at this point in my life, it is a fantasy - I am going to do my damnedest to make it happen! Will I settle for less? I may have to, but the end goal will always be in sight.
Often times, Chloe is correct, men don't share these ideas and dreams. I won't vocalize these grand schemes unless I have the clear opportunity and reason to do so. Men don't open up about what's inside. We operate as closed 'mystery boxes' in this society, rarely allowing true feelings and desires to be known - engaging in a giant 9-dimensional Chess game of life. Men aren't all that different inside. There's no reason to hide these desires and wishes from public consumption - I think it makes a person more 'real'. It puts it all out there - this is what I want in life, and it is what I am working to accomplish for myself.
I feel it's just the presentation of what's within that is affected by social expectations; of how a man is expected to act, behave, and present himself to the world. These archetypes are simply artificial constructs of history, society, and status quo. The barriers between the genders have no place in a modern and enlightened society.
Another post to come - about my dreams and desires for the world at large. I'm not so egocentric so as to have big dreams only for myself. The world deserves and is capable of so much more, and there is absolutely no reason that 2 billion people live in relative security and comfort, while the rest have to worry about getting enough food and water to survive on a daily basis. As a species, we collectively hold the power, technology, and resources to provide for everybody - and it is my belief that it is a matter of political will and resource allocation that these pressing issues have been overlooked or worse, not acknowledged.
Our continued way of life in this civilization is dependent upon humanity collectively dreaming up and subsequently acting on the big solutions to our pressing issues of climate change (perhaps the biggest threat our species faces in the next several generations), of feeding and providing for every human; of preserving and strengthening our industrial society that has provided support for the creation of much information, technology, and wealth. Preserving and strengthening these systems will ensure the survival of the species. We have our work cut out for us.
One thing I do admit, before I launch into a full bore rebuttal - in pragmatism it's all too easy to write off our hopes and desires in life to reconcile with the stark reality of our means. I'm very much on the fence as it pertains to holding onto unrealistic fantasy whilst pressing forward with life as it comes and presents itself, often at odds with the direction I want life to go in. It's better to lose than to never have tried. We've got to be a step ahead of the rest, if we are to be the best.
Here is what I wanted (and still want) in life:
I wanted to be a commercial pilot. It's what I wanted to do with my life from the earliest time that I was really cogent enough to understand it. More specifically, I wanted to fly Boeing 747 freighters for a living. I envisioned many trips, from start to finish, from taking the plane over in Bucharest Otopeni Airport on a snowy winter day. We'd depart at 11:35, late because of issues with getting the cargo door latched. After an uneventful flight to Lagos, we'd all have dinner at the Sofitel before heading out to the local jazz club for drinks before turning in for the night. It's a very 'male' fantasy, but nonetheless, very specific in scope, detail, and plan.
Regarding aviation: I've worked in the field, and want to get involved again - but the reality is that this is not a viable career path, and won't get me to the rest of my fantasy fairy tale-esque life. I need an actual revenue stream for that, and that requires a real job, with real responsibility. Real risks must be taken to make these things happen.
My home will be a starkly modern building, fashioned after the designs of Joseph Eichler, on a hillside in the Palo Alto hills, looking back toward I-280 and Stanford University. The entire side of the house would be modern glass, with a balcony on the main level. The rest of the home's materials would be unpainted redwood for the support beams and structure. The master bedroom would be on the main floor, with a two large french doors leading in, to a king-size bed with 1,000 thread count satin sheets over a pillow-top mattress. The bedroom, too, would have a view. I would get home, and be greeted by two white cats and a German Shepherd. This is my fantasy life - and while at this point in my life, it is a fantasy - I am going to do my damnedest to make it happen! Will I settle for less? I may have to, but the end goal will always be in sight.
Often times, Chloe is correct, men don't share these ideas and dreams. I won't vocalize these grand schemes unless I have the clear opportunity and reason to do so. Men don't open up about what's inside. We operate as closed 'mystery boxes' in this society, rarely allowing true feelings and desires to be known - engaging in a giant 9-dimensional Chess game of life. Men aren't all that different inside. There's no reason to hide these desires and wishes from public consumption - I think it makes a person more 'real'. It puts it all out there - this is what I want in life, and it is what I am working to accomplish for myself.
I feel it's just the presentation of what's within that is affected by social expectations; of how a man is expected to act, behave, and present himself to the world. These archetypes are simply artificial constructs of history, society, and status quo. The barriers between the genders have no place in a modern and enlightened society.
Another post to come - about my dreams and desires for the world at large. I'm not so egocentric so as to have big dreams only for myself. The world deserves and is capable of so much more, and there is absolutely no reason that 2 billion people live in relative security and comfort, while the rest have to worry about getting enough food and water to survive on a daily basis. As a species, we collectively hold the power, technology, and resources to provide for everybody - and it is my belief that it is a matter of political will and resource allocation that these pressing issues have been overlooked or worse, not acknowledged.
Our continued way of life in this civilization is dependent upon humanity collectively dreaming up and subsequently acting on the big solutions to our pressing issues of climate change (perhaps the biggest threat our species faces in the next several generations), of feeding and providing for every human; of preserving and strengthening our industrial society that has provided support for the creation of much information, technology, and wealth. Preserving and strengthening these systems will ensure the survival of the species. We have our work cut out for us.
The things you do for love: Part II
Did I ever mention how owning an old German car is a consistent love-hate relationship? Those times when you're kissing the apex around the turns in the mountains, hearing the reassuring burble of the V8 driving the rear wheels while you push the car through 4,000 RPM and 70 mph in 3rd gear. The radar detector blares, Ka band - California Highway Patrol is nearby. The adrenaline surges, as you smash the clutch to the floorboard and dump it into 5th gear and haul yourself down to the 55 mph speed limit, just as you crest the hill and see a Highway Patrol Crown Victoria along the side of the road, training his radar gun on you, as you sail on by at 3 mph over the limit, knowing he won't pull you over for that. It's one of those perfect moments, in perfect harmony - man and machine operating as one.
Yeah, it's pretty much exactly the opposite of that right now. I dropped the car with my mechanic this morning - and we put it up on the lift to see if we could ascertain the source of the coolant leak. Verdict? Water pump leaking? Check. Radiator cracked and leaking? Check. Expansion tank/coolant overflow cracked and leaking? Check. Thermostat housing leaking? Check. Lower coolant hose leaking? Check.
How many checks is that? Five. Five checks. I don't know how or why it had any coolant left in it. I got lucky with this one...
Pictured below in shortly after that 'perfect moment' above. If you don't own a German car, I wouldn't expect you to understand this insanity. :-)
Yeah, it's pretty much exactly the opposite of that right now. I dropped the car with my mechanic this morning - and we put it up on the lift to see if we could ascertain the source of the coolant leak. Verdict? Water pump leaking? Check. Radiator cracked and leaking? Check. Expansion tank/coolant overflow cracked and leaking? Check. Thermostat housing leaking? Check. Lower coolant hose leaking? Check.
How many checks is that? Five. Five checks. I don't know how or why it had any coolant left in it. I got lucky with this one...
Pictured below in shortly after that 'perfect moment' above. If you don't own a German car, I wouldn't expect you to understand this insanity. :-)
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Carpal Tunnel Solutions for a Modern Age
I'm an engineer by trade, writer in my spare time, and type most anything I communicate. I would say I type more than I speak - which is not an uncommon thing in my line of work. In fact, I'd venture to say that in this modern age we are becoming ever more dependent on our fingers and hands to communicate our critical information to the world than our mouths. I abuse my hands daily - type out excessively long emails on my Blackberry; long emails to clients; working on technical documents; working on my fiction projects - it does take its toll.
Between my cortisone injections in my wrist and elbows to keep things functional up until I need surgery, I have the following support mechanisms in place:
1. Dell 2405WFP display: Large LCD display - enough to display a huge amount of information within my field of view. I prefer a single large display over multiple displays - keeps my eyes and posture centered. A dual monitor setup would have me shifting my orientation around, and thus disrupting the ergonomics of the interaction with the computer.
2. A Kensington trackball mouse. This device significantly reduces the amount of wrist movement necessary to interact with the computer. The mouse can be a big contributor to carpal tunnel pain as movement is very often based on moving your wrist to make the major gross movements. The trackball makes the fingers the primary interface method.
3. The most important bit: a proper Ergonomic keyboard. There are a lot of choices out there, but I went with a Kinesis Advantage keyboard. It's a concave design, with the intention to keep the hands and fingers within a specific area - that does not allow much in the way of wrist and finger movement. Less movement equals less injury - in theory. I have to say that the Kinesis is an excellent product; I own two of these - it still does not completely resolve the carpal tunnel issues.
The only real long term fix is surgery, but I'm trying to postpone that as long as I can. There's also a number of other special ergonomic keyboards out there that work well for a number of my coworkers - some split keyboard designs, and the like. Everyone's anatomy and solutions are unique...
Between my cortisone injections in my wrist and elbows to keep things functional up until I need surgery, I have the following support mechanisms in place:
1. Dell 2405WFP display: Large LCD display - enough to display a huge amount of information within my field of view. I prefer a single large display over multiple displays - keeps my eyes and posture centered. A dual monitor setup would have me shifting my orientation around, and thus disrupting the ergonomics of the interaction with the computer.
2. A Kensington trackball mouse. This device significantly reduces the amount of wrist movement necessary to interact with the computer. The mouse can be a big contributor to carpal tunnel pain as movement is very often based on moving your wrist to make the major gross movements. The trackball makes the fingers the primary interface method.
3. The most important bit: a proper Ergonomic keyboard. There are a lot of choices out there, but I went with a Kinesis Advantage keyboard. It's a concave design, with the intention to keep the hands and fingers within a specific area - that does not allow much in the way of wrist and finger movement. Less movement equals less injury - in theory. I have to say that the Kinesis is an excellent product; I own two of these - it still does not completely resolve the carpal tunnel issues.
The only real long term fix is surgery, but I'm trying to postpone that as long as I can. There's also a number of other special ergonomic keyboards out there that work well for a number of my coworkers - some split keyboard designs, and the like. Everyone's anatomy and solutions are unique...
Saturday, December 4, 2010
The things you do for love...
Love may be a strong word, but nevertheless, it never ceases to amaze me how much of my bank account I'm willing to continue to dump into my automotive endeavors. The latest saga is that I managed to solve my mystery coolant leak this morning. I've noticed puddles of coolant forming under the car after it sits overnight - small amounts, but still, any coolant leaking is enough to cause concern.
Verdict? Water pump is due (despite it having been replaced already, less than 30,000 miles ago!), and should be done ASAP.
Need to sell some stocks to cover this one. Feh. This is the price I pay for a good driving experience, and I'm very cognizant of that fact. C'est la vie.
Verdict? Water pump is due (despite it having been replaced already, less than 30,000 miles ago!), and should be done ASAP.
Need to sell some stocks to cover this one. Feh. This is the price I pay for a good driving experience, and I'm very cognizant of that fact. C'est la vie.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)