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A Monday in March

The same day I opened up a document and titled it "Resupply Strategy" I also received an email asking me to do a phone interview for a job in London. I lead a special life.

"But, Paul, have you asked yourself what you really want to do with your life?"

Oh, I have internet. I have. Let's look at how that goes.
"That."
That's impossible.
"That."
That is also impossible.
"That?"
That is unlikely to end well for either you or her and would probably leave a mess for years.
"That!"
Ok, that is a bit more reasonable. Though you would end up with life crushing debt for two decades and you swore to yourself you would never go through that again.
"That..."
That's a bag of cookies. OK, knock yourself out.

That's Now How the Force Works

Update (Jan 25, 2019): RedBubble sent me a notification today that they have removed my work because of a DMCA request from LucasFilms/Disney. Given it's Disney, I cannot really fault RedBubble for doing absolutely nothing to protect my work. So, instead, here is the PSD for anyone to download and use. I will be deleting my RedBubble account shortly.

My first product on Redbubble. The phrase has been a bit of a rallying cry around the friend group whenever anyone makes a silly claim about how the world works. When I shared a similar image with Amelia, she wanted it as a sticker, so I made my own version in Photoshop and uploaded it for all. Enjoy.

Late Night Thoughts

Google Search: How to run for President.

"Wow, that's it? Hmmmmm..."

Composition In Storytelling

"Every single shot in cinema uses composition. Those images that haunt us, astound us, they evoke such emotions not just because they are beautiful but because they carry meaning."

The more I learn about the character and techniques of visual storytelling in cinema, the more impressed I am by the people who create it.

MPC The Martian VFX breakdown

Mind-blowing how nearly perfectly integrated special effects are into the movie creation process. It did not even occur to me while watching The Martian that their helmets might be digitally rendered.

DB Backup Script for Forge or Homestead

Had a client that wanted to have hourly backups but also keep a daily backup around for a couple weeks too. Shell scripting is definitely something I only dabble in but this seems to do the trick. Configuration is at the top. Just make a backups directory and set up a cron to run the script on an hourly basis.

Just Another Wednesday in January

Is today the day I get my life on track? Could it be? I mean, it could be! Let's close our eyes and wish really hard!

::apocalypse starts::

Figures...

WWII Hero Credits Luck and Chance in Foiling Hitler’s Nuclear Ambitions

Link. NY Times profile of Joachim Ronneberg, 96, the only living member of a World War II commando team that blew up a Norwegian plant that was Nazi Germany’s only source of heavy water.

“There were so many things that were just luck and chance,” he said of his 1943 sabotage mission that blew up a Norwegian plant vital to Nazi Germany’s nuclear program. “There was no plan. We were just hoping for the best,”
Skills and experience are important in life, no doubt, but it still surprises me how much a role chance plays.