Blog

  • The Ghosts of Computer Viruses and John von Neumann

    Not sure how or why it happened, but computer viruses, at least the subject of them, popped into my head today. It seemed like in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, computer viruses were everywhere. Plenty of news stories, and hacker stories, in the media. There was that movie “Hackers” which wasn’t any good, but hey… I remember buying virus protection for my computers, as it seemed like at any moment something was going to get on my machine and crash it. Then, computer viruses went away. I know ransomware is still out there and a big problem, but I’m talking about those news stories about how “the Melissa virus is out there, and will activate on a certain date” – you know, that kind’a stuff – no one talks about it anymore.

    So, even though I should be working on other things, I started puttering around and reading up on the history of computer viruses, and I came across this guy – John von Neumann. The reason he is here with computer viruses is because he, for lack of a better explanation, came up with the idea of machine self-replication, and then helped create a model for it. Which, in essence, and feel free to correct me, is what a computer virus basically is.

    But then I started reading more about this guy. John was an expert in mathematics, physics, economics, statics, game theory, and he worked on the Manhattan Project. Hell, there is a creator on the moon named after him. Not for nothing, but why haven’t I head of him before? He seems like he was a person of great intelligence, and did just about everything one could do with a huge analytical brain.

  • The Super Bowl Happened

    For me, the biggest thing that happened on Sunday was that my daughter wanted to watch the game with me. I know part of it was to see Taylor Swift (she’s a huge fan of her) and part of it was the commercials, but I will take away that the kid wanted to hang out with me on the couch.

    The older I get, the less and less I enjoy the Super Bowl. The game, most of the time, is enjoyable to watch, mainly because it’s two very good teams competing, which inherently is a compelling dramatic spectacle to watch. But everything else, just reminds me that I and the rest of America, are nothing but consumers and marks for corporations. Which I guess does make it truly an American Holiday.

    That all having been said, I had my money on Kansas City winning. My public reason was that you cannot count out Mahomes, as I do think his is one of the best to play quarterback. My private reason was that I despise the Philadelphia Eagles. Yes, I am a Cowboys fan, and for that reason, I can never support the Eagles. Little did I know that no one on the Chiefs showed up to play. Mahomes wasn’t a factor – no one was a factor on KC – which made the game dull, boring, and my worst nightmare.

    Even the commercials, the last respite of a useless Super Bowl, were also dull and boring. The best thing I saw was the Nike women’s athlete ad, which had a good message, my daughter loved it, but I didn’t feel like it was breaking new ground so much as having to remind everyone that women’s sports are a force now and shouldn’t be underestimated. Yet, seriously, are there still people (men) out there who don’t know that?

    And that leaves Kendrick Lamar. I dug it, thought it was cool, and will also admit that I am very late to the Kendrick Lamar party. Thought it had a message, a point you know, he did the song everyone was expecting, and the American Flag chorography was spot on perfect. Can’t go wrong with Sam Jackson either.

    All in all, kind’a a letdown. But I got to experience it with my kid.

  • ODDS and ENDS: Goodbye Moustache, Super Bowl Prediction, and New Music

    (The best thing you’ve had has gone away…)

    On Monday, February 10th, at some time, I will shave off my moustache. It was a good run. The kid seemed to like it, and the wife didn’t mind. I even found myself twirling it as I contemplated things – like taking over the world. In the end, I think the moustache made me look older, and it defiantly made me look like my two uncle who also had moustaches. You know, as a balding man, it feels weird to not have whole lot of hair on my head, but have a very full amount of facial hair.

    I am picking the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl. Not that I think they are the better team, but because I despise the Philadelphia Eagles. There! I said it, will say it again, and live by it!

    I’m really getting into the music of Khruangbin. I saw them on the Grammy’s and totally dig it.

  • Gross – Inside and Out

    It’s a gross day here in New York, and that seems to be matching my overall mood.

    The world feels like an awful place again, and I really don’t want to spiral down into the doom hole of no salvation. I try to stay positive for the kid, and most of what is happening in the country and the world goes over her head. But those days are numbered. She’s getting older and more aware each day. But, besides that, I don’t like using my kid as the excuse for why I need to get out there and fight for what I believe in.

    No. The reason I want to get out there, protest, speak out, and do something is simply because it’s the right thing to do. I will still hold to the day I die that the overwhelming majority of people on this planet know what the right thing to do is. It is our duty as human beings to encourage all people to listen to their moral code, to that voice in them that wants to do right, that’s wants justice, that wants fairness, that knows that all humans deserve dignity and respect.

    It’s gross because, we are here, again. Again, basic human decency and respect has to be defended.

    I’m tired of this shit, but here we are.

  • Short Story Review: Two Micros by Jeffrey Hermann

    (The piece “Two Micros by Jeffrey Hermann” appeared at Okay Donkey on November 29th, 2024.)

    And these are two truly micro pieces that Jeffrey Hermann created, each under 250 words. The first is titled, “The Voice of God Gives Up the Act,” and the second is, “If it’s Not One Thing it’s a Million Things.” Both are efficient, idiosyncratic works that brought to me such an innocent and lovely feeling of joy in their simplicity. Yet each micro was inventive in its imagination and storytelling, and left me feeling better about life.

    “The Voice of God Gives Up the Act,” spoke to me about how at some point parents stop being authority figures, and become people, and in some cases small people. And also, how our children can become little deities in our lives, but they, like our parents, will inevitably transmogrify to their human form, too. I appreciated that these observations were not at the expense of the gods, but more like melancholic observations. Especially with the little drama of the small god spilling the smoothie, which provided this piece with a slight bit of drama, climax and a touching resolution.

    “If it’s Not One Thing it’s a Million Things,” struck me as more like poetry than prose, but it was prose. Maybe stream of consciousness prose? It was reminiscent of my mind wandering gently as I drift off the sleep. There is an ease to these words, and how the sentences flow together, and one point repeating a phrase, like your brain is stuck on a loop. It felt like this was the memory of a good day, not life altering, but a good day where the little things and are seen and acknowledged.

    Besides enjoying these two micros, I must admit that I was rather envious of Jeffrey Hermann’s talent and skill as a writer. In a very small package, he created two works that caused me to view my day differently, and change my mood. He made me wonder about the people I love, whom I give power over me, and how they will change over time. And all those moments we spend in our short little lives – those moments do mean something.