Liloia.com

I am the...

Coolest Dad in the World. Or at least according to Trevor. Today he and I are home sick again and we are playing a lot in the living room. One of the things that Trevor got for Christmas was a microscope set, and it has become one of his favorite toys to play with. Today he and I used the microscope to look at construction paper, cotton, wood, and a few other things.

After playing for a while I remembered one of the most interesting things we did in school when first learning how to use a microscope. It was to look at our own skin cells from the inside of your cheek. After giving that a go a few times, I realized that his microscope was not powerful enough to pick up the individual cells suspended in water on the slide. So what should I do with this little boy who was so excited to see skin cells?

So as not to dissapoint him I found a small piece of skin on my heel that was flaking off from the dry winter weather and we looked at that. I thought it was a little gross to do that, but I didn't want to leave him hanging. Trevor didn't care a bit, and when he saw what I did he said that I was the "Coolest Dad in the World". Now I just have to keep him from meeting any other dads out there and I am all set.

We also sang a full version of "10 Little Monkeys Jumping on the bed". Go us.

Sick Again

This is by far the worst winter ever. Along with getting laid off last week, I haven't been healthy since October. I can't seem to shake whatever the sickness of the week is. This week I have a nasty cough that is so hard I can feel it in the muscles of my back. I had a fever of 103 degrees last night as does Trevor today.

So, I get to stay home tomorrow, which could turn out to be a good thing.

Later

Geeks with Flash

Don't you want to switch to Linux?

Steve the supervillain thinks you should.

Server

Also, my apologies to the thronging masses that were without any updates to Liloia.com for the last four days. Our hosting company upgraded their version of Perl from 5.0 to 5.6 and neglected to tell anyone. I had to have them reinstall all of the different modules that we use for the blog and walk the tech through installing the Berkeley DB mod that MT uses. Hopefully all of the problems are corrected, but if you encounter any, please let me know.

Not Again

Yes. Again. On Thurdsay morning, my entire department was all called into a conference room, where they informed us that we were going to be laid off. Customer Care as of May 1st will be closed at the Boston office's of PerkinElmer. Everyone in my department will be asked to find a new place to show up Monday through Friday by the end of May. This is actually the most notice I have ever been given in finding a new job, but the prospect of finding one is still a task that I am not looking forward to.

Tara and I have been discussing various career options as well as some other ideas to get the ball rolling, hopefully between some networking and research I can find a position that challenges me and is worthy of my efforts.

If anyone has any suggestions for possible organizations in the Boston area, or would like to chat about this, let me know.

Wish me luck.

The Great Below

This morning Adam was featured on a radio stations morning show 106.5 - The Zone out in Toledo, OH. They had him on to discuss The Great Below our celebrity death pool website. He got to hang out with them on the phone for two segments and they seemed to enjoy having him on.

Hopefully he gets some decent traffic from the interview and generates some interest in the site.

Irish Palm Pilot

Trevor

Trevor has been home sick a lot this week due to a cough he has right now. As a result of that, I have stayed home with him a few days so that Tara and I can share the time and not eat up all of one or the others vacation time.

Having this much time with him has been nice, but I am beginning to see that he is not a toddler at all anymore, and more a full on kid. He has moved beyond the time of looking to Tara and I for everything and thinking we are the bee’s knees right to asking for the keys to the car and reaching into Tara's purse for beer money.

Ok, that may be a bit exaggerated, but you get the point.

He is not listening, being somewhat aggressive with me, and challenging everything we say to him, purposely ignoring what he doesn't like to hear and breaking the rules. In essence, he is doing exactly what I want him to do. Yep, that's right I said I want him to do this.

Sure it has been frustrating over the last few weeks, but I think the end result will be well worth the pain. He is learning where his boundaries are, showing us that he can think freely and expanding his own little world. Trevor isn't doing anything that is really malicious or destructive, just mischievous and interesting.

I look forward to seeing what he comes up with tomorrow.

:)

Harry Potter

So finally there is information about the new Harry Potter book. Book 5 Harry Potter: The Order of the Phoenix is due out June 21st. Now all the dumb people who have been commenting on my Harry Potter posts can go away.

So you've trashed your computer...

You took that broken down 486 that's been in the basement and tossed it out on garbage day. Maybe you were vigilant and formatted the hard drive before kicking it to the curb. But that doesn't mean your personal data is gone. It could very well be in the hands of unscrupulous data scavengers.

There are programs that specialize in recovering data from broken and reformatted hard drives. In about three seconds I found about 31,500 matches for data recovery programs and specialists on Google. Maybe the guy who scavenges your computer out of the garbage pile will make use of one. Think you have nothing to hide?

Do you use financial software? Then your account information for every bill that you track and pay is on your hard drive.

Do you send email? Then every email you have saved to your computer is available to Morty who just pulled your computer from a Dumpster. Including the steamy ones you sent in 1996 to that online guy who turned out to be a creep.

Do you keep an electronic address book? All of you contacts are now in someone else's hands.

Do you surf the Web? Your history files, cookies and Internet passwords may now belong to someone else.

The real threat is when businesses sell or auction off old equipment. It disturbs me to think that Bob's Web Site O'Fun may have compromised the security of my personal data by selling sloppily-erased hard drives at auction.

In most operating systems, deleting a file merely marks that area of the disk as available without erasing a thing. And reformatting a hard drive will not permanently erase the data on it. See one of the 31,500 sites on Google to learn how easy it is to recover data from a formatted hard drive.

To combat data theft from old hard drives, computer users can run programs like Autoclave to write meaningless data over all areas of the hard drive. Depending on the number of passes Autoclave makes of your hard drive, you can end up with data so completely gone that even the NSA can't get it back. Useful for hiding all those games of Global Thermonuclear War you've been dialing into the WOPR to play...

Autoclave is meant for systems running Linux, but there are instructions for using Autoclave with a Windows-based OS available as well.

Join the party

Even if you didn't get an invitation -- don't be left out!

Come to my two-week online Tupperware Party!

Work Woes

For the last two weeks, for a few hours each day I have been training for my new position with a different division here within Customer Service. As I mentioned last time, this is not a promotion or demotion. This is as lateral a move as is possible. :(

At first I will be doing less that I am currently responsible for (or was before I passed it all on), then over the next few weeks I will be adding tasks to my workload and look out for other things I can help with.

No disrespect to my trainer or her efforts to get me up to speed, but I am bored out of my skull. Perhaps it is my mood today, or my blood sugar is too high, but I am totally not looking forward to going over there and am feeling kind of down about it.

On top of that, in an effort to get ready for this move, I have passed on a lot of things that I would normally be working on and I am removing myself from participating in certain activities and processes. This leaves me to handle phone calls coming into my area and orders as they are sent in. So not only am I bored now, but I am anticipating being bored when I move officially, which will be next Monday.

This move means that I won't be sitting near all the people whom I have become very good friends with over the last year, and will have to get used to some new people. All of this combined is not making my mood all that great. I am sure that it will pass and everything will be ok. Ugh.

You're invited...

I always buy bagged breakfast cereals because I refuse to pay an extra dollar for a box. But the bags are hard to keep neat in my cupboards. My mother used to have refillable plastic cereal containers -- turns out they were from Tupperware and they are still available 25 years later.

I also learned that Tupperware now offers online parties -- which is very cool. Not only can you skip those dorky icebreaker party games, but I don't have to squeeze 25 guests into my tiny living room.

So...I'm hosting an online Tupperware party during the next two weeks. If you're interested in stopping by to browse the party items, just send me a message that includes your email address (or post it in a comment below). Tupperware assures me that they will only use your email for the party invitation -- no marketing messages.

After you receive the invitation, you can visit the party at any time during the next two weeks -- night or day. Hope to see you there!

Opie & Anthony

For two years while I was living in New Jersey I had the unique experience of listening to Opie & Anthony on K-Rock. During this time, I found out that they were from Boston, but had been booted out because of a prank they pulled on April Fools Day.

When I moved to the Boston area, I was bummed because I would not get to listed to the show anymore. To my surprise they started doing guest shows on weekends in Boston and ultimately their show was syndicated across the US. Last year they were having one of their risque events with Jim Cook, president of the Sam Adams Brewing Co. and some of the contestants were arrested. A few days later, without any information or explanation O & A were pulled from the airwaves and haven't been seen since. So what I am trying to figure out is...

Where are they? What is the scoop?

Does anyone have any info about this?

Ask Snoop

Ok, this is the funniest thing I have ever seen. Go to Ask Snoop and put in the address of your favorite website (liloia.com?) and see what happens. :)

More E-Lo

Another picture of Emily Love. She is sooo cute.

Playing Games

• Play a game with Trevor.

Tonight, this is on my list of things I want to do. When I first thought that I wanted to do this, I felt a little ashamed that it was something I needed to even consider. I mean, I play with him all the time, right? Maybe not as much as I should. There are times that I play with him in between doing other things, or play with him for a little while, but it has been some time since I just sat down and played. Sometimes the endless hamster wheel that is the traditional American life gets in the way of being a parent.

Recently for me that has been the case. Between working extra at PerkinElmer, the bookstore, the holidays, and everything else, I have missed out on some great moments.

We rented Mario Party for GameCube the other night. Tara got a chance to play with him and said it was a lot of fun. I think we may start out with that. Worst case scenario is to just watch some cartoons together. He and I connect a lot over Transformers Armada. Often I find myself watching cartoons with him late on Saturday nights in my bedroom while we goof off and knock things off the walls. He's a cool kid.

Emily Love is here!!

Jan. 9, 2003
7:56:00 pm
7lbs. 1.5oz

After almost 36 hours of labor, Emily Love is finally here! I swiped this image from Bryan and Christines website. For a brand new baby she is really cute! I can't wait to go see her tomorrow!

Joe Shmo

You know, Fox did it's darnedest to convince us that Evan Marriott is an ordinary Joe. But how many construction workers do you know that look like this in a swimsuit?

Baby Update

We just heard from Mom that Christine is home still having contractions and waiting. As of this point she has been in labor for 29 hours. Hopefully things get moving soon, but I guess we'll have to see.

BTW - Looks like Tara will once again be correct. If she needs another career at some point I think she should become a palm reader or psychic.

UPDATE*** - We are also heading down there this weekend, so there will be pictures before the weekend is over!

Am I an aunt yet?

Bryan and Christine are having their baby. Or maybe they had it. Or maybe it's all a trick. I don't know because NO ONE IS CALLING ME. I don't want to be a pest and call their hospital room six times a day but for pete's sake I NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

And if that baby isn't born yet, they had better get a move on because way back in June I predicted the baby would be born on January 9, 2003 at 1:49 am. Don't make me a liar.

Rules For Women

This is another really funny email I got...all of this is true by the way

We always hear "the rules" from the female side. Here's the rules from the
male side....

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it
down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us b#tching about you leaving it down.
2. Birthdays, Valentines, and Anniversaries are not quests to see if we can
find the perfect present yet again!
3. Sometimes we are not thinking about you. Live with it.
4. Sunday = sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
5. Don't cut your hair. Ever. Long hair is always more attractive than short
hair. One of the big reasons guys fear getting married is that married women
always cut their hair, and by then you're stuck with her.
6. Shopping is not a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.
7. Crying is blackmail.
8. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not
work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
9. We don't remember dates. Mark birthdays and anniversaries on a calendar.
Remind us frequently beforehand.
10. Most guys own three pairs of shoes - tops. What makes you think we'd do
any good at choosing which pair, out of thirty, would look good with your dress?
11. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
12. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
13. A headache that last for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor.
14. Check your oil! Please.
15. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact,
all comments become null and void after 7 days.
16. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.
17. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us. We refuse to answer.
18. If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
19. Let us ogle. We are going to look anyway; it's genetic.
20. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done.
Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
21. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
22. Christopher Columbus did not need directions, and neither do we.
23. The relationship is never going to be like it was the first two months
we were going out. Get over it. And quit whining to your girlfriends.
24. All men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for
example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
25. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
26. We are not mind readers and we never will be. Our lack of mind-reading
ability is not proof of how little we care about you.
27. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like
nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
28. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you
don't want to hear.
29. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. Really.
30. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to
discuss such topics as navel lint, the shotgun formation, or monster trucks.
31. You have enough clothes.
32. You have too many shoes.
33. Foreign films are best left to foreigners. (Unless it's Bruce Lee or
some war flick where it doesn't really matter what the hell they're saying
anyway.)
34. It is neither in your best interest or ours to take the quiz together.
No, it doesn't matter which quiz.
35. Beer is as exciting for us as handbags are for you.
36. Thank you for reading this; Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch
tonight, but did you know we really don't mind that, it's like camping.

Mind Reader

Ok, generally I hate these things, but this one is pretty neat. I know that the trick to this is a math equation, but I can't figure it out and it seems to work about 99% of the time.

Mind Reader

George Carlin

I can't get enough of his comedy. This is one that a friend of mine sent over to me.

1. Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

2. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.

3. The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.

4 . I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?"
She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.

5. Isn't it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do "practice?"

6 . What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?

7 . Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?

8 . How do they get the deer to cross at that yellow road sign?

9 . Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

10 . Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

11. If you ate pasta and antipasta, would you still be hungry?

Gamecube

Over the holidays, Tara grabbed a Gamecube as a gift for the whole family. So far it has been a lot of fun. Right now I am making my way through Metroid Prime, the newest release in the classic Nintendo game series.

I am trying to hint to Tara right now that I would love a WaveBird wireless controller.

Changes

A few weeks ago, amidst numerous notifications within and without my organization, I developed a strong feeling that something was going to change. I turned out to be correct.

Today I started training for a new position. It isn't a promotion or anything. I am staying in the same department, just going to a different group that handles more of the standard products that PerkinElmer sells to it's customers. These would be some of the radio nucleotides and other supplies that labs would use in research. So far it seems like it will be less difficult than my current position (although at first I will need time to get up to speed), but this position will give me more exposure to the overall organization.

Hopefully this will lead to something in a different department in the near future. I have the suspicion that I will be posting about other changes occurring around here over the next 3-9 months which will back this up.

Wish me luck.

The Lego Emily

Eric constructed a four foot tall lego Emily the Strange and I'm mightily impressed. Of course, I am also impressed by banks who manage to get their drive-through ATM consoles to be within 4 feet of my car window. But that's not nearly as aesthetically pleasing as a Lego Emily.

Eric used 50 pounds of black legos and that made me think. I don't have 50 pounds of anything except.. well.. pounds. I should get 50 pounds of something in 2003.

Get off the list

Massachusetts residents:

Don't forget to add your name to the Do Not Call Registry:
https://www.madonotcall.govconnect.com/Welcome.asp

Or at the very least, share your tips for harassing those who call to harass you.