patrick schneider

Yesterday was N8’s last day in town. He’s off to New Mexico for some PhD work. We played “beer pong,” though my cup stayed empty. The thought of drinking anything after a ping pong ball lands in your cup is hardly appetizing. But… good luck to you N8. I’m going to visit at some point. No kidding. I’d better be able to stay with you for free.

Hurricane is a Carribean word. Yet another tidbit from English Words from Latin and Greek Elements.

Anne, who I haven’t talked to in quite some time, emailed me yesterday. Unfortunately, I’ll be missing her and some of the other girls that are coming to Austin for the weekend — and going toobing no less. C’est la vie. The Red House will probably be working its magic as usual.

Time to get back to work.

Interesting news: http://www.gmail-is-too-creepy.com/

Also: http://www.eff.org/effector/17/13.php#II

From a co-worker:

Google uses cookies - bits of identifying data that automatically allow a website to “recognize” you - to link every Google search you conduct on the same computer and browser. This could be used to help Google to refine your search results or their display to match your preferences more closely. Even though Google keeps this search information stored on its servers, without your name and other personalized information it has no way explicitly to link searches to your other activities and correspondence on the Internet.

The problem is that the Gmail service may change this. All of a sudden, Google can know exactly who you are every time you search the Internet using its service. And not only that, its databases know who is sending you email, to whom you respond, and even what you write about. With innumerable search results and up to 1 gigabyte of email messages per Gmail account at its disposal, Google could pull together an extremely detailed dossier on each of the millions of people who use its services every day. Such a vast assemblage of nuanced personal information could become a bigger privacy nightmare than government projects such as Total Information Awareness (TIA).

Get your memory-enhancing, antioxidant-rich decliciousness. $1.99/pint at the local grocers around here. Eat a pint at a time.

Talked to Matt Moser last night. He seems to be doing well, but, like Robin is apparently working an insane amount of hours. Provided some pressing work has to get done, I don’t mind staying late and finishing up… but on a consistent basis? Not for me. Anyway, not sure if he’ll be back in Austin anytime soon… everyone down here is rooting for him though. See Moser? I even started a blog.

I was in WholeFoods the other day to pick up some standard green tea when I stumbled upon white tea. There have been some interesting studies done on it recently, and some not so recently. (It might be better for you than green tea.)

I learned chocolate is an Aztec word that means is a combination of “bitter” and “water”. This and more can be found in the systematic vocabulary building book I’m using: English Words from Latin and Greek Elements.

Oh, also the book Moser recommended to me is fantastic. I highly recommend it: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Good if you’re into things like understaning what makes you tick.

…what happened to First & Second POSTs?

I met Robin @ her place for lunch today. She ate some leftover Plucker’s. I had a roast beef sandwhich and some string cheese. String cheese is delicious. Delectable even. And very elementary school.

The A/C on the FJ60 is busted at the moment. I’m planning on hitting up Wimberely 4WD on the way to Ashley Kohl’s wedding this Saturday. Hopefully a simple swap of the compressor clutch will do the trick. Actually, I have no idea how “simple” that is… it seems like it shouldn’t be too hard.