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The Twitter Diaries: 2009-08-30: CO

August 30, 2009 Deirdre Straughan Leave a comment

@AmberCadabra hit ’em with a bunch of negatives on Amazon. They’ll learn that can’t be undone. ; ) in reply to AmberCadabra #
@stephenfry I am only beginning to understand cricket, but I’m happy for you – altho, from my POV, the wrong team won! in reply to stephenfry #
Waiting for the airshow to start. #
i guess the air show was canceled – storm moving in. Dang #
taking time off to spend with family. Of course I’m the only one awake at 8 am (late for me!), so I’m lazing over coffee. Yay. #
more perspective on Americans’ hysteria over healthcare, from someone who knows more than one country http://bit.ly/13W5LA #
have requested photos of the winners of the “I’m blogging this for Sun” t-shirts. I’m already seeing a streak of engineering competitiveness #
@jonasthaler drink enough coffee so you’re at least wired and weird in reply to jonasthaler #
@hemantmehta make sure they know the religious right wing hate you – that’ll up your coolness factor instantly in reply to hemantmehta #
there used to be a really good app to show me who I’m following and who’s following me, but I can’t find it now. Suggestions? #
Hanging out in boulder with Ross & G. Feeling mellow after a glass of Spanish bubbly at lunch. Feeling more vacated today #
RT @templedf: Due to some cancellations, there are now 4 openings at the #sunhpc09. Better hurry! http://hpcworkshop.com/ #
@saraford just realized – you’re not following me! tsk, tsk. ; ) #
thanks @jeffreytaylor for reminding me about Twitter Karma http://bit.ly/sq1SP . A few surprises in the list of my followings and followers #
hoping for pouring rain so the neighborhood teens will stop running around on their sound- and air-polluting motorized vehicles #
RT @comay: San Francisco OpenSolaris User Group tonight, http://tr.im/x1Fr; 6PM presentations, 7PM drinking 🙂 – sorry I can’t be there! #
Ross & G want to go to Casa Bonita tonight. They’re huge South Park fans. This should be… interesting? #
Oh lord what has our kid got us into? A liter of margaritas is probably a good idea #
@plasticbagUK congrats! in reply to plasticbagUK #
RT @pancrazioauteri: I’m looking for Grails-expert Java developers. [NB Pancrazio is a friend and former colleague, highly recommended.] #
typing first thing in the morning on not enough coffee leads to interesting Freudian keyboard slips #
to-do list for last day of vacation: spa with my daughter, then go get a new modem. Yes, I am a GIRL geek. #
RT @fauxpress: Reading: “Vlogger Flashmeeting this Saturday ::” (http://twitthis.com/c6rnyn) – thanks for the heads-up, hope to join! #
RT @martinwake: week of free hospital treatment in the communist and/or Nazi hell of the NHS. Sigh. – sorry you need it, glad you have it! #
using TwitterKarma to clean out spammers, decide whether I want to follow who follows me, unfollow some who don’t. Educational. #
@dudulima want to trade for Italy? in reply to dudulima #
@dfugate I think we all have plenty to stress about right now. Every now and then, when I have time I also panic about my future employment! in reply to dfugate #
@bubbva it’s your avatar photo ; ) in reply to bubbva #
Waiting for my “Positively Hot” pink toenail polish to dry. And with that, let’s meet the foot fetishist population on Twitter. <wry smile> #
@nilofer from years of personal experience, I recommend http://www.udaytour.com/ for travel in India #
all vacation over now. Wednesday feels like Monday, but at least Friday wll feel like Wednesday. And Thursdays are good anyhow. #
strange task for the day: loading the OpenSolaris 2009.06 repositories onto 150 8 GB iPod nanos to send to user groups worldwide. #
…while also creating and duplicating a new USB stick of OpenSolaris videos to go in the same shipment… #
RT @bubbva: message for parents/grandparents/siblings of all technical people: here’s how I fix your computer: http://xkcd.com/627/ #
@lskrocki R’s bellybutton piercing healed itself out in months. The nose piercing remains and is cute. in reply to lskrocki #
hygienist who cleaned my teeth today does lots of volunteer trips to refugee camps, etc. How could she get free air tix to go to more? #
iPod progress: ~40 loaded so far, but dealing with multiple iPods confuses both iTunes and Windows (no, can’t use Mac for this) #
@ceri it’s getting the job done, thanks – just requires the occasional restart. May get them all done tonight. in reply to ceri #
@llcrowe good question, will find out in reply to llcrowe #
up to iPod #62. Staying late, but somehow doubt I’ll get through all 150 tonight. #
not eating much and sleeping less than usual. I’m not sure what I’m actually running on. Sheer stress? #
@bklein34 definitely a factor. I should be falling over; instead I can’t sit still! in reply to bklein34 #
oh, and got new modem set up with a minimum of fuss (had to call Qwest to learn my PPPoE login), much faster than roomie’s – Girl Geeks FTW! #
“Ted Kennedy death gets expected coverage from cable news networks” – what kind of a lame-ass headline is that? #
“Italy ranks 67th out of 130 countries… on the Global Gender Gap Index, lower than Uganda, Namibia, Kazakhstan…” http://bit.ly/dj7jt #
Puzzled by a spammer who wants to buy “woman hair” from me. Sorry, don’t have any to spare. #
Videocracy, a documentary by Erik Gandini: in Italy, TV has taken the place of democracy http://bit.ly/2F9b8Z #
so the same day I get spam wanting to buy my “woman hair”, my hair appointment is canceled (stylist has bronchitis). Coincidence? #
Twitter Karma http://bit.ly/sq1SP reveals that @stephenfry follows me, @timbray and @webmink don’t. Ahem. #
@webmink very true. And I’ve had drinks with you and not with him. So I’ll forgive you. ; ) in reply to webmink #
about 25 OpenSolaris user group iPods to go, but won’t finish today, either. Lack of sleep catching up. #
learning about iPod failure rates. Of 150, 2 won’t start at all, connectors on 2 mfd slightly wrong – needed prodding with iPhone connector. #
waking up slowly from a decent (for once) night’s sleep. Oh,yes – it was Thursday. Today: finish the last few iPods, do video project… #
@alecmuffett This feels like watching the guillotine blade slowly rising, and not even knowing whose head is on the block… in reply to alecmuffett #
@alecmuffett looking forward to hearing what’s next! #
added a bit on measuring to Â» Reflections on My Career http://bit.ly/m4Juk (yes, I am a stats junkie) #
@jeffreytaylor that sounds like a blast! in reply to jeffreytaylor #
OpenSolaris Security – Jack Adams interviews Valerie Bubb Fenwick at OSCON http://bit.ly/KvwoH #
150 iPods loaded with the OpenSolaris 2009.06 repository. minus 3 that don’t start at all, maybe the batteries are too old and flat #
@alecmuffett hmm, interesting idea… in reply to alecmuffett #
Asking questions = libel: “Berlusconi’s lawyers cited an article… containing 10 questions it wants answered ” http://bit.ly/TOr8o #
Agh! My fortune cookie! RT @NathanFillion: Do something today you’ve been afraid to do. A decision based on fear is the wrong decision. #
@rosso thanks, using those to clean out “dead” friends in reply to rosso #
coming up: likely one of the weirdest and most stressful months of my life. Yes, that’s why I woke up at 4 am. #
RT @wanderingitaly: “How to Read Sagra Posters” article http://bit.ly/RIXpo #
got another 3 hours of sleep. Hooray for weekends! #
@reiger Friday! in reply to reiger #
UI fail: LinkedIn tells me a friend has updated the Honors in his profile. I cannot find any way to see these. Nor do I know where mine are. #
okay, found mine. Still can’t see his. #
@ThinGuy it amazes me how little UI testing anyone seems to do! in reply to ThinGuy #
RT @pizzocalabro: To insurance companies, this man’s son is a pre-existing condition. http://bit.ly/qo3Qp (via @thegoodbloggess) #ba #
@jeffreytaylor you just have to walk into that cafeteria with your head held high and know that you’re one of the coolest kids there in reply to jeffreytaylor #
RT @apperceptions: videobloging video conference starting up. come and join in: http://fm.ea-tel.eu/fm/28db8f-18170 – I’m there! #
@Oracle I take it the A/C is turned off on Saturdays? in reply to Oracle #
@saraford you are just too cute for words! ; ) in reply to saraford #
not going to Europe in Sept after all, but have nonetheless managed to schedule quite a bit of travel… #
@saraford I know. But you look cute, which makes you ten times az dangerous. ; ) #

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The Twitter Diaries: 2009-08-16: CO, UT, AZ, Las Vegas

August 16, 2009 Deirdre Straughan Leave a comment

^ the Colorado river gorge, long before it reaches the Grand Canyon.
Enrico going to lay down his burdens, presumably.

Guy in the next booth at dennys going into great detail about the position of his mailbox. Country life. I feel out of place with my iPhone #

Still don’t have twitpic set up right do can’t send accidentally (I swear!) obscene photo from Arches natl park #
god bless cheap motels with good wifi. Except in the end of the corridor where the router got stolen, but we’re on the lucky end. #super8 #

the Barmah hat I got for C1 is turning out very useful on this trip (see new icon pic) #
Monument Valley today, & we’ll see how much further we get. I’m letting E do most of the deciding; I’ve planned too much other travel lately #
added some photos to last week’s Twitter Diaries: 2009-08-09 http://bit.ly/1QZP1Y #
@koolinus it’s a hat for a desert climate, I’m in a desert – just a different one. in reply to koolinus #

Sadly hazy but still jaw-dropping views in Monument Valley. I don’t think there’s another place on Earth like this. #
Monument valley Navajo nation ctr has amazing jewelry – and terrible coffee #
@lskrocki don’t think “crabby middle aged woman.” think “bitch goddess” in reply to lskrocki #
“in youth it was a way I had, to do my best to please, to change with every passing lad, to suit his theories. But now I know the things… #
…I know, and do the things I do. And if you do not like me so – to hell, my love, with you!” Dorothy Parker #
Tuba City AZ but dang, we missed the church camp meeting #
Why is it Harley couples always feature one large man, one brown, skinny, scary-looking woman? #
Some of these rocks look like giant petrified cow flops #
@llcrowe anyone brave enough to be a bitch is welcome to join the club! in reply to llcrowe #
Must’ve been weird for early explorers here. You’re riding along on a vast plain. And suddenly – whumph! – the ground disappears. #
Lesson for the day: don’t expect to find accomodation near the Grand Canyon at the last minute in august. So… On to Flagstaff #
@ThinGuy umm… If we end up in Vegas tomorrow, meet up? See, there’s this big hole in the ground between us and desired destinations… in reply to ThinGuy #
@ThinGuy prob just the one night – this trip is more about natural wonders in reply to ThinGuy #
finally found a hotel (Super8 again, less shabby than last night’s), looking forward to a hot bath and SLEEP. Camera out of battery. Argh #
turns out haze over the Grand Canyon today due to forest fires. Hence, view will not improve anytime soon. #
waitaminute. What time zone am I in? #
“Most of Arizona does not use Daylight Saving Time.(Note: The Navajo Nation, in northeastern Arizona, does observe Daylight Saving Time)” #
@robbogio it’d be on the way to Vegas, haven’t yet decided if we’ll go that way. Pro: could fix my out of commission camera situation in reply to robbogio #
@missbhavens glad you like it! in reply to missbhavens #
hmm. We could stay in a good hotel in Vegas for less than we paid for a Super8. I’m so there! #
Ross’ suggestion re Vegas: “You should both marry strippers, to spice up your marriage.” I should probably be very worried about that… #
@robbogio seen Bellagio/Vegas, pretty weird. in reply to robbogio #
@ThinGuy Vegas it is, two nights. A beer would be great, but I will totally understand if you’re too busy. #
ooh, just learned of another very good reason to be in the Bay Area in Sept – an old school friend I missed in Auckland will be visiting #
@jeffreytaylor working on that. I think it’s time. in reply to jeffreytaylor #
@lordorica re phishing: IMs on which networks? Any/all? in reply to lordorica #
Bunch of people standing around chatting, blocking the door to the convenience store. Shoulda known: Italians! (it’s a national trait) #

^ new bridge going up at Hoover Dam

At Hoover dam. Omg it’s HOT. As in temp #
@ThinGuy not yet but if you recommend it we’ll go in reply to ThinGuy #
@sumaya good luck for the workshop. Please tell @johnham that we desperately need 1-click start and autosave of the chat transcript #ustream in reply to sumaya #
US tourism appears to be booming. I’ve. Seen about as many foreigners as natives on this trip, inc busloads of Chinese. #
Just remembered: now that I’m not going to Europe in sept, unwed [I need]Â to be in Chicago for a Sage board mtg the 11th. Must book that. #
Unwed?!? The mysteries of iPhone spellcheck #
@sumaya Italian prob easiest in reply to sumaya #
Made it to Vegas, now where can I get divorced?(the alternative is beginning to look like murder) #
And was sick last night, food poisoning and/or stress. And the camera battery charger we got from frys can’t work – manufactured wrong. #
@kbeninato cool! Now if only I can get my dad on twitter, they’d have a lot to talk about in reply to kbeninato #
@akadrjohn so are we now going to call you the Night Twitter? #
Excellent dinner at Craftsteak, yummy leftovers for tomorrow’s roadside lunch #
@hemantmehta the dance will be on YouTube, right? in reply to hemantmehta #
clearly needed this vaca – I love my job, but right now my brain recoils in my skull at any work-related thought #
Just saw the Jubilee show at Ballys – tix part of our hotel deal. I expected rhinestones, they had Swarovsky. I expected fake stripper boobs #
… But these were dancers’ bodies (men, too!). Gotta say, tho – the numbers about Samson and the Titanic were distinctly weird. #
Btw forgot to mention: Ross turned 20 yesterday, I am no longer the mother of a teen. But she’s long been wise for her years. #
@nonstick hugs are always good, even when it’s more about you than her. Thinking of you all. in reply to nonstick #
Vegas is polar opp of an early tourism experience of mine: we were among 1st to visit Nepal. I was abt 7. Played with a snow leopard cub. #
@drostova fraid we’re heading out this morning, back to the wonders of nature. Sorry to miss you! in reply to drostova #
Thanks to the wonders of modern pharmacy (and other factors), slept pretty well. Now to head for Bryce Canyon #
@gracekboyle I am usually bored in the gym, otherwise never. in reply to gracekboyle #
@ElizaPatricia a prize drawing works well for these things ie autographed photo. Those who retweet eligible for something even better in reply to ElizaPatricia #
@KeithBurtis I’ve always thought that whatever i do in public or that touches the public, inc social media, IS marketing, no matter the term in reply to KeithBurtis #
Still pleasantly stunned at how well organized tourism is in this country #
@steveharris the NHS has been incredibly good to my dad and he’s not even a citizen. I’m all for a US NHS. in reply to steveharris #
@akumar I wish the press would apply #noobviouspuns to Sun, but they go straight for them every damn time in reply to akumar #
@nonstick we do pissing matches just fine on our own! in reply to nonstick #

^ Zion was truly astounding #
Arr Bryce canyon and the heavens are unleashing a fury. Lucked into a great room at nearby lodge, hope for good weather tomorrow #
@ThinGuy decided to push on for Zion and Bryce today, since we got a late start. in reply to ThinGuy #
okay, so actually did think about work a little bit just now… because Tony Baylis asked and he’s too much of a sweetie to ignore… #
and for anyone who may have wondered about my filming a puppet, here’s the first Jack Adams video: https://slx.sun.com/1179275094 #
amused and pleased that my daughter’s friends friend me on Facebook. But we’re all Woodstockers, too. #
Is it Friday already? Hard to know on vac. But yesterday was definitely Thursday #
I don’t believe in “ordinary people.” Everyone is extraordinary, if only you give them a chance to tell their stories. #
a few of my favorite photos from the trip so far: Countries Beginning with I http://bit.ly/U8jWP #

^ hoodoos at Bryce Canyon

About to head out for a day in Bryce Canyon. Wanted to do it on horseback, but weather is too iffy #
@comay obviously you need a change of career: geek roadie! ; ) in reply to comay #
@hemantmehta I demand to see this on YouTube! in reply to hemantmehta #
@JoyceSolano I could use that mutation [to need only 4 hrs sleep] in reply to JoyceSolano #
Ruby’s inn has great wifi, makes up for complete lack of AT&T coverage #
Man walking past just gave me the ip-and-down. Bare legs or “Om schooled” t-shirt? (which is a bit provocative in Mormon country) #
you know you’re in the country when one of your fellow motel guests is a gentleman of mature years wearing bib overalls #
@deirdresm “Om Schooled” was an idea cooked up for a recent Woodstock School reunion. The shirt earned me one friendly greeting at Bryce in reply to deirdresm #
@ThinGuy I REALLY didn’t want to know that [about Kansas’ country gentlemen going commando under their overalls]. Fortunately (or not), I’m in Utah. BYOB. in reply to ThinGuy #
@JoyceSolano makes sense. There’s already a term for us straight women who hang out with gay men. ; ) in reply to JoyceSolano #
@Cdash sword?!? Major coolness. Can you do that on horseback? in reply to Cdash #
not enough upstream bandwidth to upload all my (many, many) pictures… Bryce Canyon is very photogenic! #
select photos from Bryce Canyon, including the Om Schooled t-shirt http://bit.ly/bdepg #
@nonstick thanks, wd love to, but we’re heading back east now. I need to be in BRM next thurs at the latest, earlier if sleep continues diff in reply to nonstick #
@ThinGuy @sumaya I was the kid they could never get to nap. So was my kid. #
I think I’m going to have to declare this vacation over and go home so I can get some sleep. #
I’m sure the incidence of snoring-related homicide must be much higher than reported. And totally justified. #
exhausted, hungry, cranky. This is not a good way to start the day. #
Torrey, UT, nice motel with hot tub and pool, if I can stay awake long enough to enjoy them #
Just had an amazing dinner at Cafe Diablo in Torrey UT. Well worth going out of your way for! Southwestern with a true chef’s touch. #
It’s india’s independence day si everybody sing: Jana gana mana adhinayaka jaya he, Bharata bhagya vidhata… #
today is India’s Independence Day – Learn India’s National Anthem – Video http://bit.ly/3rvxPX #

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The Twitter Diaries: 2009-08-09: CO

August 9, 2009 Deirdre Straughan Leave a comment

^ This would be overdone even in Switzerland – but it’s in Vail.

slept til 9 am – that is so unlike me! #
ah, now this is more like summer. I’d better go for a walk before temp hits the 90s today. #
@nonstick LOL! Sometimes the only answer is “Because that would have messed up the story the author wanted to tell.” in reply to nonstick #
Ross tells me that Indian culture is penetrating Italy: Jai Ho! is popular at dance clubs #
@bklein34 TEDIndia would be my ideal occasion! Hmm. Chris Anderson, distinguished Woodstock alum, hmm… <plotting> in reply to bklein34 #
RT @KathySierra: How do cos justify $$$ on marketing/ads while product/svc on life-support? Isn’t great prod/svc/support the BEST marketing? #
putting together a wine cork board is tricker than it looks. #
just to add to my communications overload, I’m back on IRC for the first time in years. Gotta be where (more of) my peeps are! #
I have yet to reach the point where exercise feels good, but at least it feels better than no exercise. A walk in the Colorado twilight. #
damn, this Strengths Finder assessment is better than a horoscope #
argh. it’s midnight and tomorrow is Monday. Must. Stop. Now. #
RT @guardiantech: Can the web save Italy’s artisanal food producers? http://bit.ly/1SduaG #
@nonstick my major non-strength is ironing. Tho not too crazy about housecleaning, either. in reply to nonstick #
nothing like starting my day feeling stupid thanks to technology #
from the not-so-evil empire: Sara Ford’s Weblog : OSCON 2009: One of the greatest weeks in my Microsoft Career http://bit.ly/182bWU #
this performance map business is hard. Can’t we just say I do stuff superbly and leave it at that? #
item on FakeSteveJobs reminded me that somone had recently told me about this very funny video: http://bit.ly/1dLtW0 #
ooookkkkayyy… that is not the result I was expecting for that particular search. Apparently Google is omniscient. #
when a community (even of friends) is based around one personality, and that personality goes rogue, the whole community hurts #
@zephoria I hope that doesn’t translate into automatically assuming that older=rigid, in adaptable, etc. That’s not always the case in reply to zephoria #
@Roam2Rome enjoy your paleness now – 20 years from now people will be complimenting you on your youthful complexion. in reply to Roam2Rome #
@gpelz I’ve seen them fail twice at crucial moments, and been told that htey are not at all discriminating in the sound they pick up. in reply to gpelz #
@trine crazy. Life’s too short for conservative hair. in reply to trine #
…and I’m still looking for a sufficiently non-conservative hairdresser in Boulder/Denver area… #
@Kimbirly can”t DM if you’re not following me in reply to Kimbirly #
UStream doesn’t save chat streams for you. FAIL #
@lbridenne76 it’s really bad when you don’t know about that limitation in advance… #Ustream in reply to lbridenne76 #
@Roam2Rome worked for me: rarely tanned (just not capable), never smoked, drink lots of water. in reply to Roam2Rome #
two nights of inadequate sleep are catching up. But overall mood is… happy, actually. #
whoever invented various & noisy forms of motorized transport for the underage set should be shot. Forthwith. #
@DavidStrauss having trouble finding one as creative as the one I like in Austin. I came out looking like Hilary Clinton last time. in reply to DavidStrauss #
(nothing against Hilary, but her hairstyle is not for me) #
@msgilligan Anyone who thinks Hilary is a little old lady has another think coming. in reply to msgilligan #
Wow, slept the night through, which almost never happens naturally. Something new in my environment appears to be good for me. #
@briansolis your reference to “Deirdre and I” threw me there for a minute. I’m pretty sure the book I wrote wasn’t with you. ; ) in reply to briansolis #
@ThinGuy seems reasonable to me. Haven’t you ever wondered what the inside of a washing machine would feel like? in reply to ThinGuy #
like mother, like daughter: Ross is thinking seriously about going to Australia next (northern) winter, to work with horses. #
listening to a preso on career transition #
relieved to hear that the old “send your resume around” is out of style – it never worked for me #
what on this MacBook is snorting at me? #
oh, damn, the elevator pitch. My career/job doesn’t condense that well #
Req for feedback: I made up “social media producer” as part of my title. Is that instantly understandable? #
@bklein34 wrote: @DeirdreS It does: I tell stories with video. I tell them in a human way that makes tech come alive to broad audiences. And I innovate.
@bklein34 wow, thanks, I love that! Can I quote you? ; ) in reply to bklein34 #
@bklein34 wrote: @DeirdreS Of course! I think what you do is so amazing!
“keep your online presence professional”. Okay, as long as you don’t consider the Italian slang dictionary unprofessional… #
@c_bright “content” clarifies but also restricts. I’m both producing the content and managing/strategizing the whole, um, performance in reply to c_bright #
@bklein34 thanks! I do love it, so am working on getting to keep on doing it. in reply to bklein34 #
despite major life complications, feeling optimistic, even giddy. #
@c_bright Done right, social media can require quite a lot of production! What Iâ€™m Doing in Brisbane http://bit.ly/DdzAt #
@ethang don’t think I have a photo unless you’re in here somewhere, may have video – editing that soon http://bit.ly/19izB3 #
@ethang sorry, I only seem to have vid of you from the neck down… Vid of me would be great – it’s rare! in reply to ethang #
finally working on drafts of the FISL interviews (all in Br. Portugese) #
FT.com / Europe – “…the â€œsystemâ€ in Italy, where businessmen pay women to entertain politicians.” http://bit.ly/FCytt #
guaranteed to raise a smile: http://bit.ly/1fg4zd – the music is Dhoom Tana from “Om Shanti Om” #
blog post: Reflections on My Career http://bit.ly/U8jWP #
@mjabali Thanks. If you find the model helpful, let me see what you do with it – I’d be curious to compare others. in reply to mjabali #
I would almost have to let this spammer slip by for being smart. #
weird. OGB meeting call kept getting “hello? hello?” interruptions in Spanish or Portugese. Who did they think they were calling? #
short on sleep again. It’s Thursday. #
trying to figure out how to get last.fm to actually play the song I want. The stuff they’re suggesting is good, but why be a tease about it? #
it’s Friday and things are a little weird. But I’m on vacation. That’s plus. #
it is so unlike me to lose things when I travel, but it’s been happening a lot lately. Damn. Gonna miss those Steve Madden gel flats. #
@jtroyer re UStream this might help, and there are a couple of other notes about UStream on my blog – Un Posto al Sole http://bit.ly/3W3VL #
@jeffreytaylor Can I just marry you? Oh, wait, I think you’re already taken. in reply to jeffreytaylor #
hitting the road that points west. Dillon CO tonight, after that no precise plans. Except to be largely offline. Ciao, tweeps! #
Picnic lunch before a hike on Dillon lake #

2 hr hike, HP6 (E hadn’t seen it), now dinner, soon sleep. Because that’s enough activity for a vac day! #
Damn. All the neighbors in Dillon sure are stingy with their wifi #
Vaca reading choices: the Penguin historyof the US, or The Virgin’s Lover (another Philippa Gregory Tudor potboiler). Hmm. #
Ross also saw HP6 this aft, says it was awesome in 3D Imax. I admit I spent most of my 2nd viewing thinking about other things. #
Both slept badly, maybe due to altitude and dryness. At least with jetlag E wakes up as early as I do so we’ll hit the road soon. #
Vail looks enough like Cortina that I don’t need to see any more. Not that I’ve spent a lot of time in Cortina. #
At 12095 ft Independence pass was too high for me – dizzy! #
Now in Aspen, another place for people with more money than sense, apparently. Must get a photo of Snark St – too appropriate for my mood. #

@familyonbikes I wasn’t on a bike, fortunately. Doubt I’ll ever be on that kind if shape in reply to familyonbikes #
“you’re holding up better than any other 46 year old I know” is not the romantic compliment I was looking for. #

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The Twitter Diaries: 2009-08-02: TN, CO

August 2, 2009 Deirdre Straughan Leave a comment

Offline all wkd at a woodstock school reunion on a lake in tennesee. Fantastic time. We’ve gone in so many directions, yet are so much alike #
Arrived Denver after 5 weeks away. I can has sleep now? #
Vishal’s new film isn’t quite out yet, but the music’s great (and a friend is in it) Dhan Te Nan Aaja Aaja http://bit.ly/VrOwf #
reunion weekend was great, but bummed that my new O’Reilly t-shirt got lost (probably blew off the boat). I love that aye-aye critter. #
@lbridenne76 would those be my videos? in reply to lbridenne76 #
RT @Fassbinder: listening to “Squallor – Usa For Italy (1985)” â™« http://blip.fm/~apfot ROTFL – translating now! #
“welcome home – now leave so we can show the house to a prospective buyer” – argh! #
@llcrowe and tomorrow I can look forward to REdoing the expense report from hell because IT was absolutely no help with the corrupted file in reply to llcrowe #
@timbray The condescending articles about Twitter seem to be written by people who have hardly used it. That kids don’t Tweet is not news. in reply to timbray #
airplane reading this last trip was “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.” Weird, gorey, funny – but it probably helps to be a huge Austen fan. #
my neighbors on Wisteria Lane wake me with their chat (and yappy dog) as they pass the house on their early-morning jog. Ah, suburbia… #
@LusciousPear re hosting video, maybe Kaltura? they were sponsors, should have an interest in #oscon material in reply to LusciousPear #
reduced to doing my expense report in sections – US$ first because that doesn’t involve an exchange rate, which would upset our system #
@monkchips and probably a few atheists, too… ; ) in reply to monkchips #
@Kaltura it’s @LusciousPear who needs help hosting a 1.3 Gb video of his #OSCON preso – thanks! in reply to Kaltura #
finally have time to see which of the 1300 items in each of my emails boxes (work and personal) actually requires action #
it’s very hard to make decisions about the future when you are wallowing in regrets about the past #
RT @mtuckerb: The SETI Institute is looking for a rare individual to support us as OSS Community Manager and Evangelist http://bit.ly/erux3 #
Way to split the country! Italy’s Lega Nord wd require teachers to test in “dialect & traditions” where they teach – http://bit.ly/11RxWN #
@llcrowe I should have specified that it’s not me doing the wallowing! in reply to llcrowe #
@llcrowe only in hot tubs or Calistoga springs mud! in reply to llcrowe #
any Italian history scholar care to respond to this comment? Â» Apologia del Fascismo, in Flagrante http://bit.ly/14yH2p #
good thing I wasn’t planning on sleeping late. Some noisy construction going on nearby. #suburbia #
finishing up the last of the expense report(s) from hell – it’s taken 5 separate reports to get it all through. Now ripping 33 videotapes… #
ANSA.it – News in English – League in school dialect row http://bit.ly/SYj7V #
@italylogue you can file me under “bitching about Italian politics tweeps” #Italy in reply to italylogue #
@juliebenz OTOH, Darla was pretty damned dangerous herself. Hers was the first kill of the entire series. in reply to juliebenz #
apparently Denver is having Portland’s weather, and vice-versa. #
Whoâ€™s afraid of Silvio Berlusconi? | open Democracy News Analysis http://bit.ly/f9VD9 #
See comments: http://bit.ly/153ckc – I begin to wonder if poor English teaching in Italy is yet another semi-planned form of oppression #
What’s really sad in this article http://bit.ly/153ckc are the comments by Italians – begging to be invaded and liberated! #
not having a good night here. #
How to decide how much to reveal about yourself | Penelope Trunk’s Brazen Careerist http://bit.ly/18VKws – okay, now I understand. Whoa. #
“… the Globe and Mail compares Italy to “a military regime,” while the Economist likens it to Colombia. ” http://bit.ly/dsUfc #
@davewiner I LOVED Hypercard, have several times sought and failed to find a replacement. in reply to davewiner #
@Roam2Rome – there is lots to compliment in Italy, but the waste (of human capital and everything else) is appalling. in reply to Roam2Rome #
my video kit has just come back from Australia, with the remaining tapes. 4 more hours of Brendan? didn’t know he talked that much #
RT @DeirdreS: New blog post: Who’s a Guy? http://bit.ly/3FgNIU @jonobacon – you’ll enjoy the irony here #
@jonobacon it usually does… in reply to jonobacon #
trying to figure out what to do for vacation with Enrico, exploring the USA. Suggestions welcome, starting from CO, no planes! #
@markingegno I’m married to a nice, smart Italian mathematician! in reply to markingegno #
@thepartycow re “How are you?” , it’s funny how people freak out if you give anything other than the expected “Oh, fine” answer. in reply to thepartycow #
@plasticbagUK I first ran across you years ago when I found your UI design for collaborative TV watching. Guess I follow you out of habit. in reply to plasticbagUK #
Microsoft @saraford and Sun @bubbva Guitar Heroes at OSCON 2009 Exhibit Hall. http://bit.ly/vFaxy #
This is why Sun gives away so many t-shirts http://bit.ly/3qzxfc #
RT @chrisfaron: Watching: YouTube – #Twitter Cops lol.. ( http://bit.ly/ajAPj ) – HUGE LOL, thanks! #
@ben I realized upon looking at the schedule that there’s 1.25 hours of DTrace alone – I wasn’t there that day, had gone to CA for OSCON in reply to ben #
@adambusch you men do have curious ways of bonding in reply to adambusch #
going to film FROSUG tonight – students presenting on how to do an installer during a 6 week internship #
@Slowfinger quando Ferrara sara’ in grado di diventare incinto (oppore renderlo qualcuno), la sua opinione in merito mi potrebbe interessare in reply to Slowfinger #
want to do something very, very cool this weekend? Project Bandaloop: Workshop Aug. 1-5th http://bit.ly/11wSt7 #
okay, not streaming FROSUG because UStream crashes both Firefox and Safari. WTF? #
I enjoy hearing from people who are clearly reading my (Sun) blog and asking for help with video. #
OTOH, ?s from my personal site like “How much money do I need for a week in Italy?” are getting old. #
@italylogue weird sort of spam. Are you sure it’s not just one confused individual trying to get help? in reply to italylogue #
one highlight of this weekend’s Woodstock School reunion: t-shirts saying “Om Schooled” #
@saraford unattractive? Something wrong with their eyes? Or is it the scary fact that you could kick their butts? ; ) in reply to saraford #
@llcrowe I was the source. We tried it on a different Mac and it still crashed. in reply to llcrowe #
@italylogue Weird way to fill a site, but whatever… in reply to italylogue #
@llcrowe Clay has seen this with changes to Flash – UStream may not test on Macs as quickly as on Windows (it worked on a Lenovo) in reply to llcrowe #
RT @jeffhuber: Happy SysAdminDay. “Thank you for all that you do to keep Corp America and the Internets flowing.” Amen to that! #
@debworks how are they handling the “didn’t want to go to church” part? in reply to debworks #
finally upgraded my iPhone, in hopes of curing a “calls don’t ring” problem #
@BeckyKnightly you are spamming up the wrong tree – I’m a married atheist, and heaven forbid Christians should date each other! ; ) in reply to BeckyKnightly #
@debworks I don’t think this is going to make him like church any better in reply to debworks #
@Shamu gee, I wish I was a celebrity so I could meet the stars at SeaWorld in reply to Shamu #
taking it easy this morning – coffee in bed, finishing a blog post, snarking on Twitter #
@jeffreytaylor “doom porn” – love it! Exactly captures what I’ve been feeling about media coverage of “the current crisis” in reply to jeffreytaylor #
Countries Beginning with I Â» Woodstockers Afloat: Class of â€˜79 Reunion http://bit.ly/2qE9jR #
oh, it’s lunchtime. That would explain why I’m ravenous. #
editing video of a beatnik engineer… puppet #
@ajkeen why shouldn’t a girl want to be a geek? in reply to ajkeen #
@Slowfinger credo di essere su FF, ma non ho ancora capito come utilizzarlo in reply to Slowfinger #
I go thru cycles of repeating meals I like. Right now it’s Indian-style omelets (with onions and cilantro), served Indian style on a bun. #
@nonstick dead easy, too. Fry onions til soft (brown if you prefer) in a little butter, add beaten eggs + a little milk, add fresh cilantro in reply to nonstick #
@nonstick finely chopped hot green pepper if you like as well. Make the omlette thin; when cooked, fold into quarters and put on toasted bun in reply to nonstick #
@nonstick nb – good with ketchup. in reply to nonstick #
@Smokeeater37 the Indians I’ve seen eating them are usually sitting on chairs in a tea shop. Best served with sweet, milky tea. in reply to Smokeeater37 #
pool party today with people who torture fruit flies for a living (CU bio lab). Want to make a summer pasta, can’t find little mozzarella #
Sexist bosses in Italy could face jail: http://bit.ly/fj9Zy – prob w/maternity policy is cos. then don’t hire fertile married women #
RU-486 made legal in Italy – but will it really be possible to get it? based on previous experience… http://bit.ly/8N7U9 #
RT @ringae: Not your father’s javascript: http://bit.ly/mQT5N – funny! #
I really shouldn’t start the weekend reading news about Italy. That just raises my blood pressure. #
planning some actual vacation, starting soon – yay! I adore my job, but admit to being a little burned out right at the moment. #
RT @Britopian: Companies want applicants with social-media skills – Atlanta Journal Constitution http://bit.ly/sCvVe <raising hand> #
did find the mozz – why is cheese in 4 different parts of my local supermarket? grape tomatoes marinated in olive oil, salt & pepper #
tomatoes added to fresh-cooked fusilli, will put fresh basil and mozz in closer to eating time. Also bringing fresh peaches in Merlot #
reminiscences about last weekend’s reunion include: “I always tell people that when I think of home I think of Mussorie.” True for so many. #
@dave_enz LOL! Didn’t mean to catch you out that way. in reply to dave_enz #
the peaches in Merlot were a big hit with the 6-year-old. I DID warn his parents. #
the kid’s name is Logan, apparently popular these days. His parents had not figured out the Wolverine/Hugh Jackman reason for this. #
@reiger up to @macsun Mark, I believe. Out of my hands, I’m afraid. in reply to reiger #
tsk, tsk – these Aussies are so disrespectful
http://bit.ly/T1enY #
cool things Woodstockers are doing: Necessary Angels â€” National Geographic Magazine http://bit.ly/wkdE5 (Shobha Arole) #
Cool things Woodstockers are doing: Joe Pilaar – Bhutan Adventure Guide – National Geographic Adventure Magazine http://bit.ly/HYsen #
cool things Woodstockers are doing: YouTube – project bandaloop http://bit.ly/6a5ZF #
cool things Woodstockers are doing: Chris Anderson shares his vision for TED | Video on TED.com http://bit.ly/JiYa #
@bklein34 I always want to go /back/ to India. <wistfully> in reply to bklein34 #
the relaxing Italian vacation starts with a 30 km traffic jam on a beach-going highway http://bit.ly/7rGII – what’s Italian for “lemming”? #
a man living apart from his wife is pitied and invited to dinners. a woman living apart from her husband eats a lot of meals alone. #

bio

The Twitter Diaries: 2009-07-19: Brisbane

July 19, 2009 Deirdre Straughan Leave a comment

in Brisbane. Spent the weekend offline, which was very, very nice. #

^ during my Brisbane walkabout, saw, enjoyed, and bought the CD from a band called Jambezi

social media planning for the Kernel Conference http://bit.ly/2DwHJQ – hope to stream live video for the first view of ZFS De-Dupe! #
overhearing James trying to describe to someone what I do: “she works in community on the OpenSolaris side and does, um, video stuff” #
<sigh> more wrestling with our horrible, horrible expense reporting system. #
NOT a rhetorical question: when was the last time you had good support for software, and how was it provided? (phone, email, Twitter…?) #
@c0t0d0s0 we did something similar in Brazil, too. Were you thinking of a specific magazine in Germany? in reply to c0t0d0s0 #
added a few photos to President Lula of Brazil Meets OpenSolaris http://bit.ly/3iECbx #
join the Kernel Conference Australia on USTREAM: tomorrow at 9 am Brisbane time (GMT +10) http://bit.ly/a9GCb – first up will be ZFS Dedupe! #
figuring out what sessions to attend at OSCON – suggestions? (Keeping in mind that I’m more on the people side of the equation.) #
“Maybe you’re already doing too much.” My daughter at times is wiser than I am. #
recent read: Vikas Swarup’s “Six Suspects.” Plotline a little too Bollywood with coincidences, but overall a v good and satisfying read. #
folks gathering in Brisbane for the Kernel Conf. Waiting for Brendan and Gavin to get to the office so we can have lunch #
@ElaineEllis not doing any of those things! In the Sun office in Brisbane, waiting for lunch #FOTR in reply to ElaineEllis #
wearing my social media producer hat: getting set up to stream the Kernel Confernce from Brisbane. We should be live in 30 mins #

providing text backup to a very poor video feed for the kernel conference, over a http://bit.ly/LH3oo #
> 40 viewers on the stream, ~100 people in the room #
really NOT having a good day here. I need to be doing about six fewer jobs. #
@lordorica these days, it’s pretty safe to predict that consistently bad service will sooner or later result in bad PR in reply to lordorica #
damn, damn, damn. Trying to do too many things at once = doing some of them badly. I hate it when I screw up! #
lessons learned today: 1. arriving to set up 1.5 hours early is not necessarily enough. 2. I need one of each kind of FireWire cable #
3. I need a travel-sized laptop with FireWire. #
@ThinGuy no Best Buy close enough to this campus, I fear. Must remembr to gt a 9 v battery tonight in reply to ThinGuy #
@jonobacon Â» FemCamp: Sessions & Reflections http://bit.ly/PjBXS – I can try to find the name of the woman who spoke on opensource #
Italian bloggers on strike today against a proposed Internet gag law in Italy http://bit.ly/6c4Lo – would help if someone translated this! #
@jonobacon I could talk for hours. ; ) Start by asking why I left Italy… You should come to Grace Hopper in October, too. in reply to jonobacon #
another reason I left Italy: 1. that actually WAS my most recent salary in Italy and 2. rampant tax evasion (not by me) http://bit.ly/jBqQt #
just been advised that I should redo the expense report I have aready spent >6 hours on because it “may be corrupted.” There are no words… #
@AmberCadabra there is no canonical length for online text or video – use what you need to cover the topic – no more, no less in reply to AmberCadabra #
I am SO going to need a drink tonight. Or several. Let’s see whether my date makes it to Brisbane. #
there are many things I will miss about Sun. Our expense reporting system is emphatically NOT one of them. #
more lessons: slides full of text/busy diagrams work poorly in online streaming video, but also work poorly in the room #
ZFS panel with Bonwick & Moore now live at http://bit.ly/LH3oo #
this day just keeps getting better… #
gotta love the instant results with Twitter. It appears that 1% of my followers instantly jumped onto the Kernel Conference stream #
An unusually difficult conference: one speaker missed his flight, another quarantined for swine flu. #
@lbridenne76 problem with a small toolbox of A/V kit is it tends to add a lot to the 20 lbs of kit I’m already carrying in reply to lbridenne76 #
RT @seancarlos: Italy gag law: currently see small section in English + pdf: http://bit.ly/qUu1d + Google translate http://bit.ly/MJtRX #
I’e never seen slides using duplo blocks before – fun! #
re. Italian gag law, how will the law qualify “Italian blog”? hosted in Italy? written in Italian? by an Italian citizen? #
@plasticbagUK I used Twitter to work out how many days I spent where fr 2008 taxes in reply to plasticbagUK #
@divinacucina I suppose the Alfano gag law is designed to increase Berlusconi’s stranglehold on information in Italy. in reply to divinacucina #
@mschoenu There’s not a 2×4 big enough to hit them hard enough… You can also call them cretini provinciali di… #
trying to understand the proposed Italian law. seems it wd hold bloggers to same standards as big media to “rectify” mistakes w/in 48 hrs #
failure to rectify would lead to fines of >$5000. #
but who decides what actually needs rectifying? Berlusconi has already lost at least one defamation case (against the Economist) #
@mschoenu they haven’t figured out that you are not !00% Italian? in reply to mschoenu #
@mschoenu I know – that’s why I’m surprised that people would be surprised at your son’s “foreign” name. Boh. in reply to mschoenu #
@webmink see you soon, arriving from the opposite direction! in reply to webmink #
@zalez I’ve auditioned 3 new countries this trip: Brazil, NZ, Oz. All cool, but Internet in NZ & Oz sucks in reply to zalez #
reading on @BrazenCareerist about happiness. I’m actually pretty happy, tho tired and stressed and uncertain… #
@zalez re #internetausdrucker – we generally used Luddite http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite in reply to zalez #
streaming has started again at http://bit.ly/LH3oo #
@dfugate OTOH, just saw a slide on Sun/Intel collab featuring multi-ethnic people who don’t work for either in an office I don’t recognize in reply to dfugate #

^ James, Brendan, Jake

I need to make a video of a bay of hard disks shouting back at Brendan Gregg. (who really is, BTW, a sexy cub) #
@NathanFillion OMG! Spoiler! in reply to NathanFillion #
note: the most useful thing in my A/V kit, after the camera, is the wireless mics. A million ways to use ’em… #
@lbridenne76 I think quiet is to be expected today. Kinda glad I’m at a conference in reply to lbridenne76 #
I don’t care what your corporate colors are, black text on a blue background for slides is just illegible. #
about to return to streaming with “x86 Fast Reboot”Sherry Moore at http://bit.ly/LH3oo #
@dfugate re. creativity, they could have got a photo of some of the actual people, tho maybe we’re not as pretty as the models in reply to dfugate #
had dinner last night with a lot of smart people. Learned interesting/scary things about the film industry. #
@davest you’ll be at Oscon? Cool! See you there. in reply to davest #
Flying out of Brisbane tomorrow. #
…and we’re back, with “Linux Kernel Security Overview”James Morris – http://au.sun.com/sunnews/events/2009/kernel/agenda.jsp #
I wish I wouldn’t keep losing bits and pieces. Where did that extra camera battery go? It’s been floating around my luggage, now can’t find #
one of the things I love about engineers is that they’re problem-solvers. Was fun watching them get their teeth into a problem last night. #
@nonstick no, for that I have the handheld in reply to nonstick #
coming up “Boomer: the new OpenSolaris audio system”Garrett D’Amore – http://bit.ly/LH3oo #
the comment spammers are running out of ideas “My mother’s name is Italian.” And that’s all it says. Blah #
@shamu – more whaley stuff for you: Countries Beginning with I Â» Opotiki http://bit.ly/2sZzWx #
had to unplug the Air, poor grounding in the plug it was sharing caused the videocamera to give me mild shocks thru every metal part #
@SaraD I’m really hoping there’s more Alan Rickman in this one. Maybe I’ll stay awake long enough to find out tomorrow night. in reply to SaraD #
via zoomata.com: Italian movie about social media called Feisbum! http://bit.ly/9Lxqq – song may be the most interesting thing about it… #
OMG, I’ve married into another species http://bit.ly/veWNA #

^ birds (including parrots) flock to their evening roosts at the Queensland University campus

one more hour of conf, then reception, dinner and… cricket? #

^ now I know why Terry Pratchett called his Australia-analog “Fourecks”

Panel – Secure Software Engineering / in-kernel SecurityCristina Cifuentes, James Morris, Fernando Gont – live on http://bit.ly/a9GCb #
lively discussion on computer security and education #
“Everything’s written in C eventually.” Gets a big laugh from this audience. #
glad the conference day is almost over. Very tired. #
Brendan talking about kernel engineering culture shock in the US: http://bit.ly/LH3oo #
awaiting my flight at Brisbane airport (to SFO via Sydney). Was up til 3 am watching cricket. I may have learned a thing or two. #
ending the overseas portion of this trip. My favorite part has been getting the right smart people together to make wonderful things happen #
what I learned about cricket last night did not include the definitions of “googley” and “hat trick”. #
Note: Aussies really do say “No worries” a lot. And you can taste wine in Brisbane airport at 9 am (no, not gonna). #
@ThinGuy I did, but about to board a plane to head back. Met lots of great people, hung out with some great “old” ones. Kernel Conf great. in reply to ThinGuy #
Waiting to board flight in Brisbane at 10:30 am Friday. I will arrive in San Francisco on Friday at 10:15 am. Let’s do the time warp again! #
Landed sfo. Confused. #
Waiting for airport shuttle to take me to san jose. Starving, but will need a shower before food. Who’s in town already? #
Appropriately? watched part of “Australia” on flight fm Sydney.Answers the burning question
“does Huge look better w or w/o beard?” #
NB: Huge definitely looks better w/o shirt #
seat partner on the flight from Sydney is doing her PhD in social media, with a thesis on fan vids. how did Qantas know to seat us together? #
wearing my geek cred: overheard someone in Brisbane airport say “OpenSolaris!” Then a guy chatted me up in the line thx to Wikipedia bag #
slept funny on the plane and seem to have pinched a nerve in my neck/shoulder. Need a massage! #
@jonobacon is the plan still on to meet at 7 to decide where to have dinner? #cls in reply to jonobacon #
@metadaddy with Ambien, I can sleep, even on planes. This stuff has changed my life! It’s a whole new order of jet lag management. in reply to metadaddy #
asked Ross about her impressions of Italy this trip. She’s alarmed by a rise in anorexia, including a couple of friends of hers. Scary. #
Milan first city in Italy to make alcohol illegal for under-16s (in Italian) | Reuters http://bit.ly/k4CEQ #
Lessee… everyone is meeting at 7 in the lobby. I have two hours to nap! #
Marriott fail: no makeup mirror. Even the Quality Inn in Porto Alegre had one! #
@lskrocki I’m so blind that I can’t see to put on makeup unless I’m about 3″ from the mirror. This is hard with a bathroom counter 3′ deep. in reply to lskrocki #
okay, that’s it, lack of sleep has officially caught up with me. Dinner at Mezcal was good, blood orange magarita aside (too sweet) #
@glynnfoster one margarita hardly counts as alcohol! in reply to glynnfoster #
@Silona be careful. A HS bully found me via internet years ago, motives were not entirely (if at all) to apologize for the past in reply to Silona #
RT @Silona: HS bullies friending on FB http://is.gd/1DjYb – fortunately, after bullying in earlier grades, I went to the right HS #
@mtuckerb hey, look me up! will be back in a few minutes #cls in reply to mtuckerb #
interesting org I’ve just learned about at #cls : http://www.freegeek.org/ #
@markwilliams I definitely want to attend your cmty metrics talk – I’m a stats geek #cls in reply to markwilliams #
@markwilliams we’ve learned from stats that traffic to a project can be v diff from *perception* of project’s health. Always measure! #cls in reply to markwilliams #
@deirdresm met Rick #cls today. Hope you can join us for dinner tomorrow! in reply to deirdresm #
@italylogue i think I’ll see @rosso first, tho! in reply to italylogue #

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Deirdré Straughan on Italy, India, the Internet, the world, and now Australia