Category Archives: culture

Skiing with the Family

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Dave

This weekend finds my family on the mountain again. The temperature today is just below freezing, but warmer temperatures yesterday and a few hours of freezing rain left the snow granular and hard packed in western Maryland.

Posted in vacation | Leave a comment

It Was a Precious Moment

Posted on August 15, 2010 by Dave

While traveling home from Arkansas, my wife and I stopped at the Precious Moments Park and Chapel in Carthage, Missouri. We expected to find a small gift shop selling figurines; instead, we entered a magic kingdom for obsessed collectors.

Posted in culture, vacation | 1 Comment

This Is How a REAL American Follows Johnny Paycheck’s Advice: Take This Job and Slide It!

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Dave

We have all had the experience of wanting to tell our customers were to get off, but few of us ever get the chance to vent our frustrations to anyone other than a coworker or family member. Steven Slater, a former airline flight attendant stood up for all Americans who have had it with unreasonable customers.

Posted in culture, flying, service | 1 Comment

Not Too Much Snow To Ski

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Dave

Soon after I wrote my last post, a snow thrower came into our neighborhood, cleaning not only the primary access road but the street in front of our mountain retreat. Within a few minutes my family was dressed and ready to ski.

Posted in culture, vacation | Tagged children, family, friends, runs, ski, skiing, snow, trails, vacation, wisp, wisp resort | Leave a comment

Too Much Snow To Ski

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Dave

When is there too much snow to ski?

Posted in culture, vacation | Tagged goes johnny, ski, snow, vacation, wisp | Leave a comment

Data Backups to the Cloud

Posted on April 29, 2009 by Dave

Cloud backups are not only more common but more simple than most people think. Gone are the days of physical media backups; now, it is easier and less expensive to backup to the cloud.

Posted in digital, service | Tagged Amazon, amazon s3, backblaze, backup, data, jungledisk | Leave a comment

Amazon Kindle2: A First Review

Posted on March 21, 2009 by Dave

I received my Amazon Kindle2 on the day that it was released, and in less than a month, I have changed the way that I read.

Posted in culture, digital, e-law, readings, trivia | Tagged Amazon, e-book, Kindle 2, reader, reading | Leave a comment

Kelsey’s Irish Pub Serves Up Great Lunch

Posted on November 28, 2008 by Dave

I ate a quick lunch at Kelsey’s Irish Pub in the Normandy Shopping Center, today. It was a pleasurable respite.

Posted in food | Tagged dinner, ellicott city, food, irish, kelsey's, lunch, maryland, md, pub, resraurant, restaurant, service, wait staff, waiter | Leave a comment

Bose Creates a Fanboy

Posted on September 6, 2008 by Dave

I am enjoying being a Bose fanboy, this week. My Bose QuietComfort® 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones had a bit of a problem, but Bose stood behind their product and kept me as one happy customer.

Posted in culture, service | Tagged audio, bose, customer, earcups, headphones, quality, quietcomfort, radio, service, systems, wave | Leave a comment

International Linux Foundation Announces Distributed Network For All Users

Posted on April 1, 2008 by Dave

In an announcement that will likely have long term implications for users of personal computers, the International Linux Foundation today reported that it will release a version of its operating system that will include a link to a distributed network.

Posted in culture, digital, trivia | Leave a comment

Qdoba Mexican Grill: Worth Staying Home For

Posted on January 13, 2008 by Dave

My wife and I had the distinct opportunity to eat at Qdoba Mexican Grill last evening. We should have stayed at home.

Posted in food, service | Tagged dinner, fast, food, grill, lunch, mexican, qdoba, restaurant, service | 4 Comments

Being a Philosopher

Posted on January 4, 2008 by Dave

If you think you’re a philosopher, you’re not.

Posted in aphorisms | Tagged aphorism, david s. murphy, if you think you're a philosopher, philosopher, philosophy, you're not. | 1 Comment

Americans Use Multiple Research Sources

Posted on December 30, 2007 by Dave

Americans use multiple resources when searching for specific answers. The traditional sources, libraries and librarians, are still common alternatives, even with the ubiquitous availability of internet access.

Posted in culture, digital | Tagged americans, books, internet, libraries, library, magazines, online, pew internet & american life project, physical, research | 1 Comment

On The Border

Posted on December 26, 2007 by Dave

I ate at On The Border, a national Mexican food chain, this evening. The dinner was better than I expected.

Posted in food, service | Tagged , columbia, dining, family, food, lunch, maryland, meals, mexican, On the border, restaurant, servers, service | 2 Comments

Update on Soto’s Grill: Still Great Dining in Ellicott City

Posted on June 16, 2007 by Dave

I returned for the third time to Soto’s Grill in Ellicott City. It is still as great as it was each of the previous times that I visited.

Posted in food, service | Tagged dinner, ellicott city, food, greek, italian, lunch, maryland doncaster road, pizza, reserve, restaurant, Soto's Grill, stromboli, worthington | 1 Comment

Soto’s Grill: Upscale Dining in Ellicott City

Posted on June 8, 2007 by Dave

Soto’s Grill in Ellicott City, Maryland is perfect spot for diners looking for a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the chain restaurants that pervade Columbia and Howard County, Maryland.

Posted in culture, food, service | Tagged dinner, ellicott city, food, greek, italian, lunch, maryland doncaster road, pizza, reserve, restaurant, Soto's Grill, stromboli, worthington | Leave a comment

Proton-Based Network Offers Free Cellular and Internet Services

Posted on April 1, 2007 by Dave

Free voice and data services will be available through an international consortium’s program that deploys a proton-based global network. The telecommunications network’s potential was confirmed last week following research using the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, European Organization for Nuclear Research, and the world’s largest particle physics laboratory.

Posted in culture, science, trivia | Tagged arge Hadron Collider at CERN, European Organization for Nuclear Research, nuclear, physiscs | 1 Comment

P.F. Chang’s: A Family Fiasco

Posted on March 4, 2007 by Dave

My family and I prepared to each lunch at P.F. Chang’s China Bistro in The Plaza at the Mall in Columbia, Maryland this afternoon. Our visit confirms that a popular restaurant does not have to offer good service.

Posted in food, service | Tagged bad service, chang's, china bistro, chinese, columbia, food, long wait, maryland, p. f., p.f. chang's china bistro, pf, restaurant, service, slow, the mall in columbia, waitress | 1 Comment

Frisco Grille & Cantina, a Welcome Surprise

Posted on January 31, 2007 by Dave

Need a fast lunch or evening out that won’t break the bank but will satisfy both your hunger and heart? Stop by Frisco Grill & Cantina in Columbia, Maryland. You’ll be surprised…this little restaurant has a lot to offer.

Posted in food, service | Tagged columbia, dinner, food, Frisco Grille & Cantina, lunch, maryland, mexican, restaurant, tex-mex | Leave a comment

Digitalis Americana: Digital Rights Management Misapplied

Posted on December 24, 2006 by Dave

The broad acceptance of digital technology—the personal computer, in particular—creates a social breach between those who have access and those who do not. Access is not only a function of being able to buy a PC, but also a function of being able to operate the machine efficiently.

Posted in culture, digital, digitalis americana | Tagged digital rights management, digitalis americana, encryption, security | Leave a comment