Archives for August 2004

“It could be a rocky planet with a thin atmosphere, a sort of “super Earth,” the researchers said today.

But this is no typical Earth. It completes its tight orbit in less than 10 days, compared to the 365 required for our year. Its daytime face would be scorched.

The planet’s surface conditions aren’t known, said Portuguese researcher Nuno Santos, who led the discovery.

“However, we can expect it to be quite hot, given the proximity to the star.”

Hot as in around 1,160 degrees Fahrenheit (900 Kelvin), Santos said.”

A topic for a different day. Do you believe in life outside of the Earth? I do.

“Whether the California legislation is viewed as necessary protection of employees’ privacy rights or viewed as an added regulatory burden for employers, it is a sign of things to come. Monitoring of employee use of corporate computing apparatus is almost universal nowadays.”

This regulation and monitoring of employee communication is not new, it has been in existence for quite some time. And even though I am aware of it there is something very distasteful about this Orwellian atmosphere. You like to think that the company trusts that the majority of the employees are not going to rob them of time/money/productivity and that they will be hard workers.



Cracking the whip only works for a short time and then it is abuse that has no return.

I had intended to get to rest, rather get to bed earlier this evening. I really meant to, I have been so tired and so rundown that I have been falling asleep at my desk.

But people plan and G-d laughs. And believe me, he is laughing now. It is roughly midnight and I am wide awake, well not wide awake, but awake. My baby girl has decided that now is a fine time to be awake and this means that in a few moments I’ll be taking my shift of pacing with my bundle of joy. I can’t wait until she is 15 and I can walk into her room at 6 am on a Saturday morning.

Or maybe I’ll serenade her in front of her friends. Not very cool, but fun to think about now. And while I am talking about young children may I add that I find myself humming songs from The Wiggles, Thomas the Tank Engine and Bob the Builder.

Oy, what has happened to me. I love being a father, but must I be innundated all day with this kind of nonsense. I guess that the answer is yes. Time to run, baby needs me.

Hi loyal readers,

Or should I say I hope that there are loyal readers here at Jack’s Shack. I have decided to try out the Google Ad Sense program. I am hopeful that this will become a new source of revenue and the Shack will eventually be upgraded.

You may be wondering what benefits you receive from this. The answer could be a kinder, gentler Jack, but the likelihood of that happening is similar the chances of this 35 year-old White Jewish boy being recruited to join the Lakers or move to Cleveland.

So for now we will see how this all works out. If you see something interesting in the ad feel free to click away. You might help Jack purchase a new hat or maybe even pay for something more substantial like a Slurpee. Who knows.

For now the management offer it’s appreciation and thanks. And please remember to keep your hands inside the car at all time, the animals here do bite.