Life

Hello Tomorrow

Bundling up my access key and laptop for shipping back to head office, it’s hard not to feel nostalgic. Back in 1998, Day One, I was given an access key, pointed toward a shiny new Pentium II desktop, and asked to ‘build websites’. No laptop back then. (No cellphones, either, only The Sales Guys got Nokia 5110s.)

Wordnerds know that nost-algia means ‘homesickness’, or the bittersweet pain or longing associated with remembering a past home.

I’ve had several homes within CA – from the earliest days as part of the crack ‘Internet Solutions Group’ at Platinum; to Product Management at Computer Associates; to Field Marketing at CA; Marketing Operations at CA Technologies; and finally, Mainframe Marketing at CA Technologies: a Broadcom Company. CA: Change, Always.

If you’ve been part of those teams, you’ll know that CA had its own way of doing things, for better or worse, and the CA Family was always ‘assuming positive intent’ and built some amazing tech and experiences through sheer esprit de corps. I’m proud to have built those with y’all – and yes, it is kinda bittersweet to know that the CA we knew is no more. (Here are some videos if you want to share that feeling now.)

I’m moving out of Broadcom, but not moving on – there are still robots and humans that need me to broker peace-among-worlds! I don’t yet have an access key for a new home, but I know I’ll always cherish my CA ancestry, wherever in the world I find my folk.

Hope to see you again soon; maybe for breakfast?

Life

Eurovision 2018 – The Aftermath

Weird year. I try not to gague myself against the final result, because I simply picked my preferences. In a perfect world, Spain won. But there are so many stats on the official site, I couldn’t resist an analysis. I’m happy that I managed to pick 5 of the final 10 (out of the entire competition, mind you).

I like to gague my performance against the Australian Jury Members, and at least beat Richard Wilkins for accuracy. I have a model that shows how closely aligned each juror was to the final result. I’m sad to report we were mostly in agreement, even with our high ranking for Spain and Lithuania. I was particularly wrong about the UK (I said 2nd, Europe said 24th) and Spain (I said 1st, Europe said 23rd). ‘L-Fresh The Lion’ was waaaaay off (putting Cyprus, Czech Republic at the bottom of the list, and Spain at the top). Best performer was Jordan Raskopoulos – generally closest to the final result.

No-one had Israel at number one. Sneaky chicken-folk.

Book1 2018-05-14 21-43-27

Life, Music

Eurovision 2018 – According to Science

Relying on the 100% Accurate, Exhaustive, Methodical process from Mr. Gerbear, I hereby award this year’s #Eurovision points. Australian Jury, you have your marching orders.

As always, this is based on a listen alone; I haven’t seen or heard the televised performances, so if someone bums a note or has a notable bum, I haven’t been swayed. We’re doing science here, people.

Here’s the full list. I’m as surprised as you are about some of the positions. Especially Spain. Am I a tree*?

But not about The Netherlands. The Netherlands’ entry is bad and they should feel bad. Points négatifs.

  • Because trees need sap to live.

UPDATE: Moar science – this suggests my controversial pick of Lithuania at #3 has support in the extant literature. Science!

Geek, Life

A Certain Point Of View: It’s Time For The Airing Of Star Wars Grievances

Here, in the lull between #MayTheFourth and #RevengeOfTheSixth, is the one day a year I revisit my list of grievances against the Star Wars universe. In no particular order:

  • Really Big Things, like Death Stars, exploding in flames with a flat, ring-shaped shock wave. (Star Trek, looking at you also)
  • #HanShotFirst, unless you’re in some Disney-fied alternate reality, in which case, sure, self-defense, whatever.
  • #LetTheWookieeWin… a medal for his part in blowing up the Death Star. R2D2, also.
  • R2-D2, and most of the SW robo-proletariat are not “droids’, a shortening of ‘android‘, meaning a “robot with a human appearance”. C-3PO, sure. Battle droids, fine. BB-8? Not a ‘droid.
  • Obi-wan aparrently forgetting his 3-movie relationship with R2-D2: the most loyal, competent and heroic astromech in the galaxy.
    • “But, but; he actually says: I don’t seem to remember ever owning a droid. so he’s right, from a Certain Point Of View”
      Get out.
  • Midichlorians, bah. You too.
Politics

A Couple of Extra Verses: 2017

I argued for a plebiscite

We bickered to and fro

I played the man, ignored the ball

by post I voted No

And when I went to parliament

I shouted once again

“We’ll all be rooned come Christmastime”

I Am Australian

 

I am Katter kicking crocodiles

But letting blossoms bloom

I’m Broad amending motions

Just to keep it in the room

I am one of thirty eight percent

I lost the vote and ran

I’m Abbott In Absentia

I Am Australian

 

Edit for context: See ‘I Am Australian‘

A marketing operations expert by day, muso/journo/geekdad by night, who just wants robots and humans to get along