Category Archives: thoughts

Security

flying, thoughts

Today I picked up my new badge from the airport security to get car access to the T-Hangar that we rent for our airplane. Since the airport is an international airport, TSA rules, and I had to go through a comprehensive approval process. Filling out five pages of forms, two forms of identification, customs approval, FBI background check (which includes finger printing) and interview. The process was impressive and took about ten days to complete and included two personal visits at their office. When I finally was ready to pick up my badge this morning the following happened: I walked into the office and gave my name. The clerk looked up my file, printed my badge, told me that he would pick my ZIP code as the pin for the badge (cannot be changed) and handed me over the card. No ID required. The best was the ZIP code as pin! They have these super secure pin number pads, that change the location of the numbers, each time you swipe the badge, so you can’t snoop the pin by filming/watching the person entering the number code. And then they set the PIN to be the ZIP code! I had to make a conscious effort not to laugh/complain/cry/scream.

Instead I took my badge, said a polite “Thank you” and walked out. Security is still only as good as the weakest link.

 

Time Machine

thoughts, travel

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Last week-end I attended my 20 year Highschool reunion in Germany. It was great to reconnect with so many people after twenty years.
The varieties of lives chosen was very interesting to see and experience. A great journey back into the past! Attached a photo someone brought from a “Klassenfahrt” – a trip to the Eastern Sea and the “DDR” before the reunification. Can you guess who I am in the picture?

Napa Valley – SuperFastTrip

flying, thoughts, travel

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Drove up to Napa valley early early in the morning today to take a look at a sailplane that is for sale. I left at 6a in San Jose and arrived north of Napa 8:35p. We rigged, checked and packed up the sailplane, only for me to leve at 12:30 again. On the way back lots of good memories arose from previous Napa Valley trips. I saw the Darious Winery, the Coulinary Institute, and even the hotel where my parents and I have stayed about a decade ago.
Still looks just like ten years ago. Amazing. On the way back I was passed by a DB-9S – the driver moved very aggressively in traffic. Nevertheless the sound of that car is AWESOME! Sure enough I passed him 5 miles later, when he was sitting on the shoulder pulled over by a cop. 🙂

Later on the way back I stopped at Vik’s in Berkeley for Indian food. Pictures attached. Vik’s has slightly moved from the location I remember from a couple of years ago. The venue is huge now and I had to wait in line for a bit. The food was as always: Excellent! I had a Dahi Pakara Puri and a meat dish. Yummy!

Napa Valley – SuperFastTrip

flying, thoughts, travel

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Drove up to Napa valley early early in the morning today to take a look at a sailplane that is for sale. I left at 6a in San Jose and arrived north of Napa 8:35p. We rigged, checked and packed up the sailplane, only for me to leve at 12:30 again. On the way back lots of good memories arose from previous Napa Valley trips. I saw the Darious Winery, the Coulinary Institute, and even the hotel where my parents and I have stayed about a decade ago.
Still looks just like ten years ago. Amazing. On the way back I was passed by a DB-9S – the driver moved very aggressively in traffic. Nevertheless the sound of that car is AWESOME! Sure enough I passed him 5 miles later, when he was sitting on the shoulder pulled over by a cop. 🙂

Later on the way back I stopped at Vik’s in Berkeley for Indian food. Pictures attached. Vik’s has slightly moved from the location I remember from a couple of years ago. The venue is huge now and I had to wait in line for a bit. The food was as always: Excellent! I had a Dahi Pakara Puri and a meat dish. Yummy!

HP selling tablet business

computer, thoughts

Who would have thought? After only 45 days after having introduced its own tablet offering HP announced yesterday to abandon the hardware business for tablets. That’s a new record in burning money!
At the same time HP has announced plans to divest from all PC Hardware business as well – a shocking, yet not fully surprising move. PCs have become commodities and selling them these days is an uphill battle with razor thin margins.
So they’re fleeing to higher grounds, called services and underlined their decision with a 10 billion acquisition in that area the same day.
The revolution is under way – first victim announced: HP

Trees

thoughts

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When you re-visit places you knew from your past usually many things change. Sometimes so much that you have a hard time recognizing the place you thought you knew. One reassuring constant in this rapid changing world though are fully grown trees. They usually are preserved no matter what construction is going on. While I was driving around yesterday in the bay area I marveled at the many changes since I left. And more than once I recognized old trees that where there a decade ago and probably will still be there twenty years from now. Reassuring.

Baby logic #20 – glasses

baby, thoughts

Not so much a baby logic entry but cute nevertheless:

When Ro and I started driving this moring I realized at the Stop sign at our street corner that I only had my sunglasses in the car and not my regular glasses.
So I backed up the car to return to our home.
Ro (surprised): What are you doing, daddy?
Me: I forgot my glasses.
Ro: No.
Me: Yes, they are at home, Ro, I need to go back real quick.
Ro: No, they’re on your nose!

Sure enough they were right in my face … 🙂

Is dementia setting in?