The Red Green Problem

AO has repeatedly pointed out the problem with the service program inconsistency with regard to door status.

We wonder when SR might get around to fixing this pressing problem.

UPDATE: SR caved! AO has two reasons to be UP on Friday.

Quality is Job Six

Tomorrow we're going to have a company-wide meeting, the theme of which is rumored to be "Quality is Job 6". Since at places where "Quality is Job 1" things don't go so well, this may well be a good strategic move.

On the other hand, CC and MG might have to broaden their skill sets...

Update: CC informs us that Quality has now fallen to Job 10. Our prospects just keep getting better and better!

Big News!

The Smashed household is getting a hamster! We can't wait to see the cat's reaction! We expect some fireworks - but hopefully the hamster is not too trepid.

Oh, and they've cured cancer.

UPDATE!: The hamster's name is CHOWDER. Repeat, the hamster's name is CHOWDER. That is all.

UPDATE, UPDATE!: Rumor is that this hamster is a Russian Dwarf hamster.

A Disturbance in the Force

Today we learned some sad news. RN and MP have lost their jobs in a downsizing at "another company".

It's really sad for RN. We hope that she might pull herself together and come visit us for Tea this Friday.

MP's firing, on the other hand, is probably the cause of that disturbance in The Force that we felt recently. We wondered about that feeling of warm bliss that seemed to envelop us from out of the blue like a well-stoked sauna.

Good luck RN, we hope that you are able to find another position as soon as you want one!

Another Theory

It seems that not all dogs have the same ocular equipment. And so, some dogs can enjoy TV, and others don't.

Some dogs have retinas composed of a "visual streak", which makes them good hunters with great peripheral vision, but since they have about one third of the nerve endings as other dogs, they're left with a lack of acuity.

Another sort of dog has what's referred to as an area centralis, and with this comes a denser bundle of optical nerves. These dogs have better overall vision, and are occasionally captivated by the tube.

Which kind of vision does your dog have? It seems that there is at least a loose correlation between the length of a dog's nose and the sort of eyes they have. Shorter nose dogs are more likely to have the area centralis eyes, and so would be more likely to settle down for an evening of TV viewing with their people.

...And will the cat join us? No doubt. Cats are even known to be particularly attracted to high definition TV. Just keep them just out of pawing distance...

You Anoy Me

IM conversation with the 11-year old:

Dood: (7:26:25 PM): hi
Smashed: (7:26:38 PM): Hola!
Dood: (7:26:44 PM): ok bi
Smashed: (7:26:51 PM): Ok Buy.
Dood: (7:26:56 PM): you anoy me
Smashed: (7:27:12 PM): I do? Because I am not immediately available at all times?
Dood: (7:27:37 PM): no you just talk to much
Smashed: (7:28:00 PM): I know, I'm constantly being reproached for my volubility.
Smashed: (7:28:05 PM): It is a character flaw.
Smashed: (7:28:10 PM): Mea culpa.
Smashed: (7:28:14 PM): mea maxima culpa.
Dood: (7:28:35 PM): ok bi
Smashed: (7:28:41 PM): Where are you?
Dood: (7:28:58 PM): viki bi
Smashed: (7:29:03 PM): OTay
Dood: (7:29:14 PM): bi
Smashed: (7:29:19 PM): Bi.

Snow in Malibu...

Snow in Malibu! Heaven forfend!

Snow fell in West Los Angeles and Malibu, Calif., as a winter storm confounded Southern Californians and closed part of a freeway.

A mixture of precipitation in West Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon included a dusting of snow that accumulated in parking lots, on cars and around palm trees, KNBC-TV reported.

Snow also fell in Malibu, causing traffic problems on the narrow, winding roads in the area.

"One of our sergeants said he hadn't seen anything like this in 20 years," said California Highway Patrol Officer Leland Tang at the West Valley Station.

Hey! We've got a comet!

Comet McNaught will be visible to the naked eye for about half an hour after sunset... Best viewing should be tonight - unless there are clouds...

According to the Wikipedia article referenced above, the comet is so bright it's visible even in daylight.

Who's smarter - dogs or cats?

Check out this video about Skidboot... He just might be smarter than his owner.

Merry Christmas!

Sunday is Orthodox Christmas. Ordinarily that'd be a great occasion to have some vodka to celebrate.

However, since it's been so warm, the committee does not feel that it is appropriate to serve vodka. (Also, perhaps we would be too tempted to crack open the remaining caviar - and JM is not able to join us today).

So tea for today will be "Cuervo Black, and Cola." Cucumber shot glasses may be constructed for those with such an interest.

Groundhog Day Party

Well, so much for Amsterdam - turns out our winter social will be held on Groundhog day, 2007, in Weston.

It'll probably be warm enough to hold it on the grounds - so we can invite the guests of honor to have a little nosh.

Oh, and TB wishes everyone

a Hippie New Year!

Maybe we can hold our groundhog day party in Amsterdam!

The Great Leap Forward

The software effort is making the great leap forward to Microsoft's 2005 tools (VS and SQL Server) and .NET version 2.0. It's something of a leap of faith - wish us luck!

Hippo New Year, everybody

May there be much hipponess for everyone this year.