Dear Mark,
We don't get much snow, but today was the exception. Much more to report than I have time to do so. Here's a quick one of Jack and me ripping up the 2% driveway decline!
Jeff
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Biking Infographic
Dear Mark,
This link was a lot of fun to read through:
This link was a lot of fun to read through:
I think that 2012 will see me riding more and more, and not just with Jack. I'm signed up for RAMROD (Ride Around Mt. Rainier in One Day). This will be my 3rd time riding this most excellent and epic ride.
Cheers
Jeff
Monday, December 19, 2011
Kindle Fire
Dear Mark
Lavi and I upgraded our Kindles recently. She had a first gen and I had the 2nd gen Kindles this past year. I would easily say that it was our most used gadget of 2011. I think that we used our iphones a bit more but I rule out the time as a phone and go to use. Amazon certainly made some money from us in comparison to Apple. After the hardware cost I would say that we spent very little in the Apple App Store but after purchasing less expensive Kindle device we purchased a lot of books.
The new Kindle Fire came out and we immediately upgraded. We both seem to be enjoying it a good deal. The reading experience is very good, navigation and things work as expected. The backlit reading of the Kindle Fire is different, but just that. Something to get use to.
Where the Kindle Fire also comes out ahead is in the size, resolution, and other things it can do. Where it seems to be lacking is that it is essentially a version 1 hardware/software device and Android OS.
1. Size: Here I compare it not to the older gen Kindles (same size approx) but to the iPad. Trying to read with the iPad is just a bit much. If I can put it on a table and flip around it is fine, but when I hold it for too long it becomes too heavy. The Kindle Fire fits my hands like a book does, and becomes familiar.
2. Resolution: Again a comparison to iPad, but also to the first gen Kindles. The color screen is a big upgrade in just about everything the Kindle did and now does. Browsing the web and reading other non-Kindle ebooks is much better. I find I want to do more with it. I read PDF documents, watch videos and browse the web with it.
3. Kindle Fire lets me do more: I mentioned web surfing and video already. You can download a multitude of apps for Android to do a lot more. Games and productivity apps are some that I've experimented with already.
4. v1 hardware/software app: Amazon has done a great job in nailing a lot of things, but it is still v1 for Kindle Fire. I see some navigation nuances and at times very touchy screen that leads to weird interaction. The video playback sucks the battery like a camel at a watering hole too. I'm hoping a lot of this can be updated in the software and not require new hardware. I think Amazon will be pretty sensitive to that.
5. Android OS: I have to admit that I don't like Android OS much. It seems less functional than iOS, which is probably false, but I blame things on the OS when I see certain limitations. At times the response time is slow and I don't know where to lay blame for that, but to me it's either the app layer or the OS layer. By default I blame the OS. That said, Amazon seems to have crafted a great experience on Android and it's not even close to a deal breaker for me.
Overall, we are using our Kindle Fire's a lot. I have plans for some trips this coming year and I'm already 90% sure I'm going to take my Kindle Fire instead of my iPad, but we'll just wait to see for sure.
2011 I think I read a lot, which was one of my resolutions. I finished the Hyperion series by Dan Simmons. I got into the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. I read the latest from Jim Butcher and only want more of the Dresden Files. I finished his Codex Alera series. I'm waiting on the third installment from Robin Hobb, who I enjoy but lately I feel she's phoned in her last two trilogies. I also got into a few series from Christopher Moore (bloodsucker series) that were funny good reads.
I've let Dad use my old Kindle. I have all the Jim Butcher "Dresden Files" books on it for him to read. I think he may actually really like it. I should post how he finds the experience.
Hope the Holiday fun is picking up for you and the family!
Cheers
Jeff
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Lavi and I upgraded our Kindles recently. She had a first gen and I had the 2nd gen Kindles this past year. I would easily say that it was our most used gadget of 2011. I think that we used our iphones a bit more but I rule out the time as a phone and go to use. Amazon certainly made some money from us in comparison to Apple. After the hardware cost I would say that we spent very little in the Apple App Store but after purchasing less expensive Kindle device we purchased a lot of books.
The new Kindle Fire came out and we immediately upgraded. We both seem to be enjoying it a good deal. The reading experience is very good, navigation and things work as expected. The backlit reading of the Kindle Fire is different, but just that. Something to get use to.
Where the Kindle Fire also comes out ahead is in the size, resolution, and other things it can do. Where it seems to be lacking is that it is essentially a version 1 hardware/software device and Android OS.
1. Size: Here I compare it not to the older gen Kindles (same size approx) but to the iPad. Trying to read with the iPad is just a bit much. If I can put it on a table and flip around it is fine, but when I hold it for too long it becomes too heavy. The Kindle Fire fits my hands like a book does, and becomes familiar.
2. Resolution: Again a comparison to iPad, but also to the first gen Kindles. The color screen is a big upgrade in just about everything the Kindle did and now does. Browsing the web and reading other non-Kindle ebooks is much better. I find I want to do more with it. I read PDF documents, watch videos and browse the web with it.
3. Kindle Fire lets me do more: I mentioned web surfing and video already. You can download a multitude of apps for Android to do a lot more. Games and productivity apps are some that I've experimented with already.
4. v1 hardware/software app: Amazon has done a great job in nailing a lot of things, but it is still v1 for Kindle Fire. I see some navigation nuances and at times very touchy screen that leads to weird interaction. The video playback sucks the battery like a camel at a watering hole too. I'm hoping a lot of this can be updated in the software and not require new hardware. I think Amazon will be pretty sensitive to that.
5. Android OS: I have to admit that I don't like Android OS much. It seems less functional than iOS, which is probably false, but I blame things on the OS when I see certain limitations. At times the response time is slow and I don't know where to lay blame for that, but to me it's either the app layer or the OS layer. By default I blame the OS. That said, Amazon seems to have crafted a great experience on Android and it's not even close to a deal breaker for me.
Overall, we are using our Kindle Fire's a lot. I have plans for some trips this coming year and I'm already 90% sure I'm going to take my Kindle Fire instead of my iPad, but we'll just wait to see for sure.
2011 I think I read a lot, which was one of my resolutions. I finished the Hyperion series by Dan Simmons. I got into the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. I read the latest from Jim Butcher and only want more of the Dresden Files. I finished his Codex Alera series. I'm waiting on the third installment from Robin Hobb, who I enjoy but lately I feel she's phoned in her last two trilogies. I also got into a few series from Christopher Moore (bloodsucker series) that were funny good reads.
I've let Dad use my old Kindle. I have all the Jim Butcher "Dresden Files" books on it for him to read. I think he may actually really like it. I should post how he finds the experience.
Hope the Holiday fun is picking up for you and the family!
Cheers
Jeff
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Social Media Hurts My Blog
Dear Mark
I have to admit, social media is killing my blog time. Sure I could and have blamed lots of other things, but really it is social media. Whether it is Facebook or Twitter, I just don't seem to have the creative time to get to it. Another thing getting in the way is work (I know, the audacity!), which is a good problem to have in our economy. Funny thing is, that our team is starting an internal blog on a project and I get to contribute. I'm not sure work is ready for my "writing style" but we'll see.
I've still been running this year and enjoying the time to work out and be in my head. I think of so many blog ideas as I run. Surprisingly many are around suffering, pain, ideas that seem good at the time and the amount of rain our city receives, but ideas nonetheless. I know I still have the inspiration to write and I want to get back to it. I'm making a preemptive strike on resolutions, and writing letters to you is at the top, right after make the perfect margarita (seeking perfection should never stop).
One way I'm hoping to improve is by beating social media and hardware at their game. I may link more to the blog from other avenues and vice versa. Another thing that I did was I picked up a bluetooth keyboard for my iPad that will help me post using my iPad. In fact, this is my maiden blog post with it.
Here's hoping I/we make good on our resolutions.
Cheers
Jeff
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I have to admit, social media is killing my blog time. Sure I could and have blamed lots of other things, but really it is social media. Whether it is Facebook or Twitter, I just don't seem to have the creative time to get to it. Another thing getting in the way is work (I know, the audacity!), which is a good problem to have in our economy. Funny thing is, that our team is starting an internal blog on a project and I get to contribute. I'm not sure work is ready for my "writing style" but we'll see.
I've still been running this year and enjoying the time to work out and be in my head. I think of so many blog ideas as I run. Surprisingly many are around suffering, pain, ideas that seem good at the time and the amount of rain our city receives, but ideas nonetheless. I know I still have the inspiration to write and I want to get back to it. I'm making a preemptive strike on resolutions, and writing letters to you is at the top, right after make the perfect margarita (seeking perfection should never stop).
One way I'm hoping to improve is by beating social media and hardware at their game. I may link more to the blog from other avenues and vice versa. Another thing that I did was I picked up a bluetooth keyboard for my iPad that will help me post using my iPad. In fact, this is my maiden blog post with it.
Here's hoping I/we make good on our resolutions.
Cheers
Jeff
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, November 4, 2011
Halloween 2011
Dear Mark
Halloween was a fun event this year for our house. Lavinia and I enjoy decorating the house. Each year we add more and more to our exterior decorations. At first I was never too excited about decorating. Its a lot of work, its crummy weather, but then after a few years it became more and more fun. This year Jack helped me drag all the boxes out of the shed and set things up.
Another thing we did this year were some craft projects. The internet is great for quick and easy projects for kids. Jack helped me make a "scary spider!" and a some "spooky ghosts." Our favorite were the lighted ghosts for outside.
Jack chose to go as Iron Man this year. Being the Marvel household that we are, I was tickled by the choice. I have photos of him in his costume below. He really got into trick or treating this year. He seemed to get that it was for him and he had a lot of fun. The Bicycle Alliance of Washington sponsored a KEXP party for kids that we took him to.
I don't normally dress up at the office. Mostly because I think about it too late. I did think up some ideas but I wasn't sure if they'd work. Here's a quick list. You can let me know your favorite.
Here's a gallery of photos for you.
Happy Halloween!
Jeff
Halloween was a fun event this year for our house. Lavinia and I enjoy decorating the house. Each year we add more and more to our exterior decorations. At first I was never too excited about decorating. Its a lot of work, its crummy weather, but then after a few years it became more and more fun. This year Jack helped me drag all the boxes out of the shed and set things up.
Another thing we did this year were some craft projects. The internet is great for quick and easy projects for kids. Jack helped me make a "scary spider!" and a some "spooky ghosts." Our favorite were the lighted ghosts for outside.
Jack chose to go as Iron Man this year. Being the Marvel household that we are, I was tickled by the choice. I have photos of him in his costume below. He really got into trick or treating this year. He seemed to get that it was for him and he had a lot of fun. The Bicycle Alliance of Washington sponsored a KEXP party for kids that we took him to.
I don't normally dress up at the office. Mostly because I think about it too late. I did think up some ideas but I wasn't sure if they'd work. Here's a quick list. You can let me know your favorite.
- WADA Inspector (World Anti-Doping Authority) to a cyclist this is scary. I'd just walk around with a little cup I'd hand out to athletes
- Horatio Caine from CSI Miami, but I could be CSI QE with the same look
- Wear a shirt with text all over it in random type faces. I think Fonts are scary, but maybe it's just me.
- I had various "Chaos Monkey" costumes, but that is only scary to Developers
- Boston Red Sox Front Office Manager, because they are acting pretty scary these days.
Here's a gallery of photos for you.
Happy Halloween!
Jeff
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Jack raises money
Dear Mark,
You know that I have been a supporter of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington for a long time. They are Washington State's only state-wide bicycling advocacy group. They affect change in our state capital and that makes every city, not just Seattle, a better place to bicycle.
We recently attended the Bike Alliance auction. This is their big fundraiser for the year. I got my start on the Board being the Auction Chair. Oh how the event has grown. This year I hosted a table and Mom & Dad came, along with my friend Demian from work and Bridie and Kim too! Jack came with us and was very excited. He wanted to know where the bikes were and where he could go ride his bike.
Jack and I were part of a special appeal for funds during the program. The Executive Director, Barbara Culp, put together a great write up (I have it below) in the program. She asked that Jack and I take the stage to crank up the cute factor and to drive home the point that what we do makes cycling in Washington State better for Jack and kids like Jack.
Jack was great and we had a good time on stage. I asked him about bicycling, and what he likes about, his favorite Tour de France rider, if riding safe is a good choice or bad choice and if riding safe is something we should do in Washington. The kid stayed on script and did great.
Check out pictures below.
The nifty part was that the special appeal was kicked off with our $2,500.00 donation to the organization. A donation that my company matches for a cool $5,000.00.
All in all it was a great night!
On your left,
Jeff
You know that I have been a supporter of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington for a long time. They are Washington State's only state-wide bicycling advocacy group. They affect change in our state capital and that makes every city, not just Seattle, a better place to bicycle.
We recently attended the Bike Alliance auction. This is their big fundraiser for the year. I got my start on the Board being the Auction Chair. Oh how the event has grown. This year I hosted a table and Mom & Dad came, along with my friend Demian from work and Bridie and Kim too! Jack came with us and was very excited. He wanted to know where the bikes were and where he could go ride his bike.
Jack and I were part of a special appeal for funds during the program. The Executive Director, Barbara Culp, put together a great write up (I have it below) in the program. She asked that Jack and I take the stage to crank up the cute factor and to drive home the point that what we do makes cycling in Washington State better for Jack and kids like Jack.
Jack was great and we had a good time on stage. I asked him about bicycling, and what he likes about, his favorite Tour de France rider, if riding safe is a good choice or bad choice and if riding safe is something we should do in Washington. The kid stayed on script and did great.
Check out pictures below.
Tonight -- help us shift gears, shift policy and shift minds! Join Jeff and Jack Moran as they envision the future of bicycling as an everyday, mainstream transportation option in your community.
Shift Gears: Jack wants to have fun riding to school. Jeff was the ride to be safe, affordable and healthy. The Bicycle Alliance wants Safe Routes trainings for teachers in school districts ALL over Washington, so that EVERY child can ride or walk safely to school. 31 districts and counting…
Shift Policy: Jack wants to feel safe riding down Queen Anne with his dad. Jeff wants every community to adopt policies that create complete streets for all roadway users. The Bicycle Alliance wants funding for communities that have adopted a Complete Streets ordinance to help them design streets for all users. Right now we're working in Olympia to include grant funding in the next budget cycle.
Shift Minds: Jack wants choices, one day peanut butter, and the next day cheese. Jeff wants his son and lots more people making healthy choices like riding to school, work, errands, and fun!. The Bicycle Alliance wants safer roads, connected sidewalks, reliable transit all of which lead to increased bicycle ridership. The Bicycle Alliance endorsed Proposition 1: Streets for All to help build those facilities.
Tonight we are asking you to support Jack's future: neighborhood greenways, separated cycle tracks, more bike parking, and policies and people to make it happen. We need your support to convince school districts and legislators that kids should be able to bike to school, adults can ride to work, and youth and elders can walk in safety. You can help turn Jack's dream into reality tonight!
Raise your bid card high if you believe that every child deserves a future with healthy, active transportation choices.
The nifty part was that the special appeal was kicked off with our $2,500.00 donation to the organization. A donation that my company matches for a cool $5,000.00.
All in all it was a great night!
On your left,
Jeff
Monday, October 3, 2011
4 Year Old Birthday Crowns
Dear Mark,
Jack just had his 4 year birthday (9/25). We had a super good time. The family went to La Push, WA to hang at the beach. Jack now refers to it as "His Cabin" and I'm glad to see my son will have La Push as a fond memory like you and I do. Like his father he managed to stretch a single day of self-centered attention into a week long celebration and create a Birthday week.
Jack had several birthday events, including a birthday celebration at school. His teacher made him a birthday crown. He's worn it every day for a week now and it sits on his dresser. He was quite happy with it, and quite happy that his other school friends had one for their birthday.
Ever rooted in our family history, our own mother thought that this looked familiar.
Sure enough. That's a photo of our mom at age 4 with her own hat.
More soon.
Cheers
Jeff
Jack just had his 4 year birthday (9/25). We had a super good time. The family went to La Push, WA to hang at the beach. Jack now refers to it as "His Cabin" and I'm glad to see my son will have La Push as a fond memory like you and I do. Like his father he managed to stretch a single day of self-centered attention into a week long celebration and create a Birthday week.
Jack had several birthday events, including a birthday celebration at school. His teacher made him a birthday crown. He's worn it every day for a week now and it sits on his dresser. He was quite happy with it, and quite happy that his other school friends had one for their birthday.
Ever rooted in our family history, our own mother thought that this looked familiar.
Sure enough. That's a photo of our mom at age 4 with her own hat.
More soon.
Cheers
Jeff
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Jack Rides!
Dear Mark
I can hardly contain my excitement. OMG!!! My son can ride a two-wheel bicycle! He just learned this evening, or more precisely just put it all together. I'm so stoked and excited that I can't stop hugging him. He's been asleep for a few hours tonight and I'm still tempted to go in his room to mini high-five him on his accomplishment. I mean... my son can ride a bicycle! My son can ride a bike!!! He's managed to do this just shy of his 4th Birthday!
You know he's had his balance bike since he was two. He started riding that in earnest when he was 2.5 years old. He would just scoot with his feet and balance on two wheels. We've been scooting around the block for 1.5 years now. He's never had training wheels. He's loved his Big Wheel (cause come on, who wouldn't right!) and he's ridden some tricycles at school too. Recently a friend gifted us a bike with pedals. He tried it a few months ago and was luke warm, preferring the speed of his balance bike more.
This evening he was riding his balance bike and I asked him to try the pedal bike. He usually says "maybe when I'm 4 Dadna" and begs off. Tonight though he said okay. I let him climb on the bike and he got his foot on the pedal. He pushed off and I held his seat and softly said "pedal pedal pedal" and he did it. We went the length of the drive way and then stopped, started again and circled back.
The third time I took my hand off the seat and he pedaled and stopped on his own. I told him "good job Jack! I wasn't holding on that time." I tell you I saw it in his eyes when the reality of that clicked in. He just smiled, put his foot on the pedal and was off on his own. I mean it. It was just like that. I started jumping up and down yelling "Yes! Yes! Yes! Nice Job Jack! Woo-hoo!" The smile he gave me as he showed me how proud he was just as infectious. He was so pleased with himself.
I took some rough video of it:
Here he is putting it all together:
Did I mention that he can power an uphill as if he was from the Basque country? After getting stalled going uphill a few times he just learned to push the pedals harder. I swear that made me more proud than anything.
Now some may not be surprised that Jack achieved this at such a young age. Being my son some will have suspected that he'd be winning races or at least a domestique for some team by age 3. But I've tried to hold him (me) back from all that silliness, and just let him be a kid, right?! I mean he's had a lot of influences and I think there have been signs that he would do so well so early.
Now I need to teach him "On your left" in multiple languages.
Jeff
I can hardly contain my excitement. OMG!!! My son can ride a two-wheel bicycle! He just learned this evening, or more precisely just put it all together. I'm so stoked and excited that I can't stop hugging him. He's been asleep for a few hours tonight and I'm still tempted to go in his room to mini high-five him on his accomplishment. I mean... my son can ride a bicycle! My son can ride a bike!!! He's managed to do this just shy of his 4th Birthday!
You know he's had his balance bike since he was two. He started riding that in earnest when he was 2.5 years old. He would just scoot with his feet and balance on two wheels. We've been scooting around the block for 1.5 years now. He's never had training wheels. He's loved his Big Wheel (cause come on, who wouldn't right!) and he's ridden some tricycles at school too. Recently a friend gifted us a bike with pedals. He tried it a few months ago and was luke warm, preferring the speed of his balance bike more.
This evening he was riding his balance bike and I asked him to try the pedal bike. He usually says "maybe when I'm 4 Dadna" and begs off. Tonight though he said okay. I let him climb on the bike and he got his foot on the pedal. He pushed off and I held his seat and softly said "pedal pedal pedal" and he did it. We went the length of the drive way and then stopped, started again and circled back.
The third time I took my hand off the seat and he pedaled and stopped on his own. I told him "good job Jack! I wasn't holding on that time." I tell you I saw it in his eyes when the reality of that clicked in. He just smiled, put his foot on the pedal and was off on his own. I mean it. It was just like that. I started jumping up and down yelling "Yes! Yes! Yes! Nice Job Jack! Woo-hoo!" The smile he gave me as he showed me how proud he was just as infectious. He was so pleased with himself.
I took some rough video of it:
Here he is putting it all together:
Did I mention that he can power an uphill as if he was from the Basque country? After getting stalled going uphill a few times he just learned to push the pedals harder. I swear that made me more proud than anything.
Now some may not be surprised that Jack achieved this at such a young age. Being my son some will have suspected that he'd be winning races or at least a domestique for some team by age 3. But I've tried to hold him (me) back from all that silliness, and just let him be a kid, right?! I mean he's had a lot of influences and I think there have been signs that he would do so well so early.
- Is it because he's watched all three grand tours with me (Giro, Tour and Vuelta) each year since he was born? Maybe.
- Is it because he thinks that the Marvel comics God of Thunder, Thor, is indeed a full time cyclists who wins Tour stages and is the World Champion in commanding fashion? Likely.
- Is that when some kids say "Dad I'm going to be as tall you as you some day" that my son says "Dadna I'm going to beat you straight up on a sprint one day." Possibly.
- Is it because he wore a world championship jersey when he was still an infant and now he dreams of rainbows? Plausible.
- Is it because he's been riding to school/work with me for a few years that he knows proper drafting and peloton etiquette and critiques other helmet-less riders out lout so they can hear him? Darn-tooting.
- Is it because my @TdF_Dadna twitter account is not as fictional as many would believe? Spot-on.
- Is it because in a family where cycling is respected for what it brings to a community, fitness and recreation that he's excited to try it? One would hope.
Now I need to teach him "On your left" in multiple languages.
Jeff
Monday, September 12, 2011
Lack of posts, blame Apple
Dear Mark,
There have been a lack of posts from me recently, and by recent I dare say a lot this past year. Compared to past years that saw me writing to you more frequently, the year 2011 has seen a drop off. Normally I like to blame the economy, politics, training, or even el nino for such activity. However, this year I think I must place the blame squarely on the shoulders of who is responsible for such a down turn in creativity. Yes, my iPad is to blame.
You may recall that I received an iPad for the holidays last year. I was quite excited. I am a recent Mac convert by all standards and I have to say that I'm okay with that. I don't miss my non-Mac hardware or operating systems for a moment, although I must admit I do miss some of the software that just runs better on Windows (I'm looking at you MS Office). Still, I've been quite happy.
Over the year the number of devices designed by that company that Steve Jobs use to work for has jumped at our household. Laptop, desktop, iphone, itouch, nano, more iphones, Apple TV and the list will grow as 2011 closes out I'm sure. I have even started planting the seed the Mom and Dad should convert, but your Mother is a bit stubborn and quite frankly is a power user so I should probably leave that alone (and no Family Tree maker on Mac me thinks).
I've been using the iPad more and more at home. Even Jack uses it. We both watch videos on it, from Netflix and from our digital library. I use it to check various email accounts, play games (Scrabble!), read news and other consumption activities. I think that tablets in general are a fun way to interact with the web and consumption activities. For now though, they seem to be stunting my creativity a little. While there is a blogger app, several actually, it is difficult to sit down and bang out some quality creative writing.
Couple the above consumption driven activities with the bed time routine of a 3 year old and I've got plenty of excuses. But not wanting to just go with conjecture I mapped out some numbers to illustrate the situation.
Here is a graph showing the frequency of our posts this year.
Here you can see the combined frequency of both our posts. Its revealing in many ways.
There have been a lack of posts from me recently, and by recent I dare say a lot this past year. Compared to past years that saw me writing to you more frequently, the year 2011 has seen a drop off. Normally I like to blame the economy, politics, training, or even el nino for such activity. However, this year I think I must place the blame squarely on the shoulders of who is responsible for such a down turn in creativity. Yes, my iPad is to blame.
You may recall that I received an iPad for the holidays last year. I was quite excited. I am a recent Mac convert by all standards and I have to say that I'm okay with that. I don't miss my non-Mac hardware or operating systems for a moment, although I must admit I do miss some of the software that just runs better on Windows (I'm looking at you MS Office). Still, I've been quite happy.
Over the year the number of devices designed by that company that Steve Jobs use to work for has jumped at our household. Laptop, desktop, iphone, itouch, nano, more iphones, Apple TV and the list will grow as 2011 closes out I'm sure. I have even started planting the seed the Mom and Dad should convert, but your Mother is a bit stubborn and quite frankly is a power user so I should probably leave that alone (and no Family Tree maker on Mac me thinks).
I've been using the iPad more and more at home. Even Jack uses it. We both watch videos on it, from Netflix and from our digital library. I use it to check various email accounts, play games (Scrabble!), read news and other consumption activities. I think that tablets in general are a fun way to interact with the web and consumption activities. For now though, they seem to be stunting my creativity a little. While there is a blogger app, several actually, it is difficult to sit down and bang out some quality creative writing.
Couple the above consumption driven activities with the bed time routine of a 3 year old and I've got plenty of excuses. But not wanting to just go with conjecture I mapped out some numbers to illustrate the situation.
Here is a graph showing the frequency of our posts this year.
Here you can see the combined frequency of both our posts. Its revealing in many ways.
Now here is the revealing graph that shows as my iPad usage has gone up that the number of posts have suffered.
I hope to correct this trend soon. One thing about data discovery is what you do with the data. I'm hoping that this will get me back on track with these posts. Perhaps the data can lead you to a similar discovery. If not, I'll be forced to re-market this blog as "Brother Moran" which will make me sound like a monk.
Cheers
Jeff
Friday, August 26, 2011
Perfect Child Born!
Editor's note - this post is a bit overdue, but we've been a little bit busy :)
The following must be read in the voice of an old time-y news reporter
The following must be read in the voice of an old time-y news reporter
Extra Extra - Perfect Child Born in Northampton - Need for future human breeding questioned as world's most perfect baby arrives
Dateline Northampton Massachusetts, August 15th, 2011
The birds were still dormant when Siobhan Moran awoke to a strange sensation in her tummy. The one week overdue pregnant woman was just starting her contractions. After several hours at home she and her husband Mark, went to their pre-arranged doctor's appointment. After a quick evaluation their doctor urged them across the street to Cooley Dickenson Hospital. Siobhan labored long and hard, 18 hrs in total. At 8:51PM with one final push Fiona Margaret Moran was born in to this world and we are all now better for it.
Fiona came in at 7 lbs and 11 oz and 20.5 inches long. Her hair is somewhere between the soft blond and fire red. Her eyes, for now, are blue grey.
Now, this is where the story deters from your normal baby being born story... this child is perfect, yes as inconceviable as it may seem, the perfect child has been born. Implications are wide spread. The White House has issued a "why bother to breed anymore" declaration. Citizens can continue to breed if they desire, but it is the government's position that it is wholly futile since nothing will surpass this perfect child. The International Olympic commitee is in closed door session trying to determine how to handle this development. Meanwhile, at the vatican, a cadre of cardinals and the pope himself are discussing the meaning of the birth of this perfect child. The Vatican has declared that it's not the second coming, but perhaps the first and a half?
As the future implications of this perfect child's birth are considered the powers that be have deemed that the child will stay with its parents. Can these imperfect first time parents raise this perfect child? What does this perfect child's birth hold for the rest of us, only time will tell.
Stay tuned here.....
In all seriousness, Fiona is here and she is amazing. Just perfect, at least to us. The labor was intense and I can't believe what a rock star my wife is. We're making our way through the early days and Fiona is progressing well. See the Zenfolio site for more pics of this amazing kid.
-Mark
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