Those affected became unable to think certain thoughts: if they so much as resembled the killed idea, they fizzled.
those whose thought resembles a bonfire↵those who think like a river↵those who contemplate the fire’s reflection↵those who douse the fire
The Martian
We just came from seeing the movie “ The Martian.” Minus the obvious, very predictable, Hollywood scenes, the movie was quite alright. It made me wish I could live to see the first few missions to the Red Planet. Being the selfless guy that I am, thought, I would be willing to settle if my child gets to see them instead.
While on the topic of movies, and theaters, it is amazing how expensive it is to see a movie these days. For three tickets we paid $36 … ⌘ Read more
Of no use
A farmer got so old that he couldn’t work the fields anymore. So he would spend the day just sitting on the porch. His son, still working the farm, would look up from time to time and see his father sitting there.
“ _He’s of no use any more,_” the son thought to himself, “ _he doesn’t do anything!_”
One day the son got so frustrated by this, that he built a wood coffin, dragged it over to the porch, and told his father to get in. Without saying anything, the father climbed inside. … ⌘ Read more
I loathe emoji
I despise Emoji and emoticons, specially graphical emoji, or people who continuously abuse them, and interject them in every single sentence they type, sometimes even more than once. I thought that I hated “LOL,” which I do, but I would rather see LOL — when justified, not the moronic “LOL” without reason you see often — than see the utter idiotic smiles, winks, etc., continuously, all the time. “ _I am an elitist asshole, but here, have an Emoji! That way you will perceive me differently. … ⌘ Read more
Comment on Popular Icon Theme ‘Moka’ Gets an Official GTK Theme Companion by MC Robust
I thought it was just me… everyone saying GTK2 “looks old.” I used to love finding new and interesting themes…
The new themes look nice. I suppose my desktop is arguably more “sophisticated” looking? More modern looking? I don’t know.
But GTK3 has never felt as “fun” to me. ⌘ Read more
What I thought when my plane crashed
From CNN Opinion, this\
article, written by Ric Elias I liked. I liked it
so much, I decided to keep it here, for when it is not longer available
at CNN. As I did with a previous\
article I kept from the WSJ, if CNN
does not likes what I have done, let me know and I will remove it, or
adapt it to a compromise. Please do not sue … ⌘ Read more
Many changes coming soon
Just very recently I wrote about me moving to Jekyll from WordPress:
After much thought, and tinkering, I decided to ditch my six year old
or so WordPress and start blogging like a hacker
with the awesome Jekyll.
I also wrote —fairly recently— about [living on a Linod … ⌘ Read more
Forget Hyde, moved to Jekyll!
After much thought, and tinkering, I decided to ditch my six year old or so WordPress and start blogging like a hacker with the awesome Jekyll.
I am still getting a few things in place, like making sure all entries are properly converted to markdown, but overall I … ⌘ Read more
The Unthinkable
Yesterday I did the unthinkable. Something I have never done — nor will I do again — before. I went very early (03:15) to stand at the Millenia all, to be one of the first (or so I thought) to buy the iPhone 4.
I don’t want to write long about something I am more than half way ashamed of. Suffice it to say that I got an iPhone 4 after standing in line for … ⌘ Read more
Thoughts on Flash
Steve Jobs shared with us this month his thoughts on Flash:
“Flash was created during the PC era —for PCs and mice. Flash is a successful business for Adobe, and we can understand why they want to push it beyond PCs. But the mobile era is about low power devices, touch interfaces and open web standards —all areas where Flash falls short.
The avalanche of media outlets offering their content for Apple’s mobile devices demonstrates that Flash is no longer necessary to watch vi … ⌘ Read more
The wheels of justice
I thought twice before coming here and write two or three sentences. But sometimes two or three sentences is all you have. I had to do it: Apple Inc., you rock!
If you want to be a “journalist”, act as one. As Powazek wrote in a tweet, “Real journalists don’t buy stolen property.” ⌘ Read more
Special, just like you
At first I thought I was special, when I received my first offering of marriage, or the bank transfer to help the widow of some foreign fallen dignitary. Then they kept going, and I knew I was “special”, just like everyone else.
Read one of today’s emails and smile:
I am 26 years old, just started work with Central bank of Nigeria, as a scientist and why i was diong system maintance . I came across your file which was marked X and your released disk painted RED, I took t … ⌘ Read more
Email liturgy
I miss the days when emails were written with thought, and care. They were clear, and to the point. There was no HTML in them; replies were perfectly quoted, references were neatly annotated. Emoticons were kept to a minimum, if any.
No one does that anymore… well, not many of us do. I haven’t give up, I insist. For me, sending and replying emails is a liturgy. ⌘ Read more
A day of sadness
Today we realized that we have lost our camcorder, and with it, all the memories we had since KM was born: from birth until his last birthday, at least. And the pain we feel can’t be explained. How could we be so stupid?!
Although we have thoughts, accusing ourselves for lots of things… what sense does it make at this point? Everything is gone, and discussing the why’s, what if’s and so on will not bring the tapes back. Things will be done differently on regards of the archiving of fami … ⌘ Read more
When you thought you hear it all
BBC NEWS: Toilet conference opens in Delhi
A World Toilet Summit has opened in the Indian capital, Delhi, with more than 40 countries taking part.
The four-day meeting will examine solutions and technologies that can be used to provide a basic need for nearly half the worlds population.
According to estimates, 2.6bn people around the world lack access to a hygienic toilet. The United Nations h … ⌘ Read more
C3 is no more
I am sad, I am mad and I am pissed. We got a letter today from Kent’s school –was Parkway Preparatory School, later changed to C3 School– stating that the school is closing its doors.
Unfortunately, our continuing analysis and review of the Church’s financial obligations has led us to the conclusion that continued operation of the school is not the best use of Church resources. Our decision is also based in part on the projected enrollment for next school year. After much thought and prayer … ⌘ Read more
Thought of the day
If your weblog or site –in general– advertising is slowing down the load of pages to an almost complete halt, it is time to re-think and take a different marketing approach. Your writings and your advertising are been missing. You may as well cancel your hosting and print what you want to say, along with the advertisings. ⌘ Read more
To Tampa back and forth
In the last five days I have been in Tampa four times, twice by myself and twice with Kim and KM. One may say it is only 90 miles each way, not a biggie, but once it is done several times consecutively it does makes a difference.
Three days ago we thought we had the perfect apartment there but this morning Kim thought otherwise and, as quite often, she was right. She saw another apartment, just 2.8 miles … ⌘ Read more
Got a Mac, once again
My first knowledge about Mac’s came sorrounded by a mist of legend, legend that has lived until today: Mac’s are wonderful, powerful, friendly machines, that boot with a graphic interface and which mouse has only one big button. Ok, that was what I thought 15 years ago or so, but you get the idea.
Eight months ago I bought a dual 1.42 Ghz PowerMac G4, with 2GB RAM, 128 VRAM, 120GB HD, SuperDrive, Bluetooth… beautiful machine. Then wife lost her job and some of my most valuable po … ⌘ Read more
Mid-life Crisis
When does mid-life crisis starts? I mean, how old do you need to be to start feeling the effects of it and, furthermore, what are such effects?
The reason I am asking all this is because, even thought I am barely on my 35th, I think –I just have that impression– that I am slowly, but at a very fast pace (talk about paradox here!), moving into my own version of mid-life crisis. I want to think it is version 1.0. Now, how many versions and for how long?
What’s going on with me? Hmm, hard … ⌘ Read more
Traveling, my unfulfilled hobby
Today I came across Vagabonding and I have to admit I felt jealous, in a good way. You see, traveling around the world has always been my unfulfilled dream and, even thought I have traveled some, I still hope one day (sooner rather than later) that dream will come true.
[Mike Pugh](http://www.vagabonding.com/about/00001 … ⌘ Read more
One year older
Well, I thought it will never come. We — adults —, sometimes pursuing our dreams of Peterpan… we think we’ll never age. Slowly our skin becomes saggy and wrinkled; we can not see as sharp as before, hence we wear glasses; our hair turn white (for the lucky ones) and falls down (for those unlucky, like me). The rhythm of live goes at a different beat then. You start getting tired easily, things that previously attracted you do not longer do. Ah… you have, inevitably, aged.
Yes, I just turn … ⌘ Read more
A thought
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to really step outside yourself and view yourself as a stranger would?
…What do you think that would be like? And how accurate do you think it is?
I honestly don’t know how I would view myself. Probably as someone who is shy, afraid, and introverted. I guess I come off as those on a first impression, but it could not be farther from the truth. I am so different to those I know and trust than I am to those that I meet for the first time. I wonder if I can, … ⌘ Read more
From Bill Gates, with love
I received an email today. While it is true that I receive 60 to 70 emails daily, this one was not trivial. It wasn’t the expected porno offer, nor a letter from Nigeria or Lagos promising riches. Is wasn’t “reputable” diplomas or innocent spam passed along by a lack-of-knowledge friend neither. If was an email from Bill Gates itself. Yes, that’s right, an email from the billionaire Gates.
I have to admit that my first thought was, “It is another spam”. This is … ⌘ Read more
Redesign on the horizon
Pretty soon I will be redesigning. I am not sure what I will do yet, but the main site will change. Additionally, I will be adding an extra blog using MT (Movable Type).
On the main site I am not sure whether to go simplistic or zeldmanian, but changes are due, since I am also changing the way I have been writing lately. The domain Collantes.US will become the echo of my thoughts on technology, science, religion, politics and everything else in between. Stay tuned, if you want. Or … ⌘ Read more
How to better protect Kent Martin?
Today was a sad day. I had good times, but my kid felt and badly bruised his lips and that shattered any happy moment I had. I feel like my hands are tied up, because I can not be with him 100% of the time to protect him. I know that even thought I could be with him all the time, I would not be able to protect him against everything. It just hurts me a lot to see him hurting. I wish I could trade and be the one bruised.
I feel tired, so I shall go to sleep. Pe … ⌘ Read more
Close, very close but no cigar
I got called today to pick up my car. “It is fixed, all done”, they said, so I was happy, even thought they were taking $496.34 hard earned dollars out of my pocket. The car seat settings were changed, the radio was on, tuned to a latin radio station — which I do not listen — and the AC was on, which I had turned off before I dropped the car. Still, I drove away, trusting that I would have a very smooth ride home, trying to forget those little details that were, al … ⌘ Read more