The weirdness of Google, et al

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Google, Yahoo, Bing, Alta Vista…  and literally dozens of others of which most of us have never heard.  Search engines to find anything and everything on the web.  How they operate is a mystery, and one that we seldom think much about, if at all.  For those of us who obsess over the “stats” on our blogs, however, those algorithms can mean fame, or ignoble invisibility.

On this blog, I’ve noticed a steadily increasing number of hits, and I’ve patted myself on the back on my increasing readership.  Then I noticed something that pretty much deflated my burgeoning ego.

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BOLO (AKA “Calling all cars, calling all cars”)

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A little taste of Visalia

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A little taste of historic Visalia.  Taylor Brother’s Hot Dog stand, at Center and Encina in downtown Visalia.  For years located across the street to the west, the stand was moved and expanded (yes, expanded!) on this lot some years ago.  You can get hot dogs here.  Chili on them if you like.  Soft drinks and chips. That’s about the extent of the menu, and always has been.  Like I told someone today, it’s not gourmet, and you can certainly find better quality ‘dogs elsewhere, but this it Taylor’s, and it’s a Visalia institution and tradition, so we cut it a lot of slack.  I can take up to two at a time, and find that a visit every year or two is sufficient for my needs.  Others make it a family occasion, and the lines at times stretch well into the parking lot.  Give them a try.  Don’t worry about telling them JimmieJoe sent you, they won’t know who I am!  😉

 

Call 9-1-1 FIRST!

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No, Tracy is not here – or, gender neutral names are a pain

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Early one morning:

ring ring

“(groggy) Hello”

“Is Tracy there?”

“(annoyed) No”

“Oh…  OK.  Please tell Tracy that Eric called”.

“(dismissive) Ok”

click

Late night a day or two later:

ring ring…  same conversation, without the groggy, but still with the annoyed and dismissive.

This afternoon:  ring ring  “Hello?”

“Is Tracy there?”

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LLAP – Nimoy has done both

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Now it’s Leonard Nimoy’s turn.  “Spock” is 81 today.

Spock was a major influence on my teenage years.  The rational, intelligent outsider, whose presence was always required to save the day, helped me get through times when I thought I might not.  His quest for knowledge, his acceptance of what was,  his ability to suppress emotions so they would not overwhelm, served as a role model for me.  Perhaps not the best role model for a real human being, but one that helped me immensely.

And a couple of episodes where he got his shirt off didn’t hurt, either!  (Shatner’s constant “shirt on-shirt off” didn’t have the same effect, for some reason)

Happy Birthday, Mr. Nimoy.

Live long, and prosper.

 

Another ‘hoodie-American’

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Dare I walk the streets this way?

 

Vacation, day 4

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This is a bit embarrassing.  I’ve been telling myself I should get up a bit earlier each day, and get some work done.

Instead, I’ve been lounging in bed later and later, and blogging and Facebooking and Twittering.

Damn.

Shat’s almost 81?? Say it… ain’t.. SO!

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William Shatner,  AKA Captain James T. Kirk (and to some younger fans, T.J. Hooker, and for the *really* young ones, Denny Crane) will turn 81 on March 22, 2012.

First, it’s difficult to think of Captain Kirk being that old, and second, he’s held up pretty well!  He’s had some rough times in his life, but looks remarkably hale and hearty.  Even if he’s had some “work” done, and I don’t know that he has, he’s a great example of how to age gracefully, with style and humor.  I really liked his Priceline commercials, and it’s sad to see his participation in those end, but the industry always moves on.  I think it’s important not to take yourself too seriously, and be able to have fun with your own image.  Shatner has done that, and it speaks to his being a classy man.  He has had a reputation of being a difficult person to be around, especially professionally, and there are apparently plenty of hard feelings towards him from his fellow actors through the years.  He may be/may have been a jerk to know personally or as an actor to work with, but it’s his public personae I’m talking about here.  His public image is genial and friendly.  It would be nice to think he’s that way in his private life, but you never know.  He is, after all, an actor.   Regardless, I think he’s done well since his Star Trek days, and I wish him continued success (and personal growth even at 81!) in the years ahead.

Ahead, warp factor 2, Mr. Sulu.

Vacation update, Day 1

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Technically not anything “vacation-y”, since I go up to Fresno almost every Sunday and hang out with the guys at The Express for the “Sunday Funday” BBQ/beer bash.  Afterwards, Ted and I hang out at Teazer Tea shop in the Tower for a couple of hours, chatting and catching up.  Sometimes various characters in the Fresno scene join us, and we see if we can’t solve the worlds problems over hot tea.  (Or at the very least carry on about the drama that seems to infiltrate the community at any opportunity.)  Maybe living 45 miles away from all that is a good idea, after all!  😉

We did have a friend of Ted’s join us last night, and it was nice to meet him.  He seems like a nice guy, and it was enjoyable to sit and chat with him and Ted.

I’m already well into Day 2, and haven’t even gotten out of bed yet!  The only thing that’s happened so far today, is the power supply to my Macbook appears to have died, forcing me to retreat to my Compaq laptop to maintain my much-important connection to the Interweb machine thingy.

Can’t be without that!

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