I found myself involved in a genealogy discussion the other night, and I guess I disappointed everyone by admitting that I don’t know the origin of the name Epps, nor am I all that curious about it.

Continue reading Genealogy: Who Cares?

The Programmer has been out of work for more than two months now . . .

A recruiter called me the other day, and in the course of our conversation, he asked me which “business requirements methods” I’ve used.

I said, “I’m not exactly sure what you mean by that.”

After a pause, he said, “I’m not really sure what it means either. I’m kind of new at this.”

“Well, go ahead and read the next question, then . . .”

Thus spoke The Programmer.

Possible response: It should be. I wrote it.

Dr. Robert Atkins, creator of the high-fat, low-carb “Atkins Diet,” died today, not from a heart attack or stroke, as I’d hoped, but by slipping on a sidewalk outside his office.

Maybe that crazy diet affects your balance . . .

I love living in Irvine but . . . the lots aren’t very big, the houses are close together, and they all look about the same anyway, so even after 2-1/2 years, I still have trouble picking out which house is mine as I’m driving down the street.

I’ve devised a couple of methods for handling this.

Continue reading Three Ways to Find My House

The fashion designer Calvin Klein said yesterday that he was seeking professional help for substance abuse, nearly two weeks after his erratic behavior during a Knicks basketball game at Madison Square Garden briefly forced a halt in play.

— The New York Times

Another blow to the theory that being rich and famous somehow makes it easier to live through the day, in case anyone other than my wife still believes it . . .