scott

Why Do We Always Have to Choose Between Convenience and Privacy?

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It was a bit disturbing how fast using Global Entry got me through Passport Control at JFK today. I did not show my passport at all. I just had my picture taken and then walked by a guy at a terminal and he said my name as I walked by saying I was good to go. Entire process was maybe 2 minutes including the one minute for a kiosk to open up to let me take my photo.

In one way that entire process was right out of several movies. So cool us. On the other hand is having a US government agency have my facial recognition profile on file for a few minutes quicker passport control? I am struggling to answer that after looking at the passport control line as I walked briskly to the exit.

Spoilers, I am in New York for 3 days this weekend. Surprise everyone I did not mention that to. That is not the focus of this post but kind of a tip off that I am in the states going through Global Entry. This trip may spawn some other posts especially since I may have time to write while further traveling.

40 Year Old Ice Cream Anyone?

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The title says it all. This is a bag of 40 year old astronaut ice cream I got when we went to Cape Kennedy around 1983. Recently I did notice that bag is not vacuum sealed like it was when purchased. I am thinking it needs to go into a hermetically sealed container. I am afraid of the world ending bacteria that may be in it after 40 years.

Still it is a piece of my childhood so I did not toss it out. Yet….

W Sisters Short on Cleaning Up

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paddington Bear 2 traveling

I was checking with M about when/if the girls were going to put their bikes away. They were in our entry hallway and it was a bit crowded. Her response was that if the girls clean their room they would be able to go biking later when the rain stopped. Thus the bikes were still out and not in the shed. M continued that the girls previously said they cleaned their room. She mentioned she would go check in a bit.

A heard M say that from the other room. A then stops what she’s doing and said “I need to go up to my room for a minute to check on something.” I am pretty sure that was slightly transparent code for let me finish tidying up some books.

Full disclosure I find this funnier since I wrote it circa 2019 and never published it. Still funny though.

Tube Etiquette Question

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London Underground

If someone thinks it is ok to play loud videos on the train without headphones, is it ok to talk about said people as if they are not there? They are ignoring everyone else is around, can’t we in discussing their rudeness ignore that they are around? It doesn’t violate the first rule of tube travel, never make eye contact so I am not sure if it is an acceptable fix for that situation…

Let The Waiting For The Raspberry Pi 5 Begin…

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So of course I pre-ordered the Raspberry Pi 5 (8gb) after I saw that it was announced. Sadly I missed the announcement by a day or two. I then saw the guidance that by the time I pre-ordered it would have to wait till sometime in early 2024 to receive it.

I also saw even after the launch if you subscribed to either of two Pi magazines you could get yours straight away. Yes I almost subscribed, but i am proud of myself for not doing it and waiting patiently. Or am I?

W Sisters Short on Maniacal Laughs

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I’m not sure 100% why, however, when the other day the girls were trying to one up each other with their maniacal laughs, I thought I might be actually succeeding as a parent.

They used to spin around slowly in my office chair, holding stuffed animals going well well well what do we have here in their best Dr evil impression I was also equally impressed.

Now with our cat it’s almost like they have seen Austin Powers (they haven’t) because they do the same thing wi5h our cat and it reminds me so much of doctor evil. They have instead I try it and taken videos. Still winning as a parent if I do say so myself:)

15 Years

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I wanted to write something to mark my 15th anniversary at LSEG (Thomson Reuters, Refinitiv, LSEG). So much has changed with me and the world . Yet I still get excited by a view like this one out of our conference room during a workshop today. It’s a very different view from my memorable ones out of the office in Times Square or Docklands, but just as energising.

It also helps to still be working with people who make every day fun even after 15 years.

The Stuff of My Childhood Nightmares

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Going to Macy’s when we were in NYC in August we took the escalator up to the 9th floor to goto the Luggage section. Between the 8th and 9th floors the escalator’s change from more “modern” metal ones to a wood one. I recall these from Macy’s from when I was a kid. Back then they very likely between more floors than this one. I remember being very afraid of stepping onto them. They were rickety and old looking even then. They also have much wider “teeth” since they were wood so it was always scary. Seeing them again brought back an inner scream of “Nooooooo”.

I am The Indiana Jones of My Kitchen

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Our cat keeps finding trinkets to play with and runs around the kitchen with them scurrying around on the floor. Inevitably they seem to end up under our refrigerator. I am starting to feel like Indiana Jones on a dig every couple of weeks fishing out things that I’ve gotten under there.

It’s always a mystery. I’m never lonely though. Grogu is my trusty companion ever sniffing under the refrigerator trying to get out something. I have not yet started calling him short round though…

The Story of The Prescriptions Pads

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I am not really sure what my dad would think of his prescription pad’s being used as note pads. He was a man who brought me home scrubs from work so i could use them as Pajama’s. Based off that he might think this is a good use of paper.

Photo from my mom’s use of these when we last visited NY.