onfocus

Would you like me to help you store, manage, and access data? That's what I do. It sounds dry, but it's very exciting work. Everyone has data they need to store, manage, and access (especially via the web). Let me know. Thanks.

Can you tell I'm not in marketing?

A web project I've been involved with on and off for the past six months went live today. My contributions were mostly behind the scenes: storing, accessing, and managing data. It's nice to see it all come together like this.

Are you interested in the history of civil engineering? Of course you are! Check it out.

yeah, yum.

Congratulations Matt and Kay! And Happy Birthday Kay! So much to celebrate and so little time. (And Happy Birthday Matt [in advance]!)

He's right. Excellent, excellent food. I didn't think I'd be saying such good things about someplace on the dark side (Napa Valley, CA) but, yeah, there it is. Visit Sonoma County too. :)

I'd just like to say (because I can) that when people are no longer able to criticize their government, they are experiencing a totalitarian government. I might not agree with dissenting opinions, but I believe in free speech.

It was like something out of a difference-between-men-and-women stand-up routine last night at the store. I drug skp out specifically to pick up the Simpsons DVDs which she wasn't thrilled about. But in the store, right next to them, was a box full of Pride and Prejudice DVDs. She freaked. out. I've only seen bits of that show as I'm running out of the room, but it looks like people in elaborate costumes speaking stilted english; going on and on about some Mr. Darcy. It has rubbed off on skp. It's Mr. Darcy this and Mr. Darcy that around here.

Tonight I'll get, "Mr. Darcy would never post something like that to his weblog."

If you don't already own it, stop whatever you're doing and purchase the Simpsons Complete First Season on DVD. (Tip: My local discount store was cheaper than Amazon.) Or better yet, find someone like me who already purchased the DVDs, and invite yourself over for a Simpsons festivus. While the first season isn't as good as later seasons, it's fascinating to hear Matt Groening and other creators dissecting each episode. (At one point they talk about how they standardized pupil size!) They've also included three originial scripts, complete with pen marks. mmmm, pen marks.

Had a great weekend. On Sunday I got out into the sun and hiked up Bald Mountain. It's more a hill than a mountain. It was still a good hike, and my legs are a bit shakey today. Great views of Sonoma County geography from the top:

On top of Bald Mountain

"Encryption is a powerful defensive weapon for free people. It offers a technical guarantee of privacy, regardless of who is running the government. It's hard to think of a more powerful, less dangerous tool for liberty."
- Esther Dyson

During these trying times it's important to protect and defend our liberties.

I only caught part of the President's speech at the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C. earlier today, but the soundbites I saw were great. He said: "Those who feel like they can intimidate our fellow citizens to take out their anger don't represent the best of America, they represent the worst of humankind, and they should be ashamed of that kind of behavior." It's an important message. [link via Metafilter]