http://ianolsen.com/2006/03/24/the-stuff-you-have/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:03:52 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://ianolsen.com/2006/03/24/the-stuff-you-have/#comment-5646 Why I Love Neal Stephenson « Ian’s Blog Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:55:25 +0000 https://ianolsen.wordpress.com/2006/03/24/the-stuff-you-have/#comment-5646 [...] Ian Olsen I’m reading Cryptonomicon for the second time, having rediscovered it on a basement shelf and remembering that I really enjoyed it years ago. Last night I got to this part, when [...] [...] Ian Olsen I’m reading Cryptonomicon for the second time, having rediscovered it on a basement shelf and remembering that I really enjoyed it years ago. Last night I got to this part, when [...]

]]> http://ianolsen.com/2006/03/24/the-stuff-you-have/#comment-10 Sanin Saracevic Wed, 19 Apr 2006 17:47:08 +0000 https://ianolsen.wordpress.com/2006/03/24/the-stuff-you-have/#comment-10 Got a kick-ass laugh out of this one!!! :-D Got a kick-ass laugh out of this one!!!

]]> http://ianolsen.com/2006/03/24/the-stuff-you-have/#comment-7 Stephen B. Starr Fri, 07 Apr 2006 15:25:21 +0000 https://ianolsen.wordpress.com/2006/03/24/the-stuff-you-have/#comment-7 I'm pretty impressed that you're using rubbermaid boxes. I'm still using discarded corrugated cartons for my stuff... the "I have to keep this for some reason that is currently unknown to me but will one day become clear with the wisdom of age or the archeological searchings of future generations." I imagine this... "a yellow and badly aged notebook was found penned by a midwestern American male... good verbal skills and well-developed thoughts. This discovery advances our understanding of 21st century culture and is a major breakthrough for forensic psychologists seeking to understand the motivations of this lost generation." Pretty grandiose, but it's my excuse. A big yes to clean code... go Ian! I’m pretty impressed that you’re using rubbermaid boxes. I’m still using discarded corrugated cartons for my stuff… the “I have to keep this for some reason that is currently unknown to me but will one day become clear with the wisdom of age or the archeological searchings of future generations.” I imagine this… “a yellow and badly aged notebook was found penned by a midwestern American male… good verbal skills and well-developed thoughts. This discovery advances our understanding of 21st century culture and is a major breakthrough for forensic psychologists seeking to understand the motivations of this lost generation.” Pretty grandiose, but it’s my excuse. A big yes to clean code… go Ian!

]]> http://ianolsen.com/2006/03/24/the-stuff-you-have/#comment-3 J.L. Johnson Sun, 26 Mar 2006 06:23:47 +0000 https://ianolsen.wordpress.com/2006/03/24/the-stuff-you-have/#comment-3 I am one of those wives mentioned. I do however agree with all that is said. I am an orginizational freak and all of the items I have are labeled and yes I know what is there and it does all work. My problem is that I was raised to never throw out anything that could be used in the future. So I have children's books, toys, etc that I'm not using now but hope to soon. My husband is also a programmer and I know this drives him crazy. He hates clutter. I am trying to be better and 2 or 3 times a year a trunkful of items get donated to the local Goodwill. So there is hope that some of us packrats learn to let go. I am one of those wives mentioned. I do however agree with all that is said. I am an orginizational freak and all of the items I have are labeled and yes I know what is there and it does all work. My problem is that I was raised to never throw out anything that could be used in the future. So I have children’s books, toys, etc that I’m not using now but hope to soon. My husband is also a programmer and I know this drives him crazy. He hates clutter. I am trying to be better and 2 or 3 times a year a trunkful of items get donated to the local Goodwill. So there is hope that some of us packrats learn to let go.

]]> http://ianolsen.com/2006/03/24/the-stuff-you-have/#comment-2 Peter Waitzman Fri, 24 Mar 2006 19:50:16 +0000 https://ianolsen.wordpress.com/2006/03/24/the-stuff-you-have/#comment-2 I agree wholeheartedly. To be honest, I wonder if it's more of a genetic, survival instinct. Kind of like how dogs will eat everything that they're given because they instinctively don't count on being fed again. To the same extent, I think that there's some rationale in humans that overrides sensibility with a survival instinct that heavily values various "what if" scenarios. For instance, "yes, this garden hose spray nozzle shaped like a pokemon probably won't ever be used again, but we'll keep it in case forest fire rages through our neighborhood... or if we can re-gift it to Peter at his wedding." I guess what I'm saying is that it's a lose/lose proposition. Unless you really do give it to me for my wedding because I'm a big fan of Jiggly Puff. I agree wholeheartedly. To be honest, I wonder if it’s more of a genetic, survival instinct. Kind of like how dogs will eat everything that they’re given because they instinctively don’t count on being fed again. To the same extent, I think that there’s some rationale in humans that overrides sensibility with a survival instinct that heavily values various “what if” scenarios. For instance, “yes, this garden hose spray nozzle shaped like a pokemon probably won’t ever be used again, but we’ll keep it in case forest fire rages through our neighborhood… or if we can re-gift it to Peter at his wedding.” I guess what I’m saying is that it’s a lose/lose proposition. Unless you really do give it to me for my wedding because I’m a big fan of Jiggly Puff.

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