Quod Scripsi, Scripsi

Geocaching – Do I need another hobby?

So some friends convinced me to actually give geocaching a try. I picked up a Garmin eTrex Venture HC after I was dissuaded from jumping in on a much more expensive unit. I tend to be a bit impulsive with purchases, but I also prefer quality and functionality.

The Venture HC is very nice, I’m happy with it and it certainly has plenty of features for entry level ‘caching. The Garmin web site and product lineup are a nightmare though. Way, way too many different models with barely distinguishable features. Based on the reviews I read, there are really only a handful that you need to seriously consider.

The mapping software is where I really started to get disgusted though. The product compatibility “chart” is a joke. Some products are discontinued, but are still listed minus a “buy” button. Problem is, there’s no replacement. When I went looking for maps for my unit, the only products listed were a topological map and a marine map. I have since discovered that just about all of the map products are compatible in the sense that you can download them to devices with onboard memory or an SD card. The Garmin site makes it seem like the maps just won’t “work”.

So I emailed the cartography department simply asking what I should buy if I want detailed road maps for the Venture HC. Never got a response.

Lastly, when I tried to use the Mac version of their update software to install the latest firmware, it bricked the unit. Fortunately Amazon quickly replaced it and a windows update went fine. More on geocaching when I actually get to some.

Product A-; Software Support D-; Web Site = teh suxxor.

Pax Romana

On a whim I picked up a “Staff Pick” at my friendly local comic/game shop. Pax Romana by Jonathan Hickman is very, very good. Only the first issue is shipping, but if you see it – get it. Sci-fi, religion, alternate history, genetic tampering, stuff blowing up real good.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

I finally saw this film last night, unintentionally. It disturbed me in ways that I’m still processing. The style is similar to Natural Born Killers, but it’s a romance. The point, it seems, is that love is not a series of shared memories or an electro-chemical reaction. Erasing the physical remnants of a person won’t remove them. Love is both a choice and a reminder that we are still children of mystery, shaped by our choices and choices made for us. Shaped also by whom we choose to love – if we can choose.

I’ve been where Joel was, many of us have been. It’s not a place I return to willingly.

The poem that Kirsten Dunst quotes.

Puppy

We adopted a lab/hound mix puppy from a rescue in Mechanicsburg. He’s a cutie, but he’s got a biting problem that we need to work on. It’s been a very stressful couple of weeks, with kids starting new schools, puppy training, wife in classes and projects at work. Modern life, I guess. I’m finishing up Lewis’ Miracles and then taking a break from the heavier stuff for some of Jeff Shaara’s historical novels.

I’ve also started a tech blog on the new PSU blogging service. I think it will be a great way to share ideas and get feedback on things we’re thinking of doing in ES. I think I’ll still post general code and tech stuff here, and stick to PSU and work specific stuff on the other blog.

Masters Degree

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to pursuing a Masters degree. I thought about IST, but I’m honestly not sure what use that would be at this point in my career and it’s not something I would take for enjoyment or personal gratification. I am interested in Applied Math, but I’m not very confident in my very rusty higher math skills. I think if I could brush them up in some undergrad courses, I might be able to tackle it. Then again, it’s been a long time since I’ve tackled integrals.

Maybe I’ll look at IST again and see if there’s anything that looks promising. I wouldn’t mind getting deeper into database design and theory.