Terry’s Worklog

I’ve been a little delinquent at posting pictures of my boys over this last summer.  I’ve always been a terrible picture taker and even worse about developing pictures that I’ve taken (one of the great things about the digital camera — I can take them, archive them — and then pull them later when I finally decide I want prints).  Well, here are a couple of updates.  Kenny will be going into kindergarten this fall (and very excited) and Nathan turns 2 this next Monday (Sept 11th).  They are a bit of a handful (boundless energy and all) — but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

–TR

I’d be curious to know how much truth their is to the article found on the UK’s Register.  I was glancing through slashdot and was pointed to an article on Google working on ways to utilize a PC’s built-in microphone to essentially catalog the conversations, sounds, etc. around the machine to target advertising to the user.  Here’s the article: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/03/google_eav…  I’ve mentioned this before, but for a company whose mantra started as “Do no evil”, a somewhat obvious jab at the large mega software shop to their north, they have been doing just about everything that they can to snub privacy advocates and collect more data on you and me. 

What I will find curious will be how folks react if this indeed is a legitimate story.  I’ve noticed in the past that Google and to some degree Apple, gets a free pass when in comes to many issues dealing with privacy.  Will they continue to get this free pass?  Will less scrupulous individuals figure out how to utilize this new functionality to do things that might be less desirable (more than likely).  

Finally, at what point will folks start to look at the Googles, Microsofts, Red Hats as what they are — large companies that really don’t have the public or individuals best interests at heart.  They may provide some very useful services — provide some public good — but you’d better believe that every project is produced with some strategic purpose in mind.

–TR

This will be my off topic rant of the week.  I think its from the lack of sleep, but ugh — I stayed up late last night to watch the US basketball team again, look like a bunch of posers on the world stage.  A lot of folks will say that the team underachieved.  I don’t think so.  I think really they might have overachieved.  Having watched them tank in the last two international competitions, I think that its pretty easy to see why the US team hasn’t been successful:

1. US basketball is all flash — no substance.  Its the NBA’s fault and to some degree, a reflection everyone wanting to be like Mike (Michael Jordan).  Early in Jordan’s career, he made such a name for himself as a high flyer that few seem to remember that he was a great shooter who got better with age.  He could shoot from all over the court — as could Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, etc.  Today’s NBA just doesn’t seem well suited for shooters any longer.  I use to love watching professional basketball, but in the past 5 or so years, its turned into a wrestling match — where teams only score if they can get to the basket.  Few actually shoot jumpshots with much precision any more.  This is very different from the International style.
2. A field of 12 good players a team it does not make:  A lot of folks seem to think that you can just throw 12 professional players together and poof — you have a great team that can take on all comers.  I think not.  I’ve always thought that the US should send the College champion to the Olympics.  I love college basketball because its played much more like an international style with kids that are playing because they love to play.

On a more happy note — the Oregon State Beavers started the season putting the hurt down on Eastern Washington (I know — not a powerhouse).  Great way to start the season with 42 points by halftime with many of the first string coming out at the half way point in the second quarter.

–TR