How Times Have Changed

I'm sitting in one of my classes while pursuing an MA in Bioethics today and it suddenly struck me how things have changed so rapidly in the last 30 years. The main object of my wonder has to do with the technology we use and how incessantly connected we all are (and yes, I'm writing this while listening to the prof with one ear).

I was recently reminded by a high school classmate that we graduated 30 years ago. At that time, my high school was considered very progressive because we had classrooms full of Apple II+ and IBM PC computers. We were learning to write our own programs in BASIC and Pascal, but only a few classes had the privilege of using these machines as my sister--one year ahead of me in school--had to learn programming in FORTRAN using card readers.

Even when I entered into university and I started learning Ada, nothing had changed much as I still had to go to the computer lab, hope that there was a terminal available, make my adjustments to my code, and wait for the output to be printed.

My, how times have changed. In my current classroom, of the 18 students and the professor present, 17 of us have our laptops open and multitasking (some shopping, some on Facebook, one writing a blog, some taking notes). And considering most of us have smartphones (I know this to be true because most of us have them on the desks next to our laptops or plugged into an outlet being charged), we actually have two computers on each of us.

Surprisingly enough, the prof, because he's having a bad time with technology today, just mentioned how the university had only one computer when he was a student here 40 some odd years ago.

My, how times have changed.

Feeling Old Thanks to LinkedIn

Well, it's not really LinkedIn's fault, but I'll blame it anyway. I just connected via LinkedIn to a colleague who works at a subsidiary company of my employer. We've communicated often before this, but last night was the first time I found out any of her personal history because I read her bio and background.

Why does this make me feel old? Because both of us are alumni of Boston University, except she graduated 19 years after I did. Actually, going by the year I would have graduated if laziness and apathy hadn't got a hold of me so many years ago, the difference becomes 21 years.

I don't know why this fact surprises me. After all, BU graduates thousands of students every year and since I hope to live a long life, it's reasonable that I'd eventually cross paths with other alumni. I guess there's a part of me that doesn't want to let go of the past because memories of friends (only one or two that I actually have any contact with anymore), places, and events are still so vivid that it seems like it was just yesterday that I roamed the streets of Boston and surrounding environs as a student/roadie/copy machine operator extraordinaire.

This is the point where my wife usually reminds me that it's been so long ago, what's the big deal where I went to college? Don't get me wrong, I'm not fanatical about remembering my alma mater and even though I try to keep connected by catching an occasional BU ice hockey game on TV or keeping up-to-date with the Beanpot every year, I haven't gone back for homecoming, campus visits, or written to the alumni magazine.

But there is a part of me that is proud to have graduated from BU. There is a part of me that remembers what it was like to be on my own for the first time in my life. And there is a part of me that remembers the mistakes, arrogance, and regrets of a young teenager set loose in a new city. Those were my salad days, indeed.

So, thanks a lot LinkedIn, I feel young today.

Go Terriers!

Updated 15 January 2013 at 12:46 p.m.

Easy Driving on Snowy Days

Well, today is the second snow day of the 2013-14 winter season here in the Northern Virginia. Schools are closed today, as they were yesterday, and government offices (even the federal government) closed as well. Here in the private sector, we're at work and loving the easier commute because everyone else stayed home.

In fact, I find that the most ironic part of today's commute: it was easy driving even though the weather and road conditions were iffy. I wish the commute was this easy every day.

Black Friday All Week Long

The timing of things are getting all squashed up and there doesn't seem to be anything special about the holidays any more.

For example, I'm sure there's one station that changes to an all-holiday format on Thanksgiving in every major radio market. Here in Northern Virginia, our station switched to that format last week (one week before Thanksgiving). That's not so bad because I can just avoid the station until I'm ready for 24/7 Christmas music.

But one tradition (or badge of honor) that I enjoyed over the long Thanksgiving Day weekend was getting out early on Black Friday and doing my part to keep the economy going. Even a couple of years ago, when the stores started opening up late on Thursday night, it was still an adventure to see what could be bought and my badge of honor became staying up all night and hitting as many stores as I could.

Now that's changed because I've already done most of my Black Friday shopping. That's because of the ridiculous "Black Friday Week" or "Pre-Black Friday Sales" that some retailers has begun. Um, doesn't that take some of the steam out of Black Friday? Yes, there are still some good bargains out there, but it's no longer worth my time and energy to run out in the middle of the night (or even early Friday morning) to get anything.

So, to whoever thought of extended Black Friday to a whole week or (in some cases, a whole month), I hate you for taking away another tradition, but I thank you for letting me sleep in this week.

Air Travel is Still an Adventure

I don't get to travel internationally very often, so when I do, I try to make an adventure out of it. I take in all of the experiences related to air travel, cut out the annoying ones--like waiting in customs and immigration--and remember the enjoyable ones--like people watching or shopping.

Recently, I had the opportunity to fly aboard an Airbus A380 from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, to Los Angeles. I flew on the plane pictured below, Qantas Airways registry VH-OQD. I was so excited to be able to book a flight on this type of aircraft that my wife asked me if I had some sort of bucket list. I thought about for a little while and then said, "Yeah, I guess I do."

For me, even with the hassles of airport security and the long waits at immigration and customs, air travel is still and adventure. It's still a great way to see the country or the world, it's a great way to meet people you wouldn't normally meet, and it's a great way to experience a marvel of modern life--powered flight.

Next up: trying to fly aboard a Boeing 787.

Qantas Airways VH-OQK (FlightAware)

Plane Spotting at LAX

So here I am waiting for my connecting flight at LAX. I don't often travel internationally, but I am this time and I got to view a plane that I've seen plenty of photos of but never in real life: the special Hobbit livery on an Air New Zealand Boeing B777.



Of course, I saw it at night and it wasn't in flight. But I did get an up close view of it because I was on an airside shuttle bus and the plane was being pushed back by a tug directly in front of the bus. Many people complain about air travel these days but I still love to fly and do a little plane spotting.

Love is War

Re-blog from my other blog, "Speaking 4 Life." Here's a thought on marriage and relationships.

I was at Oktoberfest at my church earlier this month and a small, insignificant disagreement arose between my wife and I. Immediately one of our friends asked, "Is there anything you two don't argue about?" Firstly, I'd like to point out that a disagreement between two people doesn't automatically mean that they are arguing. Secondly, the word "argument" is not rightly understood because in no definition of the word is there any hint of malice or anger, just a debate, difference of opinion, or rationale.

But here's something that most people don't seem to understand: all marriages will come with arguments (as in disagreements, not the angry kind). That's because we are all individuals with opinions, likes, dislikes, and whatnot. It's when those disagreements become angry and hate-filled that we have a problem (and yes, every marriage will have experienced a slamming door at one point). The real question is how do you handle those situations and how do you move past them?

Do you hold on to grudges or do you forgive each other? Do you want to mold your spouse into your vision of him/her or do you accept him/her for who she is? Do you work at the marriage or do you just give up? Sometimes there is no hope because the other person doesn't want to listen or change, but do you have no patience and move on too quickly?

I wanted to share this song with an interesting theme: love is war, but it's worth fighting for. 

Moderates Only Want Compromise if It's Their Way

I admit it. I would be considered ultra conservative in my political beliefs. I believe in the US Constitution, the rule of law, smaller governnment, states' rights, individual liberty but life lived in community, and I am a social conservative.

I lean right on almost every issue. Recently, I had an interesting conversation with some colleagues who are more moderate. Their position is that the Republicans need to rally behind one person in the next presidential election or they will lose again. Of course, their idea was that a moderate candidate is the one who will lead the way.

I believe that the Republicans need someone who will stand for something and not compromise his/her morals just to get elected, even if he/she is seen to be more rightist than centralist. Let's get something straight, in the last two presidential elections, I believe the Republicans did settle for moderate/centrist candidates. I went the party line and voted for them...and they lost. Maybe it's time for someone who is not a centrist to be the Republican candidate for president...maybe Sen. Ted Cruz, Dr. Ben Carson, or Rep. Michele Bachmann (may favorite three currently although I'd vote for Sarah Palin or Alan Keyes in a heartbeat).

The problem is, my colleagues kept espousing the need to get behind one candidate as long as the candidate was a moderate/centrist. They both balked at the idea of voting for a conservative/rightist. So even though I've compromised and voted centrist in order to try to get a Republican president elected, they wouldn't vote for a rightist to achieve the same goal.

In fact, one person said she would vote for Hilary Clinton if Clinton were to be the Democratic candidate for president versus a rightist Republican like Cruz. I guess the moderate Republicans will only compromise if it's their candidate.

What You're Used To

I grew up in New York City and have walked around Manhattan at some strange hours of the night but I've never felt out of place or worried. Last night (Sunday), I was walking around a part of Washington, D.C., that was mostly office buildings and it felt a little creepy. It wasn't that late at night, only 7:00 p.m., but the sun had set and the were few cars around. There were people walking and running, but it didn't feel quite right.

I guess it's just what you're used to that makes the difference.

No Hotels in NYC Good Enough?

My wife and I enjoy watching a show called "Unforgettable" on CBS. It premiered in the 2011-12 TV season but lost its way in the middle and we thought it would be gone for good, but it has now reappeared as a summer series in 2013. This isn't meant to be a review of the show, but I wanted to give a little background so you'll know why I'm a little upset with the producers of the show.

The show is a police procedural drama that was originally set in Queens but now takes place in Manhattan (boroughs of New York City). In the latest episode that we watched from Season 2, "Incognito" (episode 2), the lead character Carrie Wells (Poppy Montgomery) goes undercover to meet a team of bank robbers who will meet in a swanky NYC hotel called the "Alcazar Hotel."

Screen shot from "Incognito."

At 14:08 of the episode, we see brief footage of the "Alcazar" as Carrie is going there for the meeting. Here's my beef: why did they have to use an outside b-roll shot of the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington D.C. as a stand-in for the fictitious Alcazar?

Don't get me wrong, I've stayed at the Mayflower and I love the old school charm of the hotel and the guest rooms, but surely the producers could have found a nice, upscale hotel in NYC to be the stand-in. Aren't there any hotels in NYC that are good enough for the show?

In any case, here are the two things that gave it away: the Washington, D.C. flag on the right of the screen shot; and the Red Top Cab flashing by in the foreground.

Washington, D.C. flag

Red Top Cab of Arlington

My wife hates it when I spot errors like this in the shows and movies we watch but I can't help it. I love the details and sometimes it just thrills me to catch the mistakes, especially continuity errors.

By the way, if you're planning a visit to Washington D.C. and you're looking for a little history in your lodging, check out the Mayflower Renaissance, you'll enjoy it.

Mayflower Renaissance Hotel