100 and Done! (Countries that is...)

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We are back! This last trip brought the total countries visited to 100! It is a crazy milestone. It is difficult, time-consuming and can be (IS) expensive. After I got back from Antarctica in 2007, I started thinking about it. After 2010 I was thinking about it more (as I moved from NY to Georgia) and in 2014 it had become a real goal. Between Angie and I we have been to 109 Countries. We are tied at 100 countries each. We have 9 countries different in our lists. For example, I have been to San Marino. She has not. She has been to Israel. I have not, yet. There has been some fun competition in this area. That's why we had to establish rules. 1.) Must be listed (as a country) with the US State Department 2.) Being in an airport doesn't count. You have to get through immigration somehow and not in a DMZ or a no-mans-land 3.) A passport stamp is not required. I have been to Canada, Paraguay, and Uruguay without getting my passport stamped. There are friendly borders in many places...
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Pervasive computing journal

I received my first copy of Pervasive computing yesterday. Interesting journal and of typical IEEE high quality.

I was invited to co-author a journal article in another journal this week, which I accepted. I was invited by a Physicist PhD to collaborate on an article describing how a special area of economics afflicts technical communications and the information industry. The foundation work was first published in 1967. The concept I would characterize as part of the body of the "Economics Way of Thinking." John Maynard Keynes describes this kind of thinking as an "apparatus of mind." I think the article will have some good life to it as it resonates through the community in which we are introducing it. Also this week, I was asked to contribute to a book (soon to be published) on the Toyota way as it applies to technical communication. I agreed. I will not have my name on the cover but I will be credited in the book. So this week seems to have the theme of being published. It is on my life list.

I have quite a bit of homework this weekend again. I am getting a lot out of the class.

The ducks are still very nervous. We are afraid they are going to hurt themselves when we feed them. We are talking to them to help them settle in.

Hopefully, I can find some time to mess around with some radio stuff this weekend.

I am taking next Tuesday off. I am going to a tool auction in Rochester. It might be a good one. You have to be very selective on the auctions you go to.

Here is a video for download that best describes Power Theory, referent vs. legitimate. (2 Meg, wmv)

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100 and Done! (Countries that is...)

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Image
We are back! This last trip brought the total countries visited to 100! It is a crazy milestone. It is difficult, time-consuming and can be (IS) expensive. After I got back from Antarctica in 2007, I started thinking about it. After 2010 I was thinking about it more (as I moved from NY to Georgia) and in 2014 it had become a real goal. Between Angie and I we have been to 109 Countries. We are tied at 100 countries each. We have 9 countries different in our lists. For example, I have been to San Marino. She has not. She has been to Israel. I have not, yet. There has been some fun competition in this area. That's why we had to establish rules. 1.) Must be listed (as a country) with the US State Department 2.) Being in an airport doesn't count. You have to get through immigration somehow and not in a DMZ or a no-mans-land 3.) A passport stamp is not required. I have been to Canada, Paraguay, and Uruguay without getting my passport stamped. There are friendly borders in many places...
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I am back. I spent 10 days in Japan, 5 days for work on the main island of Honshu and 5 days of solo adventure in Okinawa. Travel is so invigorating dispite the uncomfortableness. Jetlag, anxiety, crowds, and other discomforts aside, it is mind-expanding and rewarding. Work went well. I flew a new airline (Skymark) from Tokyo to Naha. I am always wary of strange discount airlines and all the traps they set. However, I had a great expereince with "Sky". I was actually shocked. Super easy checkin at the airport, no extra fees even with extra luggage. The primary mission in Okinawa was to visit the Peace Park and the suicide cliffs of Okinawa. From what I understand, at the end of WW2 the inhabitants were encouraged to commit suicide rather than surrender to the Americans and get tortured and eaten. Besides other types of suicide, they jumped off the cliffs at the Southern end of the main island. If you have seen the original color footage taken at the time, I am sure you ...
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