Missing Baggage
Even for short trips with small bags, I prefer checking my bag because 1) I'm lazy and don't want to drag it around the airport until boarding and 2) I…
Car Mileage
Returning from Iowa recently, the odometer on my 2013 VW Jetta reached the interesting mileage 123,456. So are there any upcoming interesting odometer readings? I missed factorial mileage 112,624 and…
Hurtigruten Excursion #3: Tromsø
The third excursion selected for our northbound Hurtigruten Coastal Express was Tromsø, Norway. Tromsø is the third-largest city north of the Arctic Circle (behind Murmansk and Norilsk, Russia) and is…
Cruel Product Placement
This kiosk is located adjacent to Terminal 2, Gate 6 at Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport. What sane person would purchase Legos for travel? Insufficient room to assemble on the plane. Box…
I Should Be Dead, Right?!?
How is it that before take-off the exterior temperature is 80°C/176°F? Once airborne and at altitude, the exterior temperature was a much more reasonable -50°C/-58°F, but does it matter since…
Meandering Thoughts #44
I'm in Norway to attend and speak at NDC Oslo and - typical of tech conferences - plenty of random entertainment for the attendees. What did I find? Pinball! Of…
Devoxx Greece 2025
I submitted multiple talks for this year's Devoxx Greece, and, happily, the reviewers selected Demonolithing The Monolith? Forget It! to be presented. I've given this talk previously (including other Devoxx-branded…
Immaculate Inning and Spies
Sunday, Miami Marlin's pitcher Cal Quantrill pitched an immaculate inning, striking out three batters on nine pitches. Though exceeding rare at one time - none between 1928 and 1953 -…
Non-Traditional Families
[Disclaimer: the following happened decades ago, time likely makes for faulty or embellished memories. Names changed in the extremely-unlikely chance that someone who knows the family actually reads this and…
A Hill With A View
At 277m/909 feet, Lycabettus Hill (also known as Mount Lycabettus) is the highest point in Athens, with incredible 360° views of the city below. [Spoiler alert: a lot of rooftops!]…