Interestingly, this guy doesn’t drink — but there was plenty of wine at his going away party. Which brings me to this blog post. I had a few glasses of wine (which rather mysteriously kept getting filled, thank you Cileia) and started having a bit of fun translating the back of the bottle of Château des deux Rives with Sylvain, another friend and colleague who is from France. I was reading and translating as best I could, and he was filling in the blanks. Actually, this turned out to be quite fun as the bottle kept getting more and more unbelievable (une bouche ample avec des nuances violettes! and so on)

I’ve always had an interest in languages, an interest that I’ve been rather woefully deficient at servicing. I speak English, of course (though a certain British colleague might disagree ), and a few words in French. I know enough French to parse simple phrases, and I can carry on a very basic conversation if I can remember the vocabulary. Living here though, in Dublin, has exposed me to all sorts of new and exciting languages (to my eyes and ears). It’s near impossible to not read things in Irish (As Gaelige), as it’s written everywhere: An Post, Baile Átha Cliath, An Taoiseach, Iarnród Éireann, etc). More than that, I work with folks from all over Europe (and indeed the world), so I’ve heard French, Spanish, German, Turkish, Italian, Russian, and tons of other languages I probably wouldn’t recognize.

And I want to speak them, too.

At least, some of them. I’d really like to study Irish, better my French, and learn German. At some point, perhaps study Welsh (which is a cousin of Irish, though not in the same language family — unlike, say, Scottish Gaelic), as indeed, at least some of my heritage descends from Wales. I can feel the influence of Irish on the native speakers here in Ireland; there’s a certain way they use English that’s unique to here and I think that’s in no small part due to their native language. Short of things like Rosetta Stone, I’m honestly not sure how I can pursue language study in my spare time. I’m not sure I have time for organized classes. Choices, choices.

Ah well. More wine, please.

First, I find that Nintendo were not lying when they said the power adapter for my Wii was indeed just 120V/60Hz (what the US uses). So, I release some secret smoke, trip a breaker, then drop €15 on a replacement from the UK.

Fast forward a week and a half (well after the weekend on-call shift I wanted the Wii for): the replacement power adapter arrives. Yay, Wii powers on.

But, the DVD player, SCART (which, near as I can tell stands for: Shitty Connector for Asinine Radios and Televisions) connector, the RGB end of that connector, and/or the projector are damaged or broken. Since I’m working with kit provided in my rental, I don’t have handy replacement cables or equipment to isolate what pieces and parts are indeed at fault.

All I wanted to do was play Mario and maybe a bit of Zelda. Is that too much to ask?

So, I did what any reasonable person would do: I threw all the equipment to the ground as hard as I could. It was a veritable electronic orgy as bits of plastic, copper, circuit boards, and wires exploded together in release of energy so powerful as to render the original components unrecognizable. Well, that’s what happened in my head anyway. It was awesome.

I suppose I need to go to Maplin and buy some parts to test with.

I’m with Allied Irish Bank (not Anglo Irish). However, like its acronymical twin, it sucks. The whole customer experience lacks.

Firstly, the internet banking is terrible. It’s based on two things: a numeric registration code and a PIN (not your ATM pin). While I understand this is convenient for telephone access, come on, it’s 2010! The internet age is here, it’s not going anywhere, and it’s supplanting the telephone age. Get with the times: let me use a username and password. I guarantee it’s more secure than the 10^5 combinations for PINs.

Secondly, the internet banking site attempts to block out robots (or something, easily defeated by a little screen scraping) by making you type random PIN variations (e.g; enter digits 3, 1, and 4 of your code). What they’re trying to accomplish here confuses the hell out of me; it’s just annoying. I think of my PIN serially, having to map number position to the corresponding value just slows me down.

Again, if robots hammering the site walking through the PIN combinations were a problem, it’s solved by the auto-lockout if you enter bad data three or so times. And you’re not locked out for an hour or so. You’re locked out until they fucking mail you a new PIN! Fuck you guys!

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Once you’re into their damn system, you’re not able to do basic account management functions; like, change your address or telephone number of record. Oh, but I can transfer €10000 to another account in the world.

One thing they do right: they require a third-level of authentication; a one-time password from a card of codes they post out to you. So, if I want to transfer out that €10000 to an account not already setup in my standing orders list, I need a 2-digit code from the card.

But if I want to transfer €10000 to my savings account from my current (Americans call it ‘checking’) account, I can’t do that. Not even €100 or €1000, or any amount of money. I can’t transfer to my savings account at all! I pointed this out to AIB via email, and instead of fix it, they told me to ring their customer service department. Because the person answering the fucking customer service email address WASN’T WITH THE FUCKING CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

You’d think that be the end of my issues. Oh, no.

You see, here in Ireland, they have this debit card system called LASER. It only works in Ireland. If you want to use it abroad, they interoperate with Maestro. Except AIB. They don’t. So I can’t use my AIB Laser/Maestro debit card to buy goods and services from abroad, from such dodgy retailers like Amazon. They even say this on their website. So, naturally, I order a credit card.

At least, I think I did.

Until I get a hand written letter in the post asking me to fill out the application again and post it back.

So I do, and 2 or so weeks later my shiny new AIB Visa card shows up. With a €500 limit. €500?! What the fuck, AIB? There’s a fucking €30 per year stamp duty from the government — if I hold a balance on that card (€500, I’m in debt! Oh noes!), the APR is THIRTY TWO PERCENT. THIRTY TWO FUCKING PERCENT. I waited 2 months for this? (I applied over 2 months ago, and re-applied 2 weeks ago).

FFFFUUUUUUU.

The Gene Roddenberry years, when stories might play with questions of science, ideals or philosophy, have been replaced by stories reduced to loud and colorful action.

- Roger Ebert

I’m hardly one to take much stock in movie reviews, but I must say that I agree with Mr. Ebert in his comment about the new (and cleverly titled) Star Trek film: “Star Trek”

Despite obvious (and egregious, in my opinion) destruction of continuity, this movie lacks the very essence that makes Star Trek, well, Star Trek. This movie is nothing but an action flick with cutesy homages to its predecessors and a not-so-surprise cameo by the original Spock. There’s no questions of conscience or science; there are no better angels. It’s just action.

It’s also a waste of time.

Unless of course, you’re in the mood for cheesy Star Trek knockoff with over-the-top acting (compared to William Shatner, that’s saying something). Maybe it should be retitled: Star Trek: The Comedy.

Rant over.

0830 – Breakfast at McCoy’s with Myles, Kim, David, and Shane. I had the breakfast enchilada.

I think breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I just love breakfast food, I love breakfast conversation, and I love coffee. This morning was no different. There was good food, amicable banter, and the carafe of coffee kept magically getting refilled. If I could describe heaven, it would certainly be in terms of hash browns and coffee.

At breakfast, we decided on the plan for the day. Myles and I would drive Shane back to the airport for his return flight to Seattle. Kim and David would enjoy the sites and sounds of Fort Collins while we made the 120 mile round-trip. After breakfast, around 1000, we executed the plan. Upon our return from the airport, we would take a (as yet undetermined length) bike ride around Fort Collins then trek down to Colorado Springs to visit with David’s parents who were coincidentally also visiting the Centennial State.

As a bit of background: Myles, Kim, and I were graced for the New Years holiday by our good friends David and Shane. They hail from Los Angeles (Van Nuys), CA and Seattle (Bellevue), WA respectively.

The plan went flawlessly. Shane was safely delivered to the East Terminal of Denver International Airport and the bike ride commenced at 1300. We did several (Myles says 4) miles up and down the Cathy Fromme Prairie trail. It turned out to be perfect (if not a little chilly) riding weather; and I got to try out my new cycling jacket. After weeks of inconsistent activity and several days of “poor” dietary choices, my body very much welcomed the ride.

We made for lunch at around 1500 at Cafe Athens. Yum. By 1600, we were on the road for The Springs.

We allocated 3 hours for the drive, just in case. Figuring we had some time, we made a stop at the Microcenter in the Denver Tech Center. We spent 30 minutes oogling computer parts and high-definition TV’s before setting out again. This is when we started getting off the rails — seriously.

The plan was to visit with David’s family and then leave him down there, so he could have more time. We would return to Fort Collins, and David would eventually return to LA when he was ready. So, we drove 2 cars from Fort Collins. As a bit of additional backstory: David drove his car from LA to Colorado. Kim joined David in his car for the trip, and I rode with Myles.

Along I-25 South, just below the Tech Center, we ran into a rather unfortunate sounding sign: “EXPECT LONG DELAYS.” It turns out, they were quite serious.

Myles, deft in hand and in mind, quickly pressed the detour button on his GPS navigation device. Within seconds, we were exiting the freeway to make a crazy-looking detour. We jumped off of I-25 south onto the city streets in Denver, found our way to E-470 North (which really travels West), caught up with Highway 83 South up through Parker. The windshield wiper blades on the Bostwick Honda were smearing road grime to the point of total blindness, so we stopped at an Autozone in Parker to pick up and install new blades. We continued along Highway 83 to Highway 86 through Castle Rock on our way back to I-25. The detour was an extra ~25ish miles.

At this point, Myles and I were running a good hour late. We communicated, via text message, to our co-travelers in the other car that we would be pretty late. As we’re about to turn onto I-25 South, I get a call from David that I’ll paraphrase:

Sean> Yep, we’re in Castle Rock.

David> You’re in Castle Rock already!?

As it happens, the “EXPECT LONG DELAYS” was quite accurate. By this point, we had gained 20 miles on David and Kim.

The next message I got from David:

David> 25 MOVING?

It turns out that the combination of snow, ice, and some unusually parked cars stalled out I-25 South for an hour just below Denver. By the time Myles and I arrived at our destination, Phantom Canyon Brewing and 40 minutes late, we had gained about 36 miles on our friends. This after a 25 mile detour and stop for wiper blades.

Staggered meals and beer ensued. In addition, good conversation was had by all. I got to meet David’s grandmother and chat again with David’s parents. I also had a pretty good bit of pot roast.

We made our goodbyes and well-wishes at around 2230 and began our return trip through blowing snow, ice, and snowpack along I-25 North — luckily, to no appreciable delays.

We arrived back in Fort Collins, safe and sound, at around 0030 Sunday and I made it home around 0045. Indeed a good day: good friends, good times, and a good amount of travel.

With that, good night.

I, for one, became much more active in the months and now year since moving here from California. I’ve been riding my bike to work most days and enjoying the lovely outdoors we have here. I’ve also, probably with the help of my bicycle and a more sensible diet, have put off around 30 pounds.

I’ve hit a weight loss plateau as of late, but I’ve felt myself continuing to get trimmer. It’s really a remarkable thing.

Now, if I may be facetious for just a moment, it’s all about to come to a crashing halt. I am flying out to Clovis next week, at which point, I shall subject myself to the buttery and greasy missives of our chefs at the Blue Pride Cafe. I imagine I’ll come back having found those 30 pounds.

Or not.

At work – we’re making a concerted effort at work to get our product development cycle to the “Feature Complete” state. This means that all the prescribed features are implemented and that after this date (3/31), we will be in stabilization (“polishing up”) mode. As a team, we opted to make our ‘death march’ a twice weekly event (with company-provided dinner) instead of a whole-week pain fest right at the end of the cycle.

At home – I had the pleasure of entertaining David over the last few days. He was gracious enough to drive out from California and hang out with myself and Mary. We enjoyed some cycling along the city of Fort Collins trail system and out in Lory State Park. We visited some breweries and did some evening outings in downtown Fort Collins and Boulder. Fun was had all around.

In the community – I’ve started volunteering for the Betsy Markey for Congress campaign as a writer. Due to the incredible workload at work, I haven’t had time to put my thoughts to text. I’m hoping that when April rolls around, I’ll have more time. In addition, I’ve been selected as a delegate to the statewide Democratic convention in Colorado Springs as a delegate for Congressional District 4 and for Larimer County. Yay!

In the eCommunity – I’m actively (as active as I can ) executing my role as a server administrator on EsperNet. I’m also heading up efforts to replace the IRC daemon currently in use with a custom set of patches to ircd-hybrid. So far so good!

In my glass – New Belgium Springboard. Yum.

Well, I agree. FUCK BUSH, indeed.

Now, the CSU (Colorado State University for my California friends) College Republicans are calling for the editor David McSwane to resign. This reminds me of the recent Senate resolution where the majority Republicans (with 22 Democrats) decided that “General Betray Us” is too wildly inappropriate (S. Res. 315) to not act on.

I have a thought: Republicans are pussies.

Now, hear me out. Who else would go taking the moral highroad for something as innocent (and humorous) as ‘FUCK BUSH’? Who else would waste our government’s time condemning a poignant advertisment? Who else would do all these things and hire Karl Rove? Oh noes! They hurt my feelings!

Pussies.

To the 22 Democrats who voted for S. Res. 315, go grow some balls. Can you please get some shit done for a change?