Milestone: First Waltham Bucket!

Ah, the wonders of history repeating - of old traditions being born anew.

This morning, WL, MS, and (was it?) RD AO took the sylvan cut-through to Bear Hill Cafe, and each purchased a coffee.

The timing was a bit off, it being 8:30 AM after all - but MS has been developing a reputation for impatience of late.

Well, it presaged a fantabulous day - the same crowd is out to what one must hope is a free lunch with TP. After all, if you're going to be sold to, you might as well get fed, too.

Now it's only a matter of time before the G&T's start to pour.

Update: Thanks, Anonymous for the update - though one might quibble with the statement, "RD was not" a bucketeer - Smashed seems to recall his presence back in Watertown many a time, that might have been pretty early. As I recall, he's been decaffeinated for some time now.

Friday Cat Blogging (Gin and Tonic edition)

Yeah, yeah, it's only Thursday - but after close of business...

Tomorrow's not-very-American drink is a true summer classic - the Gin and Tonic. Perhaps someday we'll graduate (literally) to the Martini, but not this week.

Because I know all of you are curious, the software summit is proceeding swimmingly, and ought to be concluded before cocktail hour. (Even accounting for the press conference, and the photo-ops).

Software Mega Summit in Progress

An software mega-summit is in progress - convened more or less at the last moment. One day down, and two or so to go.

The main upshot of today's session is that MG will get a bevy of "autonomous instruments" that he can test together - that should speed things up!

The road ahead is still long, but at least we'll be able to see our way forward. That is, if we aren't surprised along the way.

Happy Two Pi Day

Today, 6/28, is hereby officially recognized as 2 pi day.

Perhaps something will have to be arranged to commemorate this auspicious occasion.

(We've had two cakes days this week - time to switch to pie).

Mountain to...

If today one were to google the phrase "Mountain to Moses" - one would garner 43 hits.

If one were to google the phrase "Mountain to Mohammed" - one would obtain approximately 24,200 hits.

If one were to google the phrase "Mountain to Mohammad" - one would find 262 hits.

There is little question who's been more out of the loop on this one...

Friday Cat Blogging - Manhattan Friday Edition

Well, it's raining like a crazy person right now - about an hour earlier than I expected... (We're supposed to get half a foot this weekend - which is good because my pool's down about a foot).

Oh, and SM - we didn't forget (well, maybe we did) but we're going to make up for it today. Don't try and get out of it.

...And it's Manhattan Friday. AO even brought the bitters. See you at 4:00.

Stalked

Smashed is being stalked by his dental office.

They've called him at home. They've called him at the office.

Might as well go in and get it over with.

Happy First Day of Summer!

Only 13 weeks to go - so get out there and enjoy it!

Training tomorrow

So, BK and PL are stopping in tomorrow to be trained on the system. JC will also be around, and we will perhaps have a dry run with RD this afternoon.

In exchange, perhaps PL can once again perform his parlor trick for us. It's tougher than pulling a rabbit out of a hat, and we're quite intrigued.

Invasion of the Centipedes

We've had two today, one at each side of the building. Please be on the lookout.

Also, RN lent me her copy of "The best of Randy Newman" this afternoon. I wonder if centipedes like "short people." Can't wait to hear his interpretation of "You can leave your hat on," though I probably have heard it before.

Bathroom Office

Seems that one of us, Algea (not to be confused with AG), was worried about his vacation trip to Yellowstone. Being used to all the modern conveniences, he was unsure about the availability of facilities at the park.

After the anxiety of such a trip we couldn't help but think that he'd be more comfortable with his new office.

Welcome back, and don't forget to floss.

Manhattans, 6/23

Gentlepeople,

Today the committee decided that, although today's wine and BwC was fantabulous, that next week would see the arrival of the Manhattan here in Waltham.

We figure that what goes best with a brown drink like this is salami and small slices of brown rye bread. Perhaps some mustard. Maybe some cheese.

For those of you that would like a bit of history of the Manhattan, please click the picture or right here.

So, if you like your Bourbon diluted/polluted with vermouth and a cherry, look us up at the usual place and time.

That is all.

It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere

Well, MS has taken the "tasting" ball and has run with it.

Today's fiesta will be centered around some wines of the world, and, somewhat like old times, Bread with Crap.

Today's BwC includes an olive tapenade, sun-dried tomato "bruschetta", basil infused extra-virgin olive oil, gahlic-infused evoo, black pepper-infused evoo, and a goodly assortment of breads, including some "artisinal" ones.

The wines are as yet TBD, but will no doubt provide a reason to stay inside (other than the humidity) on this fabulous late spring day.

Danger! (616)

Recent scholarship has found that the real number of the beast is 616, not 666...

This presents at least two problems:

1) 6/16 comes every year - increasing teh danger by roughly an order of magnitude.
2) It lacks poetry. If the end of the world is nigh, it should at least rhyme.

I'm sticking with 666. Let the kiddies inherit a diminished world.

And speaking of conversations

And speaking of conversations, CC observed the following today at lunch:

It's not often that someone calls me a bus, let alone to my face.

Smashed would never do that.

Mind like a steel trap

Smashed just had a conversation with another member of the staff here - and let me tell you, it was no ordinary conversation.

Although in many ways it was just like old times, there was one extra element involved - and that was the extreme lack of short-term memory. We're talking like 3 seconds, here.

Parenthood and middle age are a horrible, horrible thing.

Now we're cookin with gas.

It's Wednesday, and already we have plenty to celebrate. (And celebrate we will)!

First off, we've been successful with customers this week. More to come, I'm sure.

Secondly, and importantly, WL has donated a grill to the picnic area out back. (Well, actually it was his parent's donation, but let's not quibble).

Now if it would only stop raining, we might actually get to use it.

Last Vodka Tasting of the Season

Today marks the last Vodka tasting of the season. NR observes that once the weather turns warm, custom dictates that other substances are more apropos.

To mark the occasion, "Mr. NR" ("R") has spared no expense to purchase "the world's best" vodka. NR is witholding judgement until tea time this afternoon.

Suggestions for non-vodka drinks will be gratefully accepted by the committee.

Whadya mean, no names?

If Smashed is to believe his ears, it seems that the twelve units of the Gamma Generation are to be numbered, not named.

It is inconceivable that this tradition should fall by the wayside. While Smashed would never stand in the way of progress (even the wind might run right through him), he can't understand why a little additional anthropomorphism would harm anything here.

So, in addition to the suggestion that's already been offered, HSI presents the following suggestions:

Alberto
Beryl
Chris
Debby
Ernesto
Florence
Gordon
Helene
Isaac
Joyce
Kirk
Leslie

If these are not to our liking, there's always the 2007 list, or perhaps we could choose from one of the other lists. For example, here are the first 12 entries on the list for the Western North Pacific:

Damrey
Longwang
Kirogi
Kai-Tak
Tembin
Bolaven
Chanchu
Jelawat
Ewinlar
Bilis
Gaemi
Prapiroon

The disadvantage here is that they're not the most memorable set of names, although they would be unique.

I suppose we'll have to adopt these as nicknames - for internal use only.

The Arrival of MS is under-heralded

HSI has been remiss in relating the news of the arrival of MS upon the scene. Despite some minor cultural bumps (mostly timing issues) in the road, it's been nice to have MS back.

Smashed has even gotten a ride in the Mercedes while showing MS one of the finer eateries in the area. Luckily that day it wasn't raining, but we did have to watch out for the milkweed.

The reassimilation of the band is almost complete!

June 6, 2006 (666)

A day that will pass without incident - except for the mysterious appearance of Devil Dogs in the kitchen.

Damien?

Turn me on Dead Man.

Tchochke Cartel

Jeez, they're handing these things out like platinum wedding rings - turns out they've got, oh, say 3600 of them just hanging out behind the printer. (And who knows how many more are available on a month's notice)?

Wouldn't esprit-de-corps be better served by spreading these things around, rather than artificially inflating the market a la De Beers?

Happy Birthday NT

Happy Birthday, NT.

Thanks for giving us all our most recent excuse to feast upon sugar and chocolate, kiwi and strawberry.

It really is too bad that RD was out of the office that day - I'm sure he'd have loved to have finished off the Chocolate Bomb. (It was really good - CL had some, and had no words for how fantastic it was).

ID=10T

aka ID-ten-T or ID10T...

WL signed a recent email ID10T - which confused JU just a little.

As a public service, HSI presents these links to the great Wiki.

Turns out that WL must be a pretty savvy ID10T to use the term, proficient in L33TSpeak.

Perhaps that's teh 1R0ny I keep hearing about.

Management Backs Goose

If one uses Google's blog search to look for the phrase, "Management is backing the goose", only one blog appears.

There are no results using google's web search, and with this we have not generated a googlewhack.

That is all.

Avogadro's Day

... And by way of reminder - tomorrow TODAY is Avogadro's day - 6/02...

So there will be Guacamole available with the aperitifs.

Hurricane Season Starts Today

Hurricane Season starts today.

Here's a recipe to get y'all started:

1 oz vodka
1/4 oz grenadine syrup
1 oz gin
1 oz light rum
1/2 oz Bacardi® 151 rum
1 oz amaretto almond liqueur
1 oz triple sec
grapefruit juice
pineapple juice

I think I'd prefer a Miami Hurricane, though:

1 1/2 oz Absolut® Kurant vodka
2 parts cranberry juice
1 part orange juice
1 part pineapple juice

Seems much less violent...

Update: Decadal? Nah...

Welcome back QN!

So, how was Paris?

As you can see, there have been a few changes around here - we've tried to make you feel as at-home as we could, considering.

And what timing! In celebration of "National Donut Day" tomorrow, Krispy Kreme (sorry, apparently Dunkin' Donuts is passing it up this year) will be giving out free donuts!