Rock, Scissors, Fire

It seems like all engineers like to name things in clever ways along a common theme.  Most often, this manifests itself in the names of computers.  All of the servers in a given server room or individual rack might get named after Simpsons characters, the seven dwarves, the seven deadly sins, the nine greek muses, … Continue reading Rock, Scissors, Fire

Resident Evil Portland

I have two Powell’s-branded Nalgene bottles (one for math and one for physics) that have served me well over the years. Unfortunately, they were made with the toxic BPA plastic, so both needed replacing. The first one was replaced a couple of months ago by a steel Nathan bottle with a flip-top sippy-straw. I didn’t … Continue reading Resident Evil Portland

Sense.

The vending machine at work confuses me. Water is twice the price of soda. Sure, the Cokes are 12oz and water is 20oz, but it’s water! I can get filtered water for free from the refrigerator. In other news, I went to a site with a cute little CAPTCHA today. Sure, it’s not quite KittenAuth, … Continue reading Sense.

The past week, in which we defend the birdfeeder from squirrels

Thursday: Went to The Architecture of the Universe lecture for the Institute of Science, Engineering, and Public Policy. It was very heady and presented a compelling multiverse theory that I’m not sure I groked enough to retell here. Also heard, once again, the apocryphal story of turtles all the way down. Friday: date night at … Continue reading The past week, in which we defend the birdfeeder from squirrels

This has been composing itself in my head for a week

Please note that all blog posts before 8 April 2007 were automatically imported from LiveJournal.  To see the comments and any LiveJournal-specific extras such as polls and user icons, please find the source posting at http://brianenigma.livejournal.com/2005/03/Saturday morning, I woke up in a tub of cold water. Little did I realize that later that evening, a man … Continue reading This has been composing itself in my head for a week

Picture Pages! Picture Pages! Time to get your crayons and your pencils!

Please note that all blog posts before 8 April 2007 were automatically imported from LiveJournal.  To see the comments and any LiveJournal-specific extras such as polls and user icons, please find the source posting at http://brianenigma.livejournal.com/2004/08/Today’s post will include a few pictures, but first the things for which there are no pictures. A few nights ago, … Continue reading Picture Pages! Picture Pages! Time to get your crayons and your pencils!

a mess on my hands and at my feet

Please note that all blog posts before 8 April 2007 were automatically imported from LiveJournal.  To see the comments and any LiveJournal-specific extras such as polls and user icons, please find the source posting at http://brianenigma.livejournal.com/2002/05/Attention People Of Earth: When you are full of red wine and decide it is time to change the filter on … Continue reading a mess on my hands and at my feet