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Archive for June, 2005

May, 2005 <— June, 2005 —> July, 2005
Is my son Canadian?

A week ago, my son (2.5 yrs old) started adding an “eh” sound at the end of words with an “o” sound near the end, such as no (becomes no-eh), more (becomes mo-eh), and go (becomes go-eh). In a similar way, car becomes caweh.
He could pronounce these words perfectly before -- the wrong pronunciation started suddenly a couple of days before we came out to California (where we'll be for a month, before returning to Ohio for another month).
Very odd. I'm treating it as a phase and hoping it'll go away.
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Fumie is a threat to homeland security???


Fumie has a green card (permanent-resident card), and while the CIS (new name for the INS) has its rules about who may hold it and how it may be used, yet it seems that the Customs and Border Patrol have their own make-up-as-you-go ideas about it..... but won't tell you exactly what they are.
The CIS/INS says that one can leave the US and still return using the green card so long as you return within a year. However, if you don't intend to live in the US again, you may not use the green card (must abandon it). In our case, I'm sure [...]
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What’s the problem with Starbucks?

Unlike the popular vogue, I'm not a “Starbucks Basher”. As it turns out, I go to Starbucks only rarely (once or twice per year, perhaps), but Fumie likes them, and in any case, I recognize that they're successful because they provide something people want.
Not being a Starbucks Basher doesn't mean that I can't gripe about what seems (at least to me) to be a unique Starbucksism. Today at a Starbucks, Fumie found a seat with Anthony while I went to place our order. The following conversation took place between me and the Starbucks Drone (SD).... Me:A small mocha please, and .... SD:What size? Me:small... not big SD:Tall? Me:The smallest size [...]
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I didn’t kill myself!


In a previous life (before the book, before the baby) I used to play ultimate Frisbee with friends at Yahoo. I played in the first Y! ultimate game, back in 1997, and fairly consistently for about four years. I wasn't outstanding, but wasn't too bad. Physically, I was in pretty good shape. (If you're not familiar, Ultimate Frisbee is like soccer with a Frisbee instead of a ball.)
Then, I started working on the book. With every waking moment not devoted to work going to the book, I soon turned into a blob (gaining 15 pounds over the two years working on it). Ugh. Then [...]
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I know what flipping the bird means, but….

The other day I pulled out into a three-lane (in one direction) road, and just as I'm pulling out, I realize that the car I thought was in the middle lane was really in the near lane. They were far enough away that my pulling out in front of them wasn't dangerous, but it was certainly rude, and I felt bad. I wanted to stick my hand out the window and give some kind of “I'm sorry -- my bad!” sign, but I don't know of any.
Is there any universally understood (at least, universal except for me) driver's sign for “oops, sorry”? There [...]
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The (Coding) Commands According to Dr. Bergeron

In my first semester at grad school (wow, now 18 years ago... I'm old), all CS master's students were required to take two intensive “this is what you should have learned during undergrad classes”, CS801 (theory) and CS802 (practice). The latter was taught by Dr. Dan Bergeron, who was — and probably still is — an excellent teacher, but whom I remember most as a man of stellar integrity and fairness — a good father-figure that most collegiate environments lack.
Anyway, while rummaging around some old papers the other day, I found this handout on “coding commandments” from the class. (It seems that programming in the class [...]
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My dad can kick your butt!

I have had back problems for the last few years, and although I do a lot of stretching which seems to help at times, overall it's more bad than good. My dad has suggested that I do situps, and he reiterated it again this morning (I'm in Ohio now for the next month). He remembers reading in Reader's Digest 40+ years ago about how an imbalance between the back muscles (which get a good workout in daily life) and the stomach muscles (which apparently don't) can create back problems.
My dad is in his 70s, is arthritic, has bad shoulders, and hasn't had a good night's [...]
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The iPod is nice, but…


So, I drank the Kool-Aid(tm) and bought an iPod last Sunday. I bought what at the time was called a “60GB iPod Photo” for $449, but now a few days later is simply called a “60GB iPod” for $399. (The “Photo” moniker and $50 were dropped.)
Since I bought mine at a local store, I didn't get the laser engraving on the back, but now that the price has dropped, I may go ahead and return it (paying a $50 “restocking” fee), and order one online with my email address engraved on the back.
Modern iPods don't come with a doc, firewire cable, remote, belt [...]
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May, 2005 <— June, 2005 —> July, 2005