Today, there was a tech expo at the Empire State Plaza here in Albany, NY. I wanted to go to it because in general, these kinds of events have lots of cool swag. Swag is loot you get from the various vendor tables.
I scored three pens, a pencil, a non-Frizbee® brand flying Frizbee®-like thingy, a lightbulb-shaped foam stress-squeezy-thingy (which I will put over my head at work when I feel an idea coming on) and this dart-thingy you can throw against smooth surfaces and have it stick.
While I'm grateful for the free stuff, I don't think it was a terrific haul overall. I've seen better. There were no flashlights or tee-shirts or many other larger swag items. I wonder if the economy is just too down right now for primo-swag. I don't know.
Maybe I'll go back tomorrow and get more free swag. I wouldn't mind having a full set of those darts for work.
The Empire State Plaza is gi-normous. I'm talking beyond scale. I'm walking along the thing and there is this arena-like facility called "The Egg" (because, alas, it's shaped like an egg). I'm looking at it and it looks small.
In the plaza area, there are four separate sky-scrapers, and they're big things. They don't really look big when you're there because the scale is all skewed. I walked along the side of one building that had to go on for close to half a mile if not longer. You know how it is with buildings, you walk and the building is behind you and you're at the next building. Not this building, it went on and on and on and on.
The underground part of the Plaza area is likewise gi-normous. We're talking talking bowling-alley sized empty areas along the main pathway on each side. I couldn't believe the available space.
Up topside, though, where the there were no buildings, there was a lot of open space. Know what I noticed? There were no pidgeons.
Apparently, and I have this from a very reliable source -- my Capital District Transit Authority (CDTA) bus driver -- and he gets this from his sister direct -- there is a secret government conspiracy to kill pidgeons.
I know you're reeling in your computer chair right now, having read my revelation. I can't believe it either, but according to the following web-site, it's true. (And you KNOW everything on the Internet is true, right?):
http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0908-05.htm
Anyway, next time you're out and about, look around you. You'll see I'm right. The pidgeons are almost all gone.
Until next time...
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Beluga Dan
So, that guy I've been talking about on the bus, the one who is slightly mentally-handicapped. Well, there's another dude that rides the bus named Dan also. This other Dan is much, much skinnier than I am.
Said other friend (mentally handicapped one) calls the other Dan "Slender Dan" -- not to my face though. I found out this information second-hand; however, I was able to confirm this is the case.
What does that mean about me?
Okay, so I'm NOT slender. But, do we need to make a point of it?
What am I? Beluga Dan?
I've decided to relate to a Beluga Whale. I explained this to another person on the bus and she laughed and laughed. After the weekend, I saw her and she said, "Hey Bazooka Dan!"
I said, "What? Bazooka Dan?" I was thinking about maybe Bazooka (TM) gum or perhaps she saw me with a bazooka somewhere. (You know me and my bazookas).
"You remember, Slender Dan and Bazooka Dan."
"Ah. You mean Baluga Dan!"
"Yeah that's it!"
"A Baluga is a whale, you know."
"Oh. That's funny and makes sense now. I didn't know that."
Yeah. I'm wondering why she thought my whole "Baluga Dan" business was funny to begin with.
I've been working out regularly though. I'm working on becoming "Dolphin Dan". However, I will admit I went swimming at a friends house this past Labor Day and made Baluga sounds in the water. I'm not really sure what "Baluga Sounds" are, but I made them. I did say, "Baluuuuga!" a lot. I know if I were really a Baluga Whale, I'd say "Baluuuga!" a lot, so I did.
Said other friend (mentally handicapped one) calls the other Dan "Slender Dan" -- not to my face though. I found out this information second-hand; however, I was able to confirm this is the case.
What does that mean about me?
Okay, so I'm NOT slender. But, do we need to make a point of it?
What am I? Beluga Dan?
I've decided to relate to a Beluga Whale. I explained this to another person on the bus and she laughed and laughed. After the weekend, I saw her and she said, "Hey Bazooka Dan!"
I said, "What? Bazooka Dan?" I was thinking about maybe Bazooka (TM) gum or perhaps she saw me with a bazooka somewhere. (You know me and my bazookas).
"You remember, Slender Dan and Bazooka Dan."
"Ah. You mean Baluga Dan!"
"Yeah that's it!"
"A Baluga is a whale, you know."
"Oh. That's funny and makes sense now. I didn't know that."
Yeah. I'm wondering why she thought my whole "Baluga Dan" business was funny to begin with.
I've been working out regularly though. I'm working on becoming "Dolphin Dan". However, I will admit I went swimming at a friends house this past Labor Day and made Baluga sounds in the water. I'm not really sure what "Baluga Sounds" are, but I made them. I did say, "Baluuuuga!" a lot. I know if I were really a Baluga Whale, I'd say "Baluuuga!" a lot, so I did.
Monday, September 12, 2005
Emotional Intelligence
I've been pondering the concept of "Emotional Intelligence" lately. First and foremost, I must admit that I'm humble enough to think that I came up with the whole idea of Emotional Intelligence.
Apparently, that's not the case though. I "googled" it. According to www.eqi.org:
[quote]
Emotional intelligence is the innate potential to feel, use, communicate, recognize, remember, learn from, manage and understand emotions.
[/quote]
Anyway, I've been thinking about this topic of late.
Seems to me, no matter how stupid a person is, and I mean they could have like an 80 IQ or a 155 IQ, everyone more or less has a basic emotional intelligence level. People know when they're being laughed at, teased, or made to feel bad by someone else. It doesn't take a genius to tell when someone is being mean to you.
I find this interesting, because as you may know, I've been riding the public bus a lot lately and occassionally I get to ride with some people who are intellectually-challenged. One in particular I have a relationship with and I like him and likes me.
I've noticed this friend, while slightly retarded, is fully capable of feeling the full range of emotions that come with being teased, etc. He's probably been teased all his life, and brutally so, and henceforth has a good deal of experience in this area.
While my friend may not be able to practice integral calculus, I perceive he's every-bit as emotionally *aware* as I am (not necessarily emotionally mature, but certainly capable of feeling the same range of emotions I have).
In fact, I'd go as far as to say that most adults (there are exceptions, I'm sure) all have about the same emotional IQ. We can all feel the same range of emotions and understand their impact on us.
Saying we all have about the same range of emotional capacity brings me to my next point -- I find it interesting how Jesus, in the Bible, told emotion-based stories called parables to teach.
Who among us hasn't received an emotion-wrenching email from a friend about some person with a problem and an very emotional story about other people, etc? How about that story from the early days of the Internet, even before the World Wide Web, where a young cancer patient in England had a wish to get as many postcards as possible. Even now, almost 20-years after the story first circulated via email, postcards still pour in. Said patient is now in full remission and has been for years and an adult.
I think everyone knows the parable of the Good Samaratin.
Regardless, I ponder that perhaps children learn via direct instruction as they're not fully emotionally ready yet. Adults learn best via emotionally charged stories. If you really want to get you point across to an adult, make it a parable-like story and the point will be better made.
Why don't we use this fact more often? I would think politicians would gravitate to this system. Maybe they do but we don't see the stories reported. Why don't pontificators write such stories in the editorial section of the newspaper rather than what I currently read?
For me though, the best thing to remember is that no matter how much smarter I might be from someone else, they still have feelings and an "Emotional IQ" equivalent to mine. I need to ensure I treat everyone well.
That's my thought for the day.
Apparently, that's not the case though. I "googled" it. According to www.eqi.org:
[quote]
Emotional intelligence is the innate potential to feel, use, communicate, recognize, remember, learn from, manage and understand emotions.
[/quote]
Anyway, I've been thinking about this topic of late.
Seems to me, no matter how stupid a person is, and I mean they could have like an 80 IQ or a 155 IQ, everyone more or less has a basic emotional intelligence level. People know when they're being laughed at, teased, or made to feel bad by someone else. It doesn't take a genius to tell when someone is being mean to you.
I find this interesting, because as you may know, I've been riding the public bus a lot lately and occassionally I get to ride with some people who are intellectually-challenged. One in particular I have a relationship with and I like him and likes me.
I've noticed this friend, while slightly retarded, is fully capable of feeling the full range of emotions that come with being teased, etc. He's probably been teased all his life, and brutally so, and henceforth has a good deal of experience in this area.
While my friend may not be able to practice integral calculus, I perceive he's every-bit as emotionally *aware* as I am (not necessarily emotionally mature, but certainly capable of feeling the same range of emotions I have).
In fact, I'd go as far as to say that most adults (there are exceptions, I'm sure) all have about the same emotional IQ. We can all feel the same range of emotions and understand their impact on us.
Saying we all have about the same range of emotional capacity brings me to my next point -- I find it interesting how Jesus, in the Bible, told emotion-based stories called parables to teach.
Who among us hasn't received an emotion-wrenching email from a friend about some person with a problem and an very emotional story about other people, etc? How about that story from the early days of the Internet, even before the World Wide Web, where a young cancer patient in England had a wish to get as many postcards as possible. Even now, almost 20-years after the story first circulated via email, postcards still pour in. Said patient is now in full remission and has been for years and an adult.
I think everyone knows the parable of the Good Samaratin.
Regardless, I ponder that perhaps children learn via direct instruction as they're not fully emotionally ready yet. Adults learn best via emotionally charged stories. If you really want to get you point across to an adult, make it a parable-like story and the point will be better made.
Why don't we use this fact more often? I would think politicians would gravitate to this system. Maybe they do but we don't see the stories reported. Why don't pontificators write such stories in the editorial section of the newspaper rather than what I currently read?
For me though, the best thing to remember is that no matter how much smarter I might be from someone else, they still have feelings and an "Emotional IQ" equivalent to mine. I need to ensure I treat everyone well.
That's my thought for the day.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Complete Body Wash and Breakfasts
This morning, after my shower, I noticed a bottle of what appears to be "Oil of Olay Complete Body Wash" in my shower.
I'm thinking to myself, "What's 'complete' mean here?"
Does "complete" mean like the body wash covers all body parts? You can wash everything with it -- hair, head, feet, etc. Sounds a tad dull because you can pretty much wash your whole body with any soap-like substance. I've used soap on my hair a few times in the past. I don't recommend it for regular use, but it works in a pinch.
When I was in England, I couldn't find bar-soap readily and ended up purchasing "body wash" at the local chemists (pharmacies). I used it for hair and body. Said body washes never claimed to be complete, though.
I worry. Did I miss something in England my family member (I'm not sure exactly who uses this Oil of Olay stuff, I'm guessing it's neither my 16-year old nor my 12-year old sons) isn't missing now? What could that thing I'm missing be?
Maybe "complete" means the components making up the body wash are all you would ever possibly need in a body wash -- nothing else required. If this is the case, then how can anyone be sure they got all the requirements needed for a "complete" body wash? Maybe there's one or a few components they've missed? Is this body wash really complete?
Ever notice for most t.v. breakfast cereal commercials the cereal is always part of a "complete breakfast" including orange juice, milk, and toast. I'm always thinking, when I see such commercials, "Come on. You could eliminate the cereal and still have a 'complete' breakfast with that!"
Who decided cereal, milk, orange juice, and toast are a complete breakfast? Did the US government declare this fact? Do doctors and nutritionists universally agree that cereal, milk, orange juice, and toast are a "complete breakfast"? What are eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, grits, coffee, and a biscuit? Would that be a more complete or less complete breakfast or equally as complete but differently complete?
Speaking of body wash, I then looked at my shower with further scrutiny and noticed those mesh scrunchy-thingies women use to slather the body wash on their bodies with. I say women use them because I know of no man who will admit to using a mesh scrunchy-thingy in the shower.
Some men may admit to using wash cloths. I don't really understand the purpose of a wash cloth myself. I mean, why get in the way of me and my bar of soap? I got the soap. Just apply it directly to the skin. No need for a middle man. After the washing, you now have an additional item, the wash cloth, to launder, fold, store, etc.
No. I will neither confirm nor deny to having tried the mesh scrunchy-thingy once or twice in my lifetime either.
I'm thinking to myself, "What's 'complete' mean here?"
Does "complete" mean like the body wash covers all body parts? You can wash everything with it -- hair, head, feet, etc. Sounds a tad dull because you can pretty much wash your whole body with any soap-like substance. I've used soap on my hair a few times in the past. I don't recommend it for regular use, but it works in a pinch.
When I was in England, I couldn't find bar-soap readily and ended up purchasing "body wash" at the local chemists (pharmacies). I used it for hair and body. Said body washes never claimed to be complete, though.
I worry. Did I miss something in England my family member (I'm not sure exactly who uses this Oil of Olay stuff, I'm guessing it's neither my 16-year old nor my 12-year old sons) isn't missing now? What could that thing I'm missing be?
Maybe "complete" means the components making up the body wash are all you would ever possibly need in a body wash -- nothing else required. If this is the case, then how can anyone be sure they got all the requirements needed for a "complete" body wash? Maybe there's one or a few components they've missed? Is this body wash really complete?
Ever notice for most t.v. breakfast cereal commercials the cereal is always part of a "complete breakfast" including orange juice, milk, and toast. I'm always thinking, when I see such commercials, "Come on. You could eliminate the cereal and still have a 'complete' breakfast with that!"
Who decided cereal, milk, orange juice, and toast are a complete breakfast? Did the US government declare this fact? Do doctors and nutritionists universally agree that cereal, milk, orange juice, and toast are a "complete breakfast"? What are eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, grits, coffee, and a biscuit? Would that be a more complete or less complete breakfast or equally as complete but differently complete?
Speaking of body wash, I then looked at my shower with further scrutiny and noticed those mesh scrunchy-thingies women use to slather the body wash on their bodies with. I say women use them because I know of no man who will admit to using a mesh scrunchy-thingy in the shower.
Some men may admit to using wash cloths. I don't really understand the purpose of a wash cloth myself. I mean, why get in the way of me and my bar of soap? I got the soap. Just apply it directly to the skin. No need for a middle man. After the washing, you now have an additional item, the wash cloth, to launder, fold, store, etc.
No. I will neither confirm nor deny to having tried the mesh scrunchy-thingy once or twice in my lifetime either.
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