Big Pond/Small Pond
October 30, 2022
In my experience, most people face a constantly recurring question professionally: do I want to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond? For me the answer has always been easy: I’d rather hit .330 in AAA than .165 in The Show. I think this is the route to happiness.
If you’re a regular reader, you know I left the small pond of Portland, which I defined a while ago as the ultimate minor-league town.
Which is to say, I preferred being a big fish in the CMP Media pond (covering computers) than being a small fish in the New York Times or Washington Post pond, coverning the Cop Shop or the city council. I’d rather be the best journalist at a trade media company no normal people have heard of than the 50th best reporter at The Times.
Set Start and Stop for YouTube Video
October 30, 2022
This is a public service announcement, brought to you by this blog and the Ad Council.
But seriously, it took me a half hour to find this code. If your Google search brought you here, this is the syntax. Your YouTube video code is DuMMyCodE, and you want to enter at 45 seconds and end 3:44. Convert all times to seconds and use this code:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/DuMMyCodE?start=45&end=224
Substitute the URL for you video where it says “Dummy Code.” Be sure to strip off any miscellaneous stuff after the last letter of your code (? = & edit, watch, etc.)
Good luck, but I’m willing to wager a) it will work and b) I just saved you a half hour. Feel free to email the half hour to typepad@schindler,org; I could use the time.
Right Column Redux: Ross Snyder
October 30, 2022
The column to the right on this blog contains permanent content, most of which has appeared at one time or another in the main body. I’ve decided to include a reminder.
You’ve Got To Be Taught
October 30, 2022
This Rogers and Hammerstein song from South Pacific (1949) is as true today as the day it was written, which is why several southern states once banned it for being “Communist.”
You’ve got to be taught to hate and fear,
You’ve got to be taught from year to year,
It’s got to be drummed in your dear little ear—
You’ve got to be carefully taught!
You’ve got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a different shade—
You’ve got to be carefully taught.
You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate—
You’ve got to be carefully taught!
Meme: If Apple Were A Democracy
October 30, 2022
I fell on the floor laughing when I saw this. Consider looking at the Joytech website from whence it came.
Humor: The Difference Between Brits and Americans
October 30, 2022
From Leah Garchik's Personals column in the San Francisco Chronicle of April 11, 2000.
Q: What is the difference between the English and American peoples?
A: Number one: We speak English and you don't. Number two: When we hold a world championship for a particular sport, we invite teams from other countries. Number three: When you meet the head of state in England, you only have to go down on one knee.''
John Cleese quoted in the London Telegraph.
Larry King noted: “John Cleese touched on only a few of the differences between the U.S. and U.K. He omitted, for example: In the U.S., political sex scandals usually involve women.”
I forwarded that to Leah Garchik, who riposted:
”Very funny. I'll bet there's a BIG list of those differences.”
This and That
October 30, 2022
Complete Bushisms
The Complete Bushisms was a proof that W graduated from Yale and Harvard with gentleman’s C’s. No wonder he never released his transcripts. Jacob Weisberg, chairman and editor-in-chief of The Slate Group in 2009, collected them.
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Programming Languages
Jokes about what programming language you use.
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Procrastination Graphic (DRAFT)
Linked-In led me to this great procrastination graphic