Been a while...
Been a while since I've posted. I've been out and about - traveling around, seeing some "interesting" sites and things:
See, it does not get more "different" than that - yes, that is a giant, huge pink poodle:
That was part of the Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture race. Went there with some friends
over that weekend. Some of the floats were cool - but they all took a lot of work to put together. We were watching at the sand pit - an obstacle the human powered floats had to overcome. Big pile of sand - huge float - lots of people crowded around - what could go wrong? Only one 'accident' - when one of the floats bike tires just bent in half and then the rest of the float followed and bit the dust. Everyone else made it.
Next year, maybe we'll watch at the mud pit - not every float does that obstacle, but it could be fun...
I got to see an interesting "sign"
That one is from New York, it reminds me of this one from Vienna Austria:
The Austrian sign definitely conveys the meaning more clearly, but something about the New York sign is more "fun", if not universal in nature. I was in New York last week to present to my nieces (Liz) class and classmates. She is a teacher in Brooklyn at a local public school and it was career day. They pulled in a good cross section of people - from the Ambassador from Grenada, to Bank Business Development Managers, to an officer from the canine unit (complete with dog, one guess - only one guess as to who was the most popular career day person!), to a singer/dancer, to an agent from DHS (Department of Homeland Security), teachers, me, and so on. I got to do 3 30 minute talks - but I think what I'll be remembered most for will be the.....
Yoyo's. I will be remembered as the guy that gave half the school light up yoyo's right before lunch and then left really fast. Well, the teachers will remember me - this is Liz and me before the talks:
It was a good experience - the kids were all great, excited - good questions - an excellent day. Even got to do a small amount of sight seeing in New York before taking off:
But... The question for anyone that has made it this far is... Where am I now:
posted by Thomas Kyte at 8:57 PM
30 Comments:
Uncle Tom --
Thanks again for coming to Brooklyn for the day. The kids had a writing assignment of who was their favorite presenter and why. Most chose either you or the Gang Prevention Officer. Comments about you ranged from "I think a job where you speak in 0s and 1s would be fun" to "I love to yo-yo" to "I like computers so maybe I can be Mr. Tom when I grow up."
I stopped up to say thanks again, but you were gone. It was good to see you - hope to see you soon. If you're in the city again, let me know. I'm finding my way around a lot more now that a) it's warmer out and b) I'm taking grad classes in the village.
Thanks again!
The last pic looks like my hometown hyderabad,India.
:)
Sanjay
on the second thought, It is Hyderabad.
umm, the summer heat must have woken u up early in the morning..
Hope u have a great time over there
Sanjay
P.S would love to hear about your trip
You are somewhere high up like may be on top of a building, so that you could take that snap !
And it looks more like sunset to me...
For me it looks either
Bangalore,Hyd'bad or Chennai
Hi Tom,
Interesting read as ever. Just wondering how you got Yo-Yo's into your career talk.
Maybe you were talking about SQL*Server databases? ;)
Well, I know where you'll be tomorrow ;) ... so, my guess you're already in town.
you been hitting the tanning booth?
Like Gabe said, I know where you'll be tomorrow and I'll see you there.
Atlanta, I think ...
I remember career day in high school, every year the most popular was the Mortician. But heck if I can remember what I went to. And I've had a bit of time to think about it as Google seems to be under the weather (blogs and groups, at least, almost total 505 error screens for about 20 minutes). Last attempt to post gave this, they must have listened to someones advice about instrumentation:
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In an airplane? On the way to Canada?
I was in New York last week as well - Wednesday/Thursday, I think - to present to the NYOUG.
If only I'd known, I could have bought you that drink I owe you from Chicago airport.
Jonathan Lewis
Thanks to Gabe and Harry's hints !! A google search on "tom kyte 24 May 2007" said...
"Free Technology Session with Tom Kyte - May 24, 2007 | Toronto ..." !!
Ha Haa !! ..but disappointed a bit that you are not here in India :-(
You are in toronto ... looking at the Ontario College of Art & Design
:) You are 2 hours from where I live across the lake!
time to upgrade your
Canon PowerShot SD300
into a GPS camera ?
You are in Mississauga, Ontario. I just attended your seminar for the Toronto Oracle User Group at Oracle Mississauga on May 23rd. It was wonderful!
Tom, you are here. With us.
Gee, you've gained weight. Haven't seen your picture since in the back of Expert Oracle.
Must be the "Weight of Wisdom!! :D
Hey,
Any plans to visit Australia?
Down here, we do know what Oracle is you know...as well as that "analytics rocks and it rolls".
Long flight, but it's worth it.
So how about it?
Hi Tom,
I have always enjoyed your blogs and your asktom site. They are both interesting and useful. However, one of my pet peeves is that you tick off people for what you deem inappropriate usage of the English language such as 'U' for 'You' and 'wud' for 'Would'. While that is perfectly allright, I would also like you to show the same diligence when editing your work. I could at random pick at least two errors :
Error 1: 'Some of the floats where cool' - Should be
' Some of the floats were cool '
Error 2: 'Even got to do a small amount of site seeing in New York before taking off'
Should be 'Even got to do a small amount of sight seeing in New York before taking off'
For the record, while I find 'U', 'cud' and 'wud' mildly irritating, I recognize that it is part of the evolution of the language itself. If the English language did not evolve, we would still be saying 'Methinks' instead of 'I think' etc.
The point I try to make is that a language is not immutable and adapts itself to various usages and the cultural and historical context. For greater insights I would strongly recommend 'The Language Instinct' and 'Words and Rules' by the Harvard Professor Steven Pinker.
My gentle suggestion to you: In future, go easy on the language deviants as they may be the trendsetters for the future.
GR8 PST M8.
In future, go easy on the language deviants as they may be the trendsetters for the future.
Thanks much for pointing out the errors (which is what they were, not purposeful abuses of the language)
I doubt they are the trend setters for the future - they are just annoying. I know language evolves over time - but I hardly see "IM speak" as an evolution.
Sorry, but I'll not oblige this request. If you want to communicate on a phone with your friends - go for it. If you want to communicate in a professional business like way - don't even go there. You have no idea how many opportunities silently disappear when you do it. I just happen to point out the fact the opportunity "is gone".
Sriram:
Please post proof that allright is a correct usage. It isn't in American English.
On career day, my kid would have asked the police officer if he uses Bind Variables.
Why don't you nancies give it a break?? It's his blog and nothing official. I believe i can write what i want and how i want on my blog as long as it's only my "view" and not representing any org.
So i think if you don't like it, don't read it.
S Patel said....
Why don't you nancies give it a break??
huh ? who you calling "nancies" ?
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Anonymous said...
Sriram:
Please post proof that allright is a correct usage. It isn't in American English.
---------------------------------
Here you go
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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
all-right /ˈɔlˌraɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[awl-rahyt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective Informal. agreeable, acceptable, or commendable: an all-right plan.
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[Origin: 1815–25]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Robert :- Mr. Patel was clearly referencing Sriram. Please do not get all "worked" up.
Sriram said: Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
all-right
Looks to me that you missed a hyphen then in your text..
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