05.29.03

Winning/Losing Mentality

Posted in Mentality, Sports at 15.50 by Gabe

From my “Take me out to the ball game” post, the comment left by Tereza made me think. Is it common for (certain types of) people (or people in certain locations) to think their team will lose? Being a Detroit fan, I have come to learn that the Tigers will suck and lose most of the time, when they win it is a surprise. This wasn’t always the case, they did win the 1984 World Series. I’m not a big hockey fan, but the Red Wings won a few Stanley cups recently. My favorite sport: Basketball, the Pistons won 2 Championships in a row not too long ago. The Lions (football) haven’t won jack shit in my lifetime!

Is it because of my (pessimistic) personality that I assume the team I want to win will lose? – Do optimistic people always think their team will win, regardless of previous record?
Is it becasue I live in Detroit and most of the time our teams don’t win all that much? – Do people in places like L.A. believe their team will win (because they won 6 basketball championships recently, though were knocked out of the running this year, rather surprisingly) because their team does win more often than losing?

The part of Tereza’s comment that made me wonder is in Brazil, seems they win a lot of soccer games (sorry, futeball!). I don’t keep close track of Brazil’s record, but I assume they win more than they lose. If that’s true, does it mean that Tereza is a pessimist?

05.28.03

Design your shoes

Posted in Links at 14.11 by Gabe

My buddy from college, Glenn sent me this URL: www.cmax.com. Its a cool idea to allow people to design your shoes (as my wife might tell you I looked at a LOT of shoes before finally buying some…mostly because Brazil’s basketball shoe selection is rather small) but the implementation is pretty sad. You just pick your shoe and color it. I think we did that as kids using permament markers and white shoes.

Anyone else have any “design your own” web sites that are worth looking at?

05.26.03

Take me out to the ball game.

Posted in Downtown, Sports at 23.17 by Gabe

The Tigers won! I can’t believe I went to a Tiger’s game and they won! Usually when I go, actually for as long as I can remember, every Tigers (baseball) game I’ve been to, they have lost. Oh, some games they are ahead and magically lose at the end.

Today they started out behind, got ahead by 3 points, then managed to get tied, but amazingly the catcher with a horrible batting record hit a homerun to take a 6-5 lead which is how the game ended.

I still have yet to catch a foul ball. I don’t know how many games I’ve been too (I’d guess about 10-20). I’ve had (in my poor memory) only 1 chance and the ball hit below my reach (of course I didn’t have my glove with me that time). If someone knows of a study of where the highest percentage of foul balls are hit (in Comerica Park), let me know so I can buy seats specifically in that section to catch me a foul ball. Better than that would be to catch a homerun, but knowing the Tigers that doesn’t seem very likely (though they did have 2 or 3 today).

If there are any good pictures I assume my wife will post them.

05.21.03

Birthdays

Posted in Stats at 22.56 by Gabe

Statistically speaking, is it extrodinary that EVERY time Luciana and I go out to eat there is someone having a birthday? And of course at places like Olive Garden, the employees sing loudly, clap their hands and are generally annoying.

It just seems so amazing that for the 1-2 hours we are there (and we eat at unusual times for Michigan/USA, more like Brazilian time: late), for the 8-10 times a month, that someone is having a birthday.

Unbelievable.

05.20.03

WFH

Posted in Work at 15.10 by Gabe

Today, I’m working from home.

I’m torn between the convience of working from home and the convience of working with someone. Seems that most everyone is scattered around at different locations so I’m while at work I don’t really see anyone.

Of course my managers want me at work, but why? The point of my physical presense is so I can be part of a team. Well, I only see 2 people from my team, all the rest are: 1. In the building but not on my floor. 2. In meetings all day. 3. In another state. 4. In another country!

I enjoy working with people. My schooling made that ingrained in me. Sometimes its impossible to visualize something over IM or email, so being in the same location is required (I had to visit the customer to review the UI a few times).

Where is the future of corporate life? Telecommuniting? Video conferencing (AHHAHAHAHA)? Remote desktop sharing?

05.18.03

Matrix Reloaded

Posted in Movie at 23.45 by Gabe

Finally saw the Matrix Reloaded. Excellent movie. Awesome action scenes (though it seemed they used some CGI where they claimed they would always use humans, must have been too dangerous, eh). The plot makes you think, and discuss the movie/meaning of truth a lot.

I don’t want to give anything away, though I doubt anyone hasn’t seen it yet.

Happy 9 month anniversary to wife!

05.16.03

In-laws, Music

Posted in Downtown, Family, Music at 15.55 by Gabe

Ahh! The in-laws will be here in a week! Just kidding. Luciana’s parents are cool. My Portuguese is still as horrible as it was when I left Brazil (July ‘02). I think they have been taking some English classes so maybe we’ll be able to communicate better that way.

I still need to fix the bed in the guest bedroom to not fall when you lay on it (missing cross bars under the matress).

Seems the Detroit Music Hoedown is going on outside of my work (Ren Cen) in Hart Plaza. Its so loud I can almost feel it. GOD I HATE COUNTRY MUSIC!

05.15.03

Greetings

Posted in Blog at 20.46 by Gabe

Thanks to my lovely wife I now have this very cool blog.

I guess for my first post I will, talk about what I did today.
I worked on my job (from home), edited MovableType to (try to) support importing external (HaloScan) comments (for my wife and other people if they want to use it…this is still in process), and I got RH9 Linux up and running.

Hopefully this blog will contain deep meaningful information you will find very valuable and read my blog often (hah).