Family History

I've been working on a digital scrapbook for my parents and I found this old photo of my great grandfather from the turn of the century (last century). Jose Ignacio Hernandez was the son of Canary Islander immigrants (Jose Antonio Hernandez and Encarnacion De la Nuez) who died in an ambush during the war for Cuba's independence. A relative of mine in Texas still has his war machetes!

I was also able to go back one more generation and get Jose Ignacio's grandparent's names (my great great great parents): Jose Sebastian Hernandez and Isabel Rodriguez Guerra.

9 years

al & mai
Originally uploaded by alexthoth

Today Marge and I celebrate 9 years together. (2 and a half married) and it's been awesome... here's to 9 more years.

General Update

Man, I haven't had time for anything geeky now that Sophie is much more active and demanding 100% of our attention. I haven't been able to see any TV and only 2 movies. I have been able to read though (usually at 6:30 am before she wakes up) because it's quiet and I can do it in short sessions (10 pages here, 5 pages there).

So far I've read: Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower, Vernor Vinge's A Fire Upon the Deep, Larry Niven's Legacy of Heorot and I just started Larry Niven's Ringworld.

When I get done with Ringworld I'm going to hunt down and read Iain M. Banks' Consider Phlebas, which I heard was really worth the read.

My 1st Father's Day!

Geek Dad
Originally uploaded by alexthoth

What a great day. Ate way too much though... still digesting.

SpaceX does it!

So glad SpaceX was able to successfully launch the Falcon 9. Can't wait for them to get Dragon up there later this year.

I really do think this is the turning point for human space activity... These are the guys that will get us off this rock!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37509776/ns/technology_and_science-space/

Fringe is my new favorite show

It's funny because when it started I gave it a 5 episode try and dismissed it as your sub-par police procedural show (a la C.S.I. & Bones) with a slight sci-fi bent. Every episode followed the same predictable format: There's an unexplainable crime, Walter rambles something cryptic, Peter applies snark, Olivia asks stupid questions, then Peter puts his bullshit aside and decodes his father's insane drivel and they all solve the case. I tuned out and never looked back.

But due to the constant claims from people who know me that I should watch the show and that I would love it, I bought the box set and watched the whole first season and though my assessment for the first half of the season remains intact I admit it got a whole lot better. I think they shed their new show timidity (and their C.S.I. veneer) and embraced their X-Files heritage. This show, along with Lost and Battlestar Galactica (both now over) is great sci-fi for adults. I can't wait to watch season two. Here's hoping they don't drop the ball.

Marge's First Mother's Day

Sophie & Mai
Originally uploaded by alexthoth

Wow, a year ago we weren't really thinking about being parents and yesterday we celebrated our first Mother's Day. We all had a nice time of course Sophie stole the show (as it should be) and all her grandparent and great grandmother jockeyed to hold her.

Can't wait for my first Father's Day.