Archive for February, 2006

Promotional gifts

Posted February 27, 2006 * Comments(0)

Well at least it’s not a parting gift, but I’m been promoted at work. Whatever that means…

Basically, the old adage of “good work will be rewarded with more work” definitely applies.

Not that I’m complaining, I still have a great boss and great co-workers. I just hope I don’t work myself too hard over the next couple of years…

My dinner with Balmer

Posted February 14, 2006 * Comments(0)

Greetings from Barcelona Spain.

My co-workers and I went for a nice dinner and I saw this guy. We decided to graciously tone down our talk of Linux and Open Source.

It was a bit surreal. We were told this was a “high-end” place, but this was just outworldly.

Happy Valentine’s Day to my dear wife, who is at home with my sick son, while I am over here having to deal with European dinner habits with one of the world’s richest men…

Sub-par Bowl XL

Posted February 6, 2006 * Comments(0)

The Super Bowl is quickly becoming less and less an event. Now, it’s just an excuse to sit down an watch a football game guaranteed to be transmitted in HD along with most commercials being in HD as well.

Best of Super Bowl XL 2006

  • Google Video of all Ads
  • Nick Bakay’s Super Bowl Blog - Read for some good sports guy commentary on the XL
  • Tom Brady (who’s team the Steelers defeated on their way to the playoffs) being on the field for the coin toss. He was booed so mercilessly that close-captioning even said [crowd boos]
  • Antwaan Randle-El’s reverse flanker option pass

    • Saddest Super Bowl Commentary:

  • No really creative commercials this year
  • No really original movies this year (Although V for Vendetta looks nice for a comic book adaptation). Although 16 Blocks stands a chance because I had no idea what it was about by watching the trailer. Poseidon… pass. MI:3… pass.
  • Fell asleep during halftime show until 6 minutes left in the 3rd quarter
  • Diet Pepsi commercials = lame

    Nice lazy Sunday. Homemade 5-layer dip. Big Huge Pizza.

    • psychology

    Posted February 4, 2006 * Comments(0)

    I love psychology. I think understanding the motivation for people’s behaviors is actually one of the great mysteries of the mankind.

    So, combining that with work, people are starting to publish papers about the effects on disposition and success/failure.

    While I mostly agree with this:
    Overly optimistic people tend to shift the blame.
    Those with serious problems dealing with failure tend to wallow.
    And those that are really worried about “doing a good job” tend to do the best.

    Most people are looking for a combination of responsible people (you cannot shift the blame to others) while trying to do a good job at the same time.

    I just wonder if this study is white-collar or blue-collar. One big difference is that motivations between the two types of jobs vastly changes outcomes.