Somebody went and swapped our my sweet cuddly boy with a supercharged coil of pure energy.
Mid-week last week, Isaac finally mastered the art of rolling from his back to his stomach, and started showing a lot more interest in being on the floor with toys.
By last night, he was rolling around the floor, grabbing toys, and rolling back. He was rolling over, grabbing a table leg, using it to swing his body around, and rolling a different direction. He's squealing and giggling non-stop with this newfound skill and mobility, and I'm starting to eye every room in the house for childproofing.
Unlike Bella, when he rolls over and reaches something, he likes to give it a good hearty TUG, to bring it with him. He's pulled large dolls over, and come close to having some chairs tip.
And for bedtime, he's not curling up and cuddling as much as he is thrashing like a freshly landed fish until the energy has passed from him to his mattress - presumably for storage, because when he wakes up, we hear the WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP of his legs slamming down, obviously it's the recharging cycle.
And through it all, he is smiling and laughing... awash in joy.
Boys are.... different. I think that we may have a force of nature here.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Inspiration
This weekend I read a fantastic book - The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. He's an author and screenwriter, a late bloomer who is mildly successful (wrote The Legend of Bagger Vance), and has some very important things to say about procrastination and why we don't do the things we should.
He identifies "Resistance" as the primary defeater - on one level, it's the cloud you need to push through to do anything uncomfortable - the first 5 minutes of working out (or better, getting into the car to work out!), the first half hour of any creative endeavor... you need to push through it, even though Resistance gives you all sorts of very good rationalizations as to why you can put this off another day, and how there are all sorts of other things to do.
His analogies in the book tend toward physical combat with this force (hence "war" in the title), and he personifies the force quite a lot... and his tips for beating it are great, as are his descriptions of the rewards you will reap for doing so.
It was flat out inspiring, and really made me think about the things I do or don't make time for... my working out really started against the largest wall of resistance ever seen... and I battle it every week - I'm not sure when I'll make it to the gym this week, for instance. But Music is probably the area where I've self sabotaged the most: I really have no good keyboard technique - I use computers as a tool, but also a crutch, and I don't spend any disciplined time working on my art. If I devoted just 5 hours a week to it, I could be writing a lot more music and getting my hands more comfortable with the keys again... if only I could play with the same unconscious instructions to my hands as I use when typing.
Pressman says that the way through that is to be a professional - treat your art like a job that needs doing: Show up on time, punch the clock, and check out when you're done. Give it the same "gotta do it" we all give our day jobs, and it'll get DONE. So I'm looking at my calendar, figuring I could start with two nights a week, say 9-11pm, and see what that does.
Anyway, it was a short book - the man didn't belabor his points too much and kept it readable. I highly recommend it as a swift kick in the shorts to anyone with a creative pursuit you haven't 'found time for'. Remember, Leo Tolstoy had over 12 kids... and he wrote a heckuva lot.
Fortunately, I haven't been entirely fallow: Brainready.com continues to pick up readers/listeners. While sales of the book are light, it's finally on Amazon, so go get a copy! Search on "Brainready", or "BrainFlex" and it'll be right there. We're also picking up a good thousand or two additional podcast listeners every other week, so that's growing nicely. And I've been writing more of the news posts on the website too... so it's a real partnership.
I also have started work on large-print editions of my worksheets - while they're great for the 40-60 crowd (who we had initially identified as our core market), the 60-90 crowd has trouble with 8-point fonts and crazy formatting, so I'm taking the core exercises and laying them out more straightforwardly. It turns every 2-page puzzle into 3 pages... but that's ok.
Oh one more thing - today at lunch I translated my weekend post into French... on paper. It's at work. But I'll be posting it tomorrow, so you can expect occasional "translations" to appear, as I work on strengthening my language skills. I hope that those of you who know the languages I'm using will help me out when I write something completely incorrectly. French I'm pretty comfortable with, but when I start posting in German or Spanish, I'll need your help.
Ok, that's enough for one night. I'm nuts.
He identifies "Resistance" as the primary defeater - on one level, it's the cloud you need to push through to do anything uncomfortable - the first 5 minutes of working out (or better, getting into the car to work out!), the first half hour of any creative endeavor... you need to push through it, even though Resistance gives you all sorts of very good rationalizations as to why you can put this off another day, and how there are all sorts of other things to do.
His analogies in the book tend toward physical combat with this force (hence "war" in the title), and he personifies the force quite a lot... and his tips for beating it are great, as are his descriptions of the rewards you will reap for doing so.
It was flat out inspiring, and really made me think about the things I do or don't make time for... my working out really started against the largest wall of resistance ever seen... and I battle it every week - I'm not sure when I'll make it to the gym this week, for instance. But Music is probably the area where I've self sabotaged the most: I really have no good keyboard technique - I use computers as a tool, but also a crutch, and I don't spend any disciplined time working on my art. If I devoted just 5 hours a week to it, I could be writing a lot more music and getting my hands more comfortable with the keys again... if only I could play with the same unconscious instructions to my hands as I use when typing.
Pressman says that the way through that is to be a professional - treat your art like a job that needs doing: Show up on time, punch the clock, and check out when you're done. Give it the same "gotta do it" we all give our day jobs, and it'll get DONE. So I'm looking at my calendar, figuring I could start with two nights a week, say 9-11pm, and see what that does.
Anyway, it was a short book - the man didn't belabor his points too much and kept it readable. I highly recommend it as a swift kick in the shorts to anyone with a creative pursuit you haven't 'found time for'. Remember, Leo Tolstoy had over 12 kids... and he wrote a heckuva lot.
Fortunately, I haven't been entirely fallow: Brainready.com continues to pick up readers/listeners. While sales of the book are light, it's finally on Amazon, so go get a copy! Search on "Brainready", or "BrainFlex" and it'll be right there. We're also picking up a good thousand or two additional podcast listeners every other week, so that's growing nicely. And I've been writing more of the news posts on the website too... so it's a real partnership.
I also have started work on large-print editions of my worksheets - while they're great for the 40-60 crowd (who we had initially identified as our core market), the 60-90 crowd has trouble with 8-point fonts and crazy formatting, so I'm taking the core exercises and laying them out more straightforwardly. It turns every 2-page puzzle into 3 pages... but that's ok.
Oh one more thing - today at lunch I translated my weekend post into French... on paper. It's at work. But I'll be posting it tomorrow, so you can expect occasional "translations" to appear, as I work on strengthening my language skills. I hope that those of you who know the languages I'm using will help me out when I write something completely incorrectly. French I'm pretty comfortable with, but when I start posting in German or Spanish, I'll need your help.
Ok, that's enough for one night. I'm nuts.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
A crazy weekend. SERIOUSLY.
Friday:
- Went to court to finalize Isaac's adoption! Bella was beside herself with excitement about going "To Courts", and was the proudest big sister ever. Isaac was well behaved, but giggled at the court clerk non-stop. So Sir Squirms ESQ is 100% irrevocably one of us. YES!
- Got home, and sent Bella over to JeMae's for a long weekend slumber party with Jenny. Then, CLEANED THE HOUSE. Got us down to 5 zones of chaos (3rd floor closet, 2nd floor workout room, 1st floor dining room (back half), 1st floor Computer Room (Couch only), and basement Tool Room. Each zone can be attacked.
- Caesar and Miho arrived at 10pm from Seattle. Caesar was one of my Tokyo buddies, and a musical collaborator on the Project Manager super-group. He's in town to speak at a school, since he's a super high-up game developer guy. They arrived safely, brought their rented SUV (they heard about the weather), and we had a total blast together until 2am.
- Pamela took off at 1am to get in line for preschool registration for Bella and Isaac. It's totally first come first served, and it's a "cherished" tradition to start the line at midnight. Even at 1am, Pamela was 10th in line. Fortunately, there is honor in the line, so people can sign up their place in line and go back to sleep in their cars. Which Pamela did. She got all the classes she wanted!
SATURDAY:
- Pamela came back to us at 9am, and had breakfast with me and the guests, and conked out at 11. Caesar, Miho, Isaac, and I went out to Target (They have them in Seattle, but Miho was curious if the "Home State" ones were any different), then to lunch at the new France44 deli. Miho, a scotch fan, picked up a bottle of Caol Ila 18 year from the France44 liquor store, too... though I didn't get a taste, because...
- At 3, Caesar and Miho headed out to the Mall of America, and I took Isaac over to Grandma and Grandpa's for the night. I came back and got Pamela for our Night Away. (Caesar and Miho went to the Orchestra to see The Bear conduct and see Uncle Chicken, then housesat for us and watched depeche mode videos until 2am again).
- At 4:15, we checked in to the Graves 601 hotel in downtown Mpls just as the snow was starting up. Turns out a foot fell in the next 20 hours, and we were oblivious. Because we never left our sanctuary. Yes, we had dinner downstairs in the Cosmos restaurant (Deelish - I had foie gras and Char, Pamela has Scallops and Bass - among other things...). Then to relaxing-land. We watched the snow fall from our 18th floor window, watching the ant-cars sliding around the ant-trails...
SUNDAY:
- We slept until 9, had breakfast at 10:30 in the room, Pamela napped again into the afternoon, I read a book and did the crossword and sudoku. We left at 3, got Isaac, got Bella, came home, and are about to eat some food and prepare for the Oscars. Caesar and Miho are now in a hotel in Roseville for the rest of their stay... back to normal around here!
And that's how the weekend went. WOW.
- Went to court to finalize Isaac's adoption! Bella was beside herself with excitement about going "To Courts", and was the proudest big sister ever. Isaac was well behaved, but giggled at the court clerk non-stop. So Sir Squirms ESQ is 100% irrevocably one of us. YES!
- Got home, and sent Bella over to JeMae's for a long weekend slumber party with Jenny. Then, CLEANED THE HOUSE. Got us down to 5 zones of chaos (3rd floor closet, 2nd floor workout room, 1st floor dining room (back half), 1st floor Computer Room (Couch only), and basement Tool Room. Each zone can be attacked.
- Caesar and Miho arrived at 10pm from Seattle. Caesar was one of my Tokyo buddies, and a musical collaborator on the Project Manager super-group. He's in town to speak at a school, since he's a super high-up game developer guy. They arrived safely, brought their rented SUV (they heard about the weather), and we had a total blast together until 2am.
- Pamela took off at 1am to get in line for preschool registration for Bella and Isaac. It's totally first come first served, and it's a "cherished" tradition to start the line at midnight. Even at 1am, Pamela was 10th in line. Fortunately, there is honor in the line, so people can sign up their place in line and go back to sleep in their cars. Which Pamela did. She got all the classes she wanted!
SATURDAY:
- Pamela came back to us at 9am, and had breakfast with me and the guests, and conked out at 11. Caesar, Miho, Isaac, and I went out to Target (They have them in Seattle, but Miho was curious if the "Home State" ones were any different), then to lunch at the new France44 deli. Miho, a scotch fan, picked up a bottle of Caol Ila 18 year from the France44 liquor store, too... though I didn't get a taste, because...
- At 3, Caesar and Miho headed out to the Mall of America, and I took Isaac over to Grandma and Grandpa's for the night. I came back and got Pamela for our Night Away. (Caesar and Miho went to the Orchestra to see The Bear conduct and see Uncle Chicken, then housesat for us and watched depeche mode videos until 2am again).
- At 4:15, we checked in to the Graves 601 hotel in downtown Mpls just as the snow was starting up. Turns out a foot fell in the next 20 hours, and we were oblivious. Because we never left our sanctuary. Yes, we had dinner downstairs in the Cosmos restaurant (Deelish - I had foie gras and Char, Pamela has Scallops and Bass - among other things...). Then to relaxing-land. We watched the snow fall from our 18th floor window, watching the ant-cars sliding around the ant-trails...
SUNDAY:
- We slept until 9, had breakfast at 10:30 in the room, Pamela napped again into the afternoon, I read a book and did the crossword and sudoku. We left at 3, got Isaac, got Bella, came home, and are about to eat some food and prepare for the Oscars. Caesar and Miho are now in a hotel in Roseville for the rest of their stay... back to normal around here!
And that's how the weekend went. WOW.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
The Portable Dream
Most of you know I'm a musician... I've been doing electronic, computer-based music since the 1980's, and as computers have got more powerful, I've been able to move my gear from a room full of synthesizers to a single laptop with some very clever software - and my music keeps sounding better and better (production-wise - I could argue that some of my earlier songs have not been bettered - especially Chocolate Earl)
But even as computers got better, I've always been tethered to a "workspace" - and that's because until 1 year ago, there were no laptops that were QUITE powerful enough to do the music I like to do. So I've always had to have a big desktop computer that was my "music machine"...
When we flew to Tokyo in April 2005, Caesar was writing music back in coach class with his Powerbook, and I was watching movies. I just didn't have the portable thing WORKING for me.
Well, last summer, I upgraded to a Macbook, sold the desktop, and was finally ready to be the portable musician. The new Macs finally had the horsepower to do what I needed. But psychologically, I still needed to "plant" myself into my studio, hook up the laptop to the rest of the gear. I had just replaced the big server with a little white box, but the rest was the same. Then Isaac came, and no music was being made.
It wasn't until 2 weeks ago that I finally got an old mini-keyboard (regular keys, but only 2 octaves) back from someone who had borrowed it 2 years back. And I took the laptop and the mini keyboard, and a set of headphones, and wrote a song in the living room. Then another. Then one at the kitchen table. Then one in Bella's room as Papa and Pamela were painting.
And I think I'm finally living a portable dream - I really can write music anywhere. I think it's really cool to be using this technology this way. Viva! And the best part is that, like when I blog, I get to be creative WHILE being in the same room as my family - I don't have to feel like I'm sequestering myself away to pursue my arts...
That's the update.
But even as computers got better, I've always been tethered to a "workspace" - and that's because until 1 year ago, there were no laptops that were QUITE powerful enough to do the music I like to do. So I've always had to have a big desktop computer that was my "music machine"...
When we flew to Tokyo in April 2005, Caesar was writing music back in coach class with his Powerbook, and I was watching movies. I just didn't have the portable thing WORKING for me.
Well, last summer, I upgraded to a Macbook, sold the desktop, and was finally ready to be the portable musician. The new Macs finally had the horsepower to do what I needed. But psychologically, I still needed to "plant" myself into my studio, hook up the laptop to the rest of the gear. I had just replaced the big server with a little white box, but the rest was the same. Then Isaac came, and no music was being made.
It wasn't until 2 weeks ago that I finally got an old mini-keyboard (regular keys, but only 2 octaves) back from someone who had borrowed it 2 years back. And I took the laptop and the mini keyboard, and a set of headphones, and wrote a song in the living room. Then another. Then one at the kitchen table. Then one in Bella's room as Papa and Pamela were painting.
And I think I'm finally living a portable dream - I really can write music anywhere. I think it's really cool to be using this technology this way. Viva! And the best part is that, like when I blog, I get to be creative WHILE being in the same room as my family - I don't have to feel like I'm sequestering myself away to pursue my arts...
That's the update.
The real story of the Dinosaurs
This evening, we were reading a pop-up book about Dinosaurs for bedtime. At the end, Bella asked me about what happened to the dinosaurs. I gave her the unvarnished truth about the asteroid, and the climate change, and how reptiles can't regulate their body temperatures, but how mammals survived... I like to give the whole story.
She offered her own opinion, and here it is:
"Space creatures came down with spaceships and took the dinosaurs before they all froze to death. They had REALLY BIG spaceships, with holes in the roof so that their heads could pop through. And it was space creatures, NOT the dinosaurs who made the spaceships."
So why did they take the dinosaurs, I asked?
"They took them to play with them. They play with the dinosaurs every day from morning to night, and they never have to go to bed if they don't want to. And sometimes, they go to the Burrito Spaceship. That's where all the burritos are made."
So, at this point, I don't think that her theory is in conflict with accepted theories of dinosaur extinction. There's no reason that our fossil record wouldn't be of stragglers, while a lot of the dinosaurs are living it up out in space.
I don't know where this kid is getting her ideas, but my job is clear: Listen, record, and share.
She offered her own opinion, and here it is:
"Space creatures came down with spaceships and took the dinosaurs before they all froze to death. They had REALLY BIG spaceships, with holes in the roof so that their heads could pop through. And it was space creatures, NOT the dinosaurs who made the spaceships."
So why did they take the dinosaurs, I asked?
"They took them to play with them. They play with the dinosaurs every day from morning to night, and they never have to go to bed if they don't want to. And sometimes, they go to the Burrito Spaceship. That's where all the burritos are made."
So, at this point, I don't think that her theory is in conflict with accepted theories of dinosaur extinction. There's no reason that our fossil record wouldn't be of stragglers, while a lot of the dinosaurs are living it up out in space.
I don't know where this kid is getting her ideas, but my job is clear: Listen, record, and share.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Primo Bella Quotage
Bella came out with a few good ones recently.
Her one cute speech impediment is to say "Perfect" as "Perf-Tect". So a week back, in describing Isaac, she said "He keeps getting perftect-er and perftect-er". It was a sweet thought, delivered with maximum cuteness.
Last night she asked "What do bad guys look like?". I tried to say that you can't always tell the bad people by how they look, but more how they act... sort of the good cautionary line. Her response:
"No - I think they have red eyes. And turquoise skin. And they dress all in black. AND they're invisible, so you can't even see them. They only appear when no one is around to see them. Like Dinosaurs. They're still around, but they only appear when no one is looking. Also, like Party Balloons."
(Not sure exactly how "Party Balloons" fit into that equation.)
This morning, Pamela reported the following quote:
"If blankets were spoons, they could carry a lot of soup".
Finally, her word of the week is "Turquoise" which she has been using instead of "Blue" in all instances. She says it perftectly, however.
Her one cute speech impediment is to say "Perfect" as "Perf-Tect". So a week back, in describing Isaac, she said "He keeps getting perftect-er and perftect-er". It was a sweet thought, delivered with maximum cuteness.
Last night she asked "What do bad guys look like?". I tried to say that you can't always tell the bad people by how they look, but more how they act... sort of the good cautionary line. Her response:
"No - I think they have red eyes. And turquoise skin. And they dress all in black. AND they're invisible, so you can't even see them. They only appear when no one is around to see them. Like Dinosaurs. They're still around, but they only appear when no one is looking. Also, like Party Balloons."
(Not sure exactly how "Party Balloons" fit into that equation.)
This morning, Pamela reported the following quote:
"If blankets were spoons, they could carry a lot of soup".
Finally, her word of the week is "Turquoise" which she has been using instead of "Blue" in all instances. She says it perftectly, however.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
God's Neighborhood
Tonight Pamela was putting Bella down, and read a book called "Old Turtle", which involves talk about God. Now, I'm a registered agnostic, and Pamela's a Unitarian, so we don't have a whole lot of literature about the Big G around, but are prepared to treat the subject respectfully.
Bella asked "what's God?" at the end of the story. Pamela gave a good UU talk about how people have different ideas, but that in general, it's a warm spirit that unites us all and helps give us strength (which sound a little like "The Force" from Star Wars, minus the Midiclorian aspect they tried to shoehorn into Episode I which totally ruined the whole concept by introducing a biological aspect. But I digress.)
Bella said - "No, I think God is a people. He just lives in a different neighborhood".
Pamela asked what neighborhood?
"I don't know - China, or Milwaukee or something. What does Milwaukee look like, anyhow?"
I think that we may have a prophet on our hands.
Bella asked "what's God?" at the end of the story. Pamela gave a good UU talk about how people have different ideas, but that in general, it's a warm spirit that unites us all and helps give us strength (which sound a little like "The Force" from Star Wars, minus the Midiclorian aspect they tried to shoehorn into Episode I which totally ruined the whole concept by introducing a biological aspect. But I digress.)
Bella said - "No, I think God is a people. He just lives in a different neighborhood".
Pamela asked what neighborhood?
"I don't know - China, or Milwaukee or something. What does Milwaukee look like, anyhow?"
I think that we may have a prophet on our hands.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
The Lair is open...
I had Rich and Uncle Chicken over last night for another Scotch and Movie night: These are truly turning into a highlight for all of us - we're bonding well, sharing good stories, and having a great time. The scotches included Oban, Springbank, Lagavulin (as always), Caol Ila, and a taste of Jameson Gold to start. The movies were Idiocracy (even funnier the second time for me) and Run Lola Run (a classic).
The Basement Lair is well secluded from the house, so our belly laughs, screams, and techno music did not disturb the sleeping family.... though the family is still reeling from the sicknesses:
Yes, Pamela has her annual sinus infection, and got completely wiped out starting Friday and really presenting today, with her sleeping til 10, and taking a 4 hour nap in the day too. But she need to heal - I'm not complaining. I'm just glad that my post-scotch fuzzy wasn't too bad - since Isaac had decided that 6 was a perfectly reasonable wake-up time.
With Pamela down, I managed Isaac and Bella... when Isaac went down for an early nap, Bella and I snuck out to do some errands, starting with bagels at Brueggers. I love doing errands with Bella. Isaac seems to be mostly better now, but is now having trouble not getting all of the same attention: He wants a lot of holding, especially while falling asleep. So we're working on getting him back to his normal "sleep when sleepy wherever" self he was. Also, his appetite is back, and he's making up for lost time.
Oh, the Jag is back in the shop: a second tire fell off the rim, which has created a crisis of confidence in the house. This is unfortunately a side effect of not having a garage: Exposing tires and alloy rims to sub-zero temps for 2 weeks straight has resulted in the seal between tire and rim getting brittle. So the tire just sort of wanders off of the rim. this is very bad, but with the cold snap behind us, this will be done with. This same thing did happen to my Beetle many years back, and the only real solution would be to do snow tires on steel rims. But that would be hideous, so nuts to that. More likely, after a coooold snap, a visual inspection of all 4 tires prior to leaving the driveway is the better move.
Ok, enough about that.
This weekend, we'll have a visit from Papabam, which should be wonderful. The "cover story" is that they're going to be primary for the Kids while we finish whipping the house into shape. Over 3 days, we will get a LOT done. Or else.
Off to bed!
The Basement Lair is well secluded from the house, so our belly laughs, screams, and techno music did not disturb the sleeping family.... though the family is still reeling from the sicknesses:
Yes, Pamela has her annual sinus infection, and got completely wiped out starting Friday and really presenting today, with her sleeping til 10, and taking a 4 hour nap in the day too. But she need to heal - I'm not complaining. I'm just glad that my post-scotch fuzzy wasn't too bad - since Isaac had decided that 6 was a perfectly reasonable wake-up time.
With Pamela down, I managed Isaac and Bella... when Isaac went down for an early nap, Bella and I snuck out to do some errands, starting with bagels at Brueggers. I love doing errands with Bella. Isaac seems to be mostly better now, but is now having trouble not getting all of the same attention: He wants a lot of holding, especially while falling asleep. So we're working on getting him back to his normal "sleep when sleepy wherever" self he was. Also, his appetite is back, and he's making up for lost time.
Oh, the Jag is back in the shop: a second tire fell off the rim, which has created a crisis of confidence in the house. This is unfortunately a side effect of not having a garage: Exposing tires and alloy rims to sub-zero temps for 2 weeks straight has resulted in the seal between tire and rim getting brittle. So the tire just sort of wanders off of the rim. this is very bad, but with the cold snap behind us, this will be done with. This same thing did happen to my Beetle many years back, and the only real solution would be to do snow tires on steel rims. But that would be hideous, so nuts to that. More likely, after a coooold snap, a visual inspection of all 4 tires prior to leaving the driveway is the better move.
Ok, enough about that.
This weekend, we'll have a visit from Papabam, which should be wonderful. The "cover story" is that they're going to be primary for the Kids while we finish whipping the house into shape. Over 3 days, we will get a LOT done. Or else.
Off to bed!
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
A JimVention for you
I was thinking about this idea: "GetMeOuttaHere.com". You go to this website, and for a fee, you can have a text message sent to your pager, or a telephone call placed to your cell with a short recorded message at the time you indicate.
So if you're going to be on a date, or in a meeting, and want a possible out, 30 minutes in, beeeeep you get a page. You stand up and say "sorry, something's up with the server", and you're out. Or you get a call, and you have a short conversation with your previously recorded self, and if things are going poorly on the date, you can say you've been called in to work, or the kid is sick, or whatever.
On a less "sneaky" note, you could use the service to use your cell phone or pager as a wake up service, no matter where you are.
I actually had this idea many years ago (in talking with Eh Xiong back at Ameridata, of all places), but back then, the idea would have relied on a bank of analog modems... but now we have internet phones, and it would be as easy as sending an email...
The drawbacks I see to the plan are several:
1) The most obvious applications are just a little dishonest, and I wonder if that's really a "growth" industry. Is it worth $1 to get out of a meeting? REALLY?
2) It would be so easily abused by people to harass others - imagine programming 20 3 am "wake up calls" to your ex-es cellphone?
3) Suddenly I think about that whole "remote detonation of a bomb with a cellphone" scenario that Jack Bauer is always working against - only instead of a shady arab triggering it with his cell, it's the innocuous coffee bar patron on the web hitting "send"...
So that's a Jimvention that's been on my mind and i figured I'd just lay it out. Run with it people.
So if you're going to be on a date, or in a meeting, and want a possible out, 30 minutes in, beeeeep you get a page. You stand up and say "sorry, something's up with the server", and you're out. Or you get a call, and you have a short conversation with your previously recorded self, and if things are going poorly on the date, you can say you've been called in to work, or the kid is sick, or whatever.
On a less "sneaky" note, you could use the service to use your cell phone or pager as a wake up service, no matter where you are.
I actually had this idea many years ago (in talking with Eh Xiong back at Ameridata, of all places), but back then, the idea would have relied on a bank of analog modems... but now we have internet phones, and it would be as easy as sending an email...
The drawbacks I see to the plan are several:
1) The most obvious applications are just a little dishonest, and I wonder if that's really a "growth" industry. Is it worth $1 to get out of a meeting? REALLY?
2) It would be so easily abused by people to harass others - imagine programming 20 3 am "wake up calls" to your ex-es cellphone?
3) Suddenly I think about that whole "remote detonation of a bomb with a cellphone" scenario that Jack Bauer is always working against - only instead of a shady arab triggering it with his cell, it's the innocuous coffee bar patron on the web hitting "send"...
So that's a Jimvention that's been on my mind and i figured I'd just lay it out. Run with it people.
And better still
Isaac slept pretty well last night - only one wakeup. He is starting to get his appetite back, and he's definitely clearing up on the wheezy front - I hope this is starting to move beyond us... but will not be counting any unhatched chickens just yet. It's just not smart. Anyway - he's a lot more "consolable" - the crying jags are much less, but he still needs extra cuddles, and likes to fall asleep in our arms, not the crib. We're also weaning off the nebulizer - that stuff was probably making him cranky too - what with it being basically speed. We're down to one a day now, and will probably end it this week.
At which point the Penguin air compressor will be used only to blow up balloons for balloon animals. HA!
So with this crisis nearly behind us, i'm starting to try to get my head back into the world again. I was in meetings today back-to-back, and actually did not almost fall asleep in any of them. I am starting to read my German magazines again, and my spanish novella - use it or lose it! And yes, the next brainready products are in the hopper - but first I need to re-sharpen my brain from the collective "dulling" of the past two weeks of sick kiddage.
A quick correction on my previous numbers on Brainready - while we're doing pretty well, the page hits numbers were artificially inflated: It turns out we have 4000 subscribers to our audio podcasts. Each of them has software that is checking our website once a day for an update. So 4000 x 30 days - 120,000 "hits" and they're all legitimate, but they're not 120,000 people reading us.
Still, that 4000 is twice as many as hit us in December, which is twice as many as in November... it is growing at a decent rate, and considering that we have not actually advertised anywhere, I'm pretty happy.
And it makes me think that we're building something people enjoy: If we had gone from 0-100,000 I feel we could have gone right back to zero as quickly - the slashdot effect - a very popular website links to you, and suddenly you have a million hits, but then once that day is passed and they're on to something else, who remembers you?
Sales of the book are somewhat slow... I think that the key will be to have a few books out there (working on #2 now), and even better, I think that a GAME with our exercises might be a breakout product. I'm drawing up some ideas on that.
So I'm back to my one-million ideas thing. It's good to be Jimmy.
At which point the Penguin air compressor will be used only to blow up balloons for balloon animals. HA!
So with this crisis nearly behind us, i'm starting to try to get my head back into the world again. I was in meetings today back-to-back, and actually did not almost fall asleep in any of them. I am starting to read my German magazines again, and my spanish novella - use it or lose it! And yes, the next brainready products are in the hopper - but first I need to re-sharpen my brain from the collective "dulling" of the past two weeks of sick kiddage.
A quick correction on my previous numbers on Brainready - while we're doing pretty well, the page hits numbers were artificially inflated: It turns out we have 4000 subscribers to our audio podcasts. Each of them has software that is checking our website once a day for an update. So 4000 x 30 days - 120,000 "hits" and they're all legitimate, but they're not 120,000 people reading us.
Still, that 4000 is twice as many as hit us in December, which is twice as many as in November... it is growing at a decent rate, and considering that we have not actually advertised anywhere, I'm pretty happy.
And it makes me think that we're building something people enjoy: If we had gone from 0-100,000 I feel we could have gone right back to zero as quickly - the slashdot effect - a very popular website links to you, and suddenly you have a million hits, but then once that day is passed and they're on to something else, who remembers you?
Sales of the book are somewhat slow... I think that the key will be to have a few books out there (working on #2 now), and even better, I think that a GAME with our exercises might be a breakout product. I'm drawing up some ideas on that.
So I'm back to my one-million ideas thing. It's good to be Jimmy.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Getting Better
A long long night - Isaac didn't sleep too well, so neither did we. He's more crabby now than wheezy.. we think a tooth may be popping through now. But he's breathing pretty well, save from the occasional coughing fits.
So keep those candles burning, but it sounds like he's on the recovery. I just wanted everyone to know.
So keep those candles burning, but it sounds like he's on the recovery. I just wanted everyone to know.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
An Open Letter
This is an open letter to all bands who have a superfantastic single and then have an album that sounds nothing like that single. I have been burned too often.
1) If your single has a fabulous female singing lead vocals, I will not want to buy your album to discover that that singer is either a guest vocalist or a back-up singer and that all of the other songs are sung by a guy who sounds like he learned by studying songs by Mister Mister. (I'm looking at you Royksopp and Shiny Toy Guns).
2) If your single is a quirky electro masterpiece, I will be very disappointed if the rest of your album sounds like a bar band from Boston circa 1978 (Again, Shiny Toy Guns, the Sounds...)
3) If you get Trentemoller to remix your song, and that's my first exposure to you, then you simply will never be able to live up to my expectations (The Knife, Royksopp) Trentemoller is a god.
I really don't think it's out of line for me to expect that a song that is being promoted by a band SOUND LIKE THE BAND IN QUESTION. To have these singles out there that sound entirely different than the rest of the album brings to mind a few options of what may have happened:
Theory A: They got a record deal based on that new song they wrote, and then when they needed to fill an album they used songs from their bar band past, instead of confidently writing new material.
Theory B: All the hip people know that it was a guest vocalist, and I'm just last in line - and I'm the only sucker in this deal.
Theory C: Kids these days can't write albums like they did back in the day, when Duran Duran would knock out an album in Montressat, hitting the night life, flying airplanes, and touring stadiums, all while looking fantastic.
And that's my rant.
1) If your single has a fabulous female singing lead vocals, I will not want to buy your album to discover that that singer is either a guest vocalist or a back-up singer and that all of the other songs are sung by a guy who sounds like he learned by studying songs by Mister Mister. (I'm looking at you Royksopp and Shiny Toy Guns).
2) If your single is a quirky electro masterpiece, I will be very disappointed if the rest of your album sounds like a bar band from Boston circa 1978 (Again, Shiny Toy Guns, the Sounds...)
3) If you get Trentemoller to remix your song, and that's my first exposure to you, then you simply will never be able to live up to my expectations (The Knife, Royksopp) Trentemoller is a god.
I really don't think it's out of line for me to expect that a song that is being promoted by a band SOUND LIKE THE BAND IN QUESTION. To have these singles out there that sound entirely different than the rest of the album brings to mind a few options of what may have happened:
Theory A: They got a record deal based on that new song they wrote, and then when they needed to fill an album they used songs from their bar band past, instead of confidently writing new material.
Theory B: All the hip people know that it was a guest vocalist, and I'm just last in line - and I'm the only sucker in this deal.
Theory C: Kids these days can't write albums like they did back in the day, when Duran Duran would knock out an album in Montressat, hitting the night life, flying airplanes, and touring stadiums, all while looking fantastic.
And that's my rant.
Not RSV related
It has yet to break 0 degrees Fahrenheit out today - it's a cold one. But in spite of it, Bella and I bundled up to go work out to Body Jam this afternoon. It's very fun to bring her... but I've been puzzled: The first time we went, she was very serious about learning the dance moves and really trying to do them all. She's come 3 more times, and each time, she's sort of hung toward the back, or gone off to the side to play with the workout mats.
Today, I finally figured it out: She asked where the BOY instructor was - our first time, Alan was teaching, and she followed his instructions to the letter. Every other time, it has been Maddie, a 16 year old dancer (and daughter of the studio owner). I'm not sure why that would make a difference... but she mentioned it, and it may be a key...
Afterward we had a bite at Patrick's, where the girl who won't eat eggs or vegetables will wolf down a spinach quiche with abandon. Then off to the Hub Hobby center to get model glue for me to build a robot for Isaac's room. (and a horsie for Bella, natch).
Now, as you know, I've built a LOT of robots in my day - I love the Bandai Gundam series, but once you've built one or two (or eight), they're all pretty much the exact same robot. Hub was blowing out their robots for half price, so I got something that had a somewhat mysterious picture on the front - it looked like a bright, dynamic robot with a drill arm.
Having assembled it, I must say that the cover was faulty advertising at best. It's maybe the dumbest looking robot I've ever had in my house. I'm torn about whether it will be staying. Dumb robot.
Today, I finally figured it out: She asked where the BOY instructor was - our first time, Alan was teaching, and she followed his instructions to the letter. Every other time, it has been Maddie, a 16 year old dancer (and daughter of the studio owner). I'm not sure why that would make a difference... but she mentioned it, and it may be a key...
Afterward we had a bite at Patrick's, where the girl who won't eat eggs or vegetables will wolf down a spinach quiche with abandon. Then off to the Hub Hobby center to get model glue for me to build a robot for Isaac's room. (and a horsie for Bella, natch).
Now, as you know, I've built a LOT of robots in my day - I love the Bandai Gundam series, but once you've built one or two (or eight), they're all pretty much the exact same robot. Hub was blowing out their robots for half price, so I got something that had a somewhat mysterious picture on the front - it looked like a bright, dynamic robot with a drill arm.
Having assembled it, I must say that the cover was faulty advertising at best. It's maybe the dumbest looking robot I've ever had in my house. I'm torn about whether it will be staying. Dumb robot.
RSV
Poor Isaac appears to have RSV - which is a respiratory virus, so he's coughing up wet phelgmy coughs, is off his food, and is generally unhappy. But the kicker is that the RSV has exposed a latent Asthma in him... so he's also got a wheeze. We got a nebulizer and some albueterol to help him.
The Neb is an air compressor shaped like a Penguin, and it bubbles the liquid albuterol into a fine mist which he breathes in through a tube we hold down near his nose - we don't have him in a face mask or anything.
We were so worried about him yesterday - he's not sleeping very well, and is so crabby, and around 10pm he got into a coughing fit that wound up with him puking a bit. We got all packed up for the emergency room, when our pediatrician on-call returned our page. Turns out, with RSV, there's really not much they can do at the hospital that's different than what you can do at home. They'd apply the albuterol, and maybe give him some extra oxygen, but there's no magic they can do that is any better than the TLC we can give.
As if on cue, Isaac started smiling and laughing. And he did sleep pretty well in the night. Today, he's still sad and grumpy and doesn't want to be put down, but his rattle does seem to be getting better. We're still nebulizing him. And I finally remembered the "Car Seat trick" for keeping him napping, since he has woken up every 15 minutes during naptime. But pop him in the seat, keep an eye on him, and when he stirs, just rock the seat again, and he stays down. I'm into my second hour of his nap now, and am pretty happy he's getting this rest.
Bella has the cough too - but it's more of a mild, dry one.
It's such a cold day, we're warming ourselves in front of Mr Rogers with no intention of going out again.
The Neb is an air compressor shaped like a Penguin, and it bubbles the liquid albuterol into a fine mist which he breathes in through a tube we hold down near his nose - we don't have him in a face mask or anything.
We were so worried about him yesterday - he's not sleeping very well, and is so crabby, and around 10pm he got into a coughing fit that wound up with him puking a bit. We got all packed up for the emergency room, when our pediatrician on-call returned our page. Turns out, with RSV, there's really not much they can do at the hospital that's different than what you can do at home. They'd apply the albuterol, and maybe give him some extra oxygen, but there's no magic they can do that is any better than the TLC we can give.
As if on cue, Isaac started smiling and laughing. And he did sleep pretty well in the night. Today, he's still sad and grumpy and doesn't want to be put down, but his rattle does seem to be getting better. We're still nebulizing him. And I finally remembered the "Car Seat trick" for keeping him napping, since he has woken up every 15 minutes during naptime. But pop him in the seat, keep an eye on him, and when he stirs, just rock the seat again, and he stays down. I'm into my second hour of his nap now, and am pretty happy he's getting this rest.
Bella has the cough too - but it's more of a mild, dry one.
It's such a cold day, we're warming ourselves in front of Mr Rogers with no intention of going out again.
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