This picture (click the picture for bigger version) of my car’s “outside temperature” display was taken Jan 8. Whenever we have warm wet weather in the winter I am reminded of this Chris Farley SNL bit:

As a technologist I believe that there are still many great things we can do with technology, yet when it comes to new technologies I am a skeptic. I want to see it work and understand it before I rely on it.

For some reason with people I tend to be very trusting and take them at face value. I assume that like me, everyone in their childhood learned that lying is harder than telling the truth. If you lie, you have to remember what you told each individual person and they often start to snowball. If you tell the truth, then the truth is all you have to remember.

Maybe its because I don’t want to hurt people’s feelings by coldly and logically challenging them the way I do technology. I do try to follow the golden rule in dealing with people, but anyone who works with me will tell you I can be abrasive and direct as well.

I read over documents and affidavits — sworn testimony given under oath — and I don’t understand why people would lie and create lies in those things. Turns out the answer is for lots and lots of money.

I’ve typically been against the dehumanizing nature of big business. I’ve always felt it was better to allow the humans behind the org chart boxes to exercise a little of their own judgement with their collective experience and emotions. After all, that’s why you put them there them right? If the human part can’t be trusted or can be taken advantage of however maybe we are all better off just being automated cogs in a machine.

Uh…about the “Fun Links” sidebar down there. Just to be clear - it is an automated feed from another site. Typically they are very early in spotting new and soon to be popular internet things. Think of it as an early warning system to what you would be getting emailed from your friends in the next few weeks. Or it is your chance to be trendy by sending it out first.

In any case, please be aware that I don’t pick those links and occasionally they may feature something a little off. Like, say, teddy bear sex dolls.

Brian