Rome – Part I In the inaugural games in the Colosseum, the historian Cassius Dio claims over nine thousand animals were killed for sport. That is such an oddly specific number and it sticks in my brain like a thumbtack. The structure itself was likely financed with the sacking of Jerusalem around 67 AD. Josephus tells […]
Read More →These sorts of questionnaires are not uncommon in my industry, and, in general, I don’t resent them. I am certain any tech job listing gets inundated with well-meaning dolts who have just learned how to put the right acronyms on resumes but have no experience or talent. Hey, fair enough. I don’t mind having to […]
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An open letter to Bally Sports, AT&T, and Spectrum: Hello fellow cocaine enthusiasts! I hate to interrupt what must be an exciting day of yacht racing in Dubai with Mitt Romney, but I’m afraid I must. It’s regarding your cable television products, and how much I hate them, and how much I hate you, because […]
Read More →In my thirties, I got a bit chunky. Not an unreasonable level of chunky, I’d just accumulated enough body fat for a passer-by to think “that man could not jog for more than ten minutes without needing a coronary.” I’ve heard this referred to, in my line of work, as “programmer gut” and hearing that […]
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Part I – Actun-Tunichil-Muknal Cave (These images are not mine, cameras are not permitted in the site.) “The name Actun Tunichil Muknal translates as “Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre,” and the locals know it as “Xibalba” after the Mayan underworld. The Crystal Cave was traditionally believed to be an entrance to hell, a deep fissure […]
Read More →I dislike being asked to write online reviews. It’s a lot like going to a concert and hearing the artist beg the audience for increasing, but always unsatisfactory levels of enthusiasm. “I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” gets followed with “AW, COME ON, YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT!” and it makes me want to find musicians […]
Read More →Mr. [REDACTED], I am emailing you pursuant to the letter I received from your office postmarked 9/30. It appears to be a request for payment in regards to a new earnings tax. I have already paid an earnings tax to your office as recently as 8/31 (Confirmation #[REDACTED]). Please confirm your receipt of that payment. […]
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