Comments for ben brantley's blog http://pixel4.net/blog Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:13:06 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Chillin’ by Mom S. http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=926&cpage=1#comment-24472 Mom S. Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:13:06 +0000 http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=926#comment-24472 Great pictures, Ben! Especially the three pups. What eyes! Great pictures, Ben! Especially the three pups. What eyes!

]]> Comment on Product Placement by windmilldad http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=921&cpage=1#comment-24470 windmilldad Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:16:36 +0000 http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=921#comment-24470 1.5...not enough to expend the 250 cals.....so, what do you drink after your sporting event? 1.5…not enough to expend the 250 cals…..so, what do you drink after your sporting event?

]]> Comment on Newf Gathering by Mom S. http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=918&cpage=1#comment-24465 Mom S. Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:24:16 +0000 http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=918#comment-24465 Great shots! Looks like a lot of fun. Of course, you've pretty much got your own get-together of Newfs right there in your house! Great shots! Looks like a lot of fun. Of course, you’ve pretty much got your own get-together of Newfs right there in your house!

]]> Comment on The Rise and Fall of Builders by Jason http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=904&cpage=1#comment-24461 Jason Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:21:38 +0000 http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=904#comment-24461 Nice thoughts, roommie. The same types of problems exist in the architecture/construction industries. The vast majority of architects out there have never even swung a hammer, much less have a clue about how really complicated buildings are constructed. Reading this post reminded me of Politzer's Nobel acceptance speech. If you've never read it, you should. I believe there's a link to it here: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2004/politzer-lecture.html He does a great job of explaining that the people who really, truly have a solid understanding of science are standing on the shoulders of giants. Nice thoughts, roommie.
The same types of problems exist in the architecture/construction industries. The vast majority of architects out there have never even swung a hammer, much less have a clue about how really complicated buildings are constructed.
Reading this post reminded me of Politzer’s Nobel acceptance speech. If you’ve never read it, you should. I believe there’s a link to it here:
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2004/politzer-lecture.html
He does a great job of explaining that the people who really, truly have a solid understanding of science are standing on the shoulders of giants.

]]> Comment on The Rise and Fall of Builders by Mom S. http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=904&cpage=1#comment-24460 Mom S. Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:19:13 +0000 http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=904#comment-24460 You are going to make a great dad, Ben! Your kids will have so much fun. Don't forget to let them burn leaves with a magnifying glass...but maybe you should leave that to Grandpa Scott -- Nederland might not be so keen on starting fires ;-) You are going to make a great dad, Ben! Your kids will have so much fun. Don’t forget to let them burn leaves with a magnifying glass…but maybe you should leave that to Grandpa Scott — Nederland might not be so keen on starting fires ;-)

]]> Comment on The Rise and Fall of Builders by Ben http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=904&cpage=1#comment-24458 Ben Mon, 05 Jul 2010 23:00:53 +0000 http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=904#comment-24458 On (1), I think, but am not sure, that we will see a gradual pulling back from the extreme short-term nature of business in America. I see this happening today in software (rate of churn is slowing a little), and it clearly has so many negative implications for all kinds of other industries as well that surely the market will correct the other way. The right answer, like almost always, is probably somewhere in between the two extremes we've had demonstrated in the last 30 years. On (2), I can't agree more. I love "building" in the computer because the complexity is much higher and it holds a certain "purity" of manipulation in a way that physical objects can't. But, then, working with real objects has its own rewards. The right answer, like almost always, is probably finding time to do both. :) On (1), I think, but am not sure, that we will see a gradual pulling back from the extreme short-term nature of business in America. I see this happening today in software (rate of churn is slowing a little), and it clearly has so many negative implications for all kinds of other industries as well that surely the market will correct the other way. The right answer, like almost always, is probably somewhere in between the two extremes we’ve had demonstrated in the last 30 years.

On (2), I can’t agree more. I love “building” in the computer because the complexity is much higher and it holds a certain “purity” of manipulation in a way that physical objects can’t. But, then, working with real objects has its own rewards. The right answer, like almost always, is probably finding time to do both. :)

]]> Comment on The Rise and Fall of Builders by windmilldad http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=904&cpage=1#comment-24457 windmilldad Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:16:58 +0000 http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=904#comment-24457 You make a lot of good observations that could use a replies.....will just comment on two...(1) sadly the "tenure" in the business world is about three years with a company...the "long termers" such as myself are a thing of the past..everyone trying to get ahead quicker or think they will, and employers who don't seem to care about " knowledge" retention....I called the other day to complain about my late newspaper delivery (you remember newspapers?) and ended up talking to someone at a call center on the Falkland Islands.. (2)..ah, the smell of solder, the thrill of actually building something you can "see and feel"..and in the case of a crystal radio...hear. I still have many of the models I built over fifty years ago. I keep thinking I will sell them (they do have value) before you guys have a chance to throw them away.....There is something very pleasurable about creating by gluing, soldering, or whatever... See ya soon! You make a lot of good observations that could use a replies…..will just comment on two…(1) sadly the “tenure” in the business world is about three years with a company…the “long termers” such as myself are a thing of the past..everyone trying to get ahead quicker or think they will, and employers who don’t seem to care about ” knowledge” retention….I called the other day to complain about my late newspaper delivery (you remember newspapers?) and ended up talking to someone at a call center on the Falkland Islands..
(2)..ah, the smell of solder, the thrill of actually building something you can “see and feel”..and in the case of a crystal radio…hear. I still have many of the models I built over fifty years ago. I keep thinking I will sell them (they do have value) before you guys have a chance to throw them away…..There is something very pleasurable about creating by gluing, soldering,
or whatever…
See ya soon!

]]> Comment on Happy Birthday by windmilldad http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=896&cpage=1#comment-24456 windmilldad Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:55:53 +0000 http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=896#comment-24456 I find myself visiting cemeteries from time to time as I travel, especially those small ones along the back roads of S.C...the messages and symbols carved many years ago can be intriguing. Your picture reminds me of the many flags placed at the graves of veterans buried at Mom and Dad's cemetery. Along with Dad, there are many with flags of those who served our country. It sometimes seems there are more with flags than without. We owe a lot to so many for the sacrifices they made for our freedom. I find myself visiting cemeteries from time to time as I travel, especially those small ones along the back roads of S.C…the messages and symbols carved many years ago can be intriguing. Your picture reminds me of the many flags placed at the graves of veterans buried at Mom and Dad’s cemetery. Along with Dad, there are many with flags of those who served our country. It sometimes seems there are more with flags than without. We owe a lot to so many for the sacrifices they made for our freedom.

]]> Comment on Happy Birthday by Mom S. http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=896&cpage=1#comment-24454 Mom S. Mon, 05 Jul 2010 14:13:15 +0000 http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=896#comment-24454 Neat, in the sense of tidy, carefully laid out. Sobering, when you think of all the sacrifice and dedication represented there. Our gratitude to these soldiers, going back hundreds of years, is so sadly insufficient. Ben, thank you for this post! Neat, in the sense of tidy, carefully laid out. Sobering, when you think of all the sacrifice and dedication represented there. Our gratitude to these soldiers, going back hundreds of years, is so sadly insufficient. Ben, thank you for this post!

]]> Comment on We’re Famous by momb http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=892&cpage=1#comment-24439 momb Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:44:22 +0000 http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=892#comment-24439 I'll never be finished downloading these---send me a paper? :) I’ll never be finished downloading these—send me a paper? :)

]]> Comment on Reboot by windmilldad http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=865&cpage=1#comment-24434 windmilldad Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:38:32 +0000 http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=865#comment-24434 Six years..then what happens? Six years..then what happens?

]]> Comment on Reboot by momb http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=865&cpage=1#comment-24433 momb Tue, 08 Jun 2010 01:54:31 +0000 http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=865#comment-24433 Good to see your 'bootprint' here again---not to mention your photos! Good to see your ‘bootprint’ here again—not to mention your photos!

]]> Comment on Reboot by KJ http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=865&cpage=1#comment-24430 KJ Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:39:13 +0000 http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=865#comment-24430 Cheers! It's good to have you back! =) Cheers! It’s good to have you back! =)

]]> Comment on Reboot by Mom S. http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=865&cpage=1#comment-24429 Mom S. Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:42:01 +0000 http://pixel4.net/blog/?p=865#comment-24429 Good to have you back blogging! And sharing your photos -- this one is beautiful. Good to have you back blogging! And sharing your photos — this one is beautiful.

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