Thoughts On Steve Jobs A Quarter Through

I’ve been reading Steve Jobs the past week, and am somewhere in the part where he had just closed down the parts of Apple that was working on the Apple II and Lisa in favor of the Macintosh department which he was heading. While he was co-founder of Apple he was not its President, but he was able to do so because of the great success he had with the Mac and the ensuing privileges it allowed. Anyway, he either fired off or retained staff from the other groups unceremoniously, branding them as losers to his Mac team’s winners in a very public way. When asked why he would do such a thing especially since they were all still Apple employees and some certainly didn’t deserve it, he explained that Type A people (his Macintosh team) liked being with other Type A people, and he had to get rid of the Type Bs and Cs ie., everyone else he felt not worthy of working with him.

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Anything I Could Think About This Morning

I’ve been sick again. In fact, that’s twice now that I’ve jinxed two vacays planned by Jill due to the same sickness. I feel guilty about that, and about the fact that I’ve once again somehow screwed my health up. Believe me its frustrating, and by no means am I avoiding blame, but it just happens really. One day I’m noticing how I’ve been improving my basketball game and running laps around the condominium parking lot, the next day I’m bending over in pain.

Right now this very moment my two biggest worries are the fact I have to postpone a meeting with my client involving their chief boss because I can hardly walk let alone drive. I’m moving it to 3 days later, and it might probably be no big deal, but I hate having to do that as I’m OC about my clients and I was kinda looking forward to making a good impression. Another worry is that I have to pay up a bill in Mandaluyong but am again unable to because I cannot drive. I’ve managed to ask help with that but I was hoping to do it by myself because I wanted to speak to someone and this was the best opportunity to do so. I can probably go end of the week then. Will have to console myself with that.

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The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

Couldn’t help thinking while watching this movie that it’s unfair. How, for example, can I not like a movie with music by David Bowie? Several references to The Smiths? Fleetwood Mac, Smashing Pumpkins, The Beatles, etc. As well as discussions about To Kill A Mockingbird, On The Road and The Fountainhead? Can those books get any more influential to me?

It was as if I was a young virgin resisting the advances of her boyfriend after prom. Everything makes you want to give it all up but you don’t want to look cheap. Then the movie gets Charlie (Logan Lerman) to finally let loose to the tune of Come On Eileen by the Dexys Midnight Runners and you finally give in to the lust all too easily, quickly, with nary a look back. Everything will work out later. I will love this movie and the movie will love me back. And that’s it. I have given up resistance. It’s only halfway through but I’ve already marked this movie for greatness.

Ok well, maybe not that much. And certainly not as dramatically. But there it is anyway, and I am smiling like an idiot, enjoying myself from thereon.

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Thinking of Baby Names

It has become increasingly apparent that I am gonna be a dad soon. By May, according to the wife. I think she’s convinced herself, or maybe the internet has, via hocus pocus baby gender guessing games, that it’s gonna be a girl. I’d love a girl, mostly because I think boys are pretty useless (which may be a sign of the kind of boys I grew up and around with).

If it is a girl then it’s going to be Dagny, after Dagny Taggart, the heroine in Atlas Shrugged whom we both admire. We told Jill’s Dad over dinner the other day and he was nothing but praises, even remembering parts of the book that I had forgot. So that’s settled as far as naming a baby girl is concerned.

A boy however would be tricky. I had always wanted, when previously asked, that I’d name my boy kid if I ever had one Ayrton, after Ayrton Senna, a hero of mine since high school when I followed F1 like a hawk. Yes surprise surprise it is not a basketball star but we’ll get to that later. When Senna died in an accident in 94 it was the first time I had actually felt a part of me missing and to this day I still think highly of him.

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Gary Dreams Of Tinapang Bangus – Thoughts While Watching Jiro Dreams Of Sushi

Jiro Ono, 80+ years old in this movie, is a sushi chef and owner of Sukiyabashi Jiro a small nook of a restaurant in Tokyo and a Michelin Guide 3 star restaurant. He has been recognized by the Japanese government as a living national treasure for his contributions to Japanese cuisine.

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Book Review: The Age Of Miracles

The Age Of Miracles is a story as told by Julia, a teenage girl living in California during a time when the Earth is mysteriously slowing to a halt. The ‘slowing’ as its called is explained as it were via accounts from news reports mentioned thru the book, but there is no definitive explanation why. It happens very gradually however, allowing Julia’s story to unfold through several years.

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Sagad Sa Sagada! Part 1 – Getting There

Apologies for the corny name. Am gonna try to write about our trip to Sagada from when we left April 28 to coming back May 3rd, 2012 before I forget. But first, a nice pic to serve as this post’s ‘headline’.

That’s a nice view from the bus going there, approximately 4 hours into the 6 hour trip.

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