Well, kind of: “Our business now too many times is a fat kid in a t-shirt in his mother’s basement eating Cheetos and writing his blogs.” (source)
I’m not fat, I live in my own house, and I don’t eat Cheetos, but I do wear t-shirts. Oh, and my blog was the source for one of his station’s broadcasted stories.
I was interviewed by BBC World Service last night. Reporter Jeff Baird, an American BBC employee from Oregon, saw that Fark.com linked to a news article about my Texas speed trap report. Lawrence Pollard did the actual interview.
We did it over Skype. I didn’t have good equipment, so I had to put my face about 4″ from the microphone on my son’s Asus netbook. If you listen to the interview, you’ll hear disturbances in the audio. I guess I leaned too closely or breathed into it?
The Russian subway bombing prevented them from playing it in the London breakfast show, but it played a few times before their dawn.
The full 27 minute segment I was on. (I think I am towards the end.)
This plain text belies my excitement, but this was a major high for me. I cannot believe I’ve been broadcasted on wordwide media.
I am amazed at how much media attention my speed trap article is getting (original article, follow up article).
First WFAA, Dallas, TX’s ABC affiliate interviews me.
Then a major Texas city newspaper interviews me (but as of yet hasn’t published anything).
Then I hear the Houston, TX CBS affiliate played the WFAA piece.
Then I get a call from a well-known national-scope newspaper asking for an interview. I discussed with the reporter, and we agree not to do an article for now. The reason is that my prospective doctorate research is on related subjects, and this speed trap piece is hardly serious research. I don’t want to discuss my doctorate research with anyone in the news until I have publishable data, so because of that we agreed to wait to review anything until then.
Then just now I got a call from an international radio network and am scheduled to do an interview tonight. (I’ll reveal the name if they air it.) [EDIT: It was the BBC World Service. More info and a the interview.]
Wow.
I sent an email about the primary election to my neighborhood association. 16 days later, my Democrat state legislator Allen Vaught sent an email about primaries to his constituents.
Guess where some of his email came from? Compare snippets:
| Aren Cambre’s Jan. 31 email | Allen Vaught’s Feb. 16 email |
|---|---|
| What is the primary? It’s where YOU choose who represents your party at the fall election. | The primary is the election in which you choose who represents your party in each race during the November general election. |
| You don’t register with a party. … You just show up and vote in either party’s primary. | In Texas, you do not “register” with a party; therefore, you may vote in either party’s primary election. |
| You must vote in the primary to participate in the party’s convention process. | You must vote in the primary to participate in that party’s convention process… |
Imitation is sincerest form of flattery?
Both the emails are below in full. You’ll notice my email clearly inspired the highlighted part of his email.
| Aren Cambre’s Jan. 31 email | Allen Vaught’s Feb. 16 email |
|---|---|
| Neighbors,
Feb. 1 is the last day to register to vote in the March 2 primary. Verify your registration at http://dalcoelections.org/voters.asp What is the primary? It’s where YOU choose who represents your party at the fall election. These should clarify some misconceptions:
Register to vote, and hope to see you at our polling location on March 2! Aren Cambre, President |
Dear Friends:
Election time is upon us again and I would like to encourage you to vote. I have included some information in this email which I hope will help you cast an informed vote. March 2nd is the Primary Election for both the Democratic and Republican Parties. The primary is the election in which you choose who represents your party in each race during the November general election. There are many candidates on the ballot all the way from precinct chairs to the Governor. In Texas, you do not “register” with a party; therefore, you may vote in either party’s primary election. Regardless of which party’s primary you vote in, you may vote however you would like in November. You must vote in the primary to participate in that party’s convention process, which usually takes place around 7:30 pm directly after the close of voting on March 2nd at your precinct’s polling location. Sample ballots for each party’s primary are located here: http://www.dalcoelections.org/march22010/index.asp. For more detailed information on the candidates that you may be voting on please see the following websites: Dallas County Republican Party http://www.dallasgop.org/candidates Dallas County Democratic Party http://www.dallasdemocrats.org/election/2010/candidates Dallas Morning News Voters Guide http://www.thevoterguide.org/v/dallas/race-index.do You may vote early during the following dates and times: Tu-F Feb 16-19 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. Sat Feb 20 7:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. Sun Feb 21 1:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. M-F Feb 22-26 7:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. Early voting locations may be found on the Dallas County Elections website, located here: http://www.dalcoelections.org/march22010/EVLocations.htm Election Day is Tuesday, March 2nd from 7am – 7pm. You must vote in your voting precinct on election day. If you are not sure where to vote, more information may be obtained by contacting the Dallas County Elections Department (214) 819-6300 or by visiting their website at www.dalcoelections.org. I encourage you to cast an informed vote because as you know, our democracy rests upon the act of voting. Respectfully, State Representative Allen Vaught House District 107 |
When I earned my Eagle Scout rank, Sam Houston Area Council published this Scout Fair guide:
The guide listed all Eagle Scouts minted since the prior Scout Fair.
Here’s my listing:
Let’s see:
This may surprise attendees of the 1994 National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC).
Order of the Arrow is an honor society of Boy Scouts that uses American Indian imagery. The 1994 NOAC conference’s closing ceremony prominently featured then-popular Return to Innocence by Enigma in an Indian-themed ceremony.
Only problem is that’s not an Indian voice. It’s an aboriginal Taiwanese chant.
So now you know. The NOAC planners are probably blushing.
Here’s the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JpJjsHgYHA
…and it’s right!
New imagery of my front yard, probably from October 2008:
Those are all Republicans.
Google also knows my across-the-street neighbors’ opinions about my signs. Look where they faced their signs. (Hint: Google camera’s straight-on view means they’re not facing drivers!)
Silly liberals!
See the whole scene for yourself. Pan around to see my neighbors.
EDIT (5/21/2010): The host is Chip Beall, who left a comment below.
Below is is my Texaco Star Academic Challenge performance from 1993 or 1994. Yes, Clear Brook High School made it to TV.
At least wait through my part of “meet the contestants.”
I didn’t want to repeat the problems with last year’s Lent fast, where I was enmeshed with legalism and others felt like they needed to accommodate me.
I made it simple: no snacks. I eat at meals and that’s it.
I allowed myself excpetions only to avoid create a burden on others. Because of that, I did break the fast four times.
But the good thing is nobody realized I did a fast until it was over. Not even my wife. That’s a good Lent fast.
Maybe next year I’ll devise a better fast that needs no exceptions?
This week I formed Limitless Technologies LLC.
I’m not rushing into long term plans: computer and information technology consulting need little physical capital, so I can use a “pay as you go” system for now.
I have two objectives.
First, the obvious one: As a separate legal entity, Limitless Technologies LLC bears almost all liabilities for all actions performed through it, protecting me and my family from financial harm.
Second, I have political aspirations. The citizen politician ideal is a myth for ordinary citizens like me, mostly because you can’t make up for lost wages and benefits while campaigning. That’s a huge dent for families, especially in a time-consuming competitive race. I need to develop an asset pool and a more flexible income stream that can bridge me through a leave of absence from my main job.
This is the closest I have come to publicly annoucing a run for office. Don’t worry: we don’t see it happening in 2010!
I titled this “back in business” because I used to co-own Scarsdale Computers, Inc. in the late ’90s. Supposedly I was the brains to back up the sales acumen of the other guy, but I really couldn’t contribute much. My IT knowledge dropped off a cliff past computer hardware and desktop OSes back then.
