Dr. Cauller's Obituary

For most of my many years at the University of Texas at Dallas, I was a graduate student in the Neuroengineering Laboratory of Lawrence James Cauller, Ph.D.  He was an enthusiastic lecturer and I took or sat in on every class he taught whenever I possibly could.  His neuroprosthetics medical research excited me and I admired his endeavors as an inventor-entrepreneur.  Above all, I appreciated his warm personality.

A few years ago, the School notified me and the other students in his laboratory that Dr. Cauller had retired abruptly due to health reasons.  I came to learn that his condition was untreatable and that he had left to spend his final days traveling.  I was able to speak with him on the phone for one last time while he was on the road.

I discovered his obituary today.  Even though I had known that he must have passed away some time ago, I find myself suddenly in grief.  His death reminds me that medical research is perhaps our most important endeavor.

New Google+ Profile URL

I mentioned in a previous post why I quit Facebook.  I now use Google Plus (Google+) exclusively.  It is better because you can control who sees what posts by grouping your friends into "circles".  You can also "follow" someone without having to "friend" them.

As of tonight, I now have a custom URL for my Google+ profile:

google.com/+DavidWallaceCroft

Here is a picture of my son James Arthur in his favorite sleeping position:

Make a Change

Our emotions signal to us whether situations are good or bad for our future prospects.  It is an additional form of intelligence or knowledge that we should not suppress or ignore.  When we are unhappy, it means that we know on some deep level that we are not headed in the right direction.

When you are feeling trapped or stuck,
Then make a change and try your luck.

I added this verse to the Optihumanist Principles as part of my annual revision.  I also made a few minor tweaks here and there as part of the process of refining this document over time.

Speaking of a commitment to periodic changes, it is once again time to choose your New Year's Resolution!

Pumpkin Patch

I planted pumpkins in my backyard this year.

I used a soaker hose.

I planted different varieties of pumpkin.

The vines made their way down the yard.

They made it all the way down to the fence.

Here is a growing little pumpkin.

Here is another one.

We harvested when they turned orange.

No mowing the backyard this year.

Spotting new green pumpkins was a fun challenge.

The pumpkin patch kept expanding to the side yard.

A cute little pumpkin.

All guests were given pumpkin patch tours.

We kept discovering new pumpkins for awhile.

Eventually frost killed off all of the leaves.

It was a good year for little pumpkins.

James Arthur Croft

My wife Shannon gave birth to our new son James Arthur Croft on 2013 October 18th Friday at 4:08 A.M.

Excluding sonograms, here is his first photograph:

Here he is a bit later, all cleaned up and resting comfortably:

Fakebook

Awhile back, I started seeing postings from my Facebook friends endorsing products of dubious efficacy such as herbal diet pills.  I suspected that these were fake ads posted by Facebook.  I took a screenshot of one and e-mailed it to the friend who had supposedly posted it.  "Yikes," she replied, "that wasn't me."

A quick search revealed that Facebook had been recently sued over these fake endorsements, which they euphemistically refer to as "sponsored stories", and was ordered to pay a fine of ten million dollars.  Facebook responded by modifying the terms of use of their service to require that every Facebook user authorize allowing them to use their name, photo, content, and other information for any advertising.

On 2013 August 30th, I received an e-mail from Facebook announcing that their "Data Use Policy" and "Statement of Rights and Responsibilities" documents had been updated to clarify

What to expect when it comes to using your name, profile picture, content and personal info with ads or commercial content.

At this point I knew that my continued use of the Facebook website would require me to give Facebook my consent for them to present false postings of me endorsing whatever products they chose.  Facebook was asking me for permission to deceive my friends.

I searched and found a website explaining how to quit Facebook and have your account deleted.  After a two week waiting period, Facebook finally granted my request.  My wife Shannon had already quit Facebook a month or two before.

Please join me in dropping Facebook.  It is absurd that a business would even consider it appropriate to ask its users to conspire with them to defraud their friends.  Meet me on the alternative social networking website Google+ which is run by a company with the unofficial motto of Don't be evil.

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Update 2013-10-11

It looks like I might have spoken too soon when I endorsed Google+ as the safe alternative because Google is now getting into the same game. A distinction between what Google and Facebook are doing is that Google only shares endorsements of products that you have actually rated whereas Facebook will associate you with any product. Another distinction is that Google permits you to opt out.

More Long Walks

I took more long walks this month.  On one walk, I ducked into the subway to dodge a storm.  From then on, I used the subway to extend my range from the hotel.

I used my mobile phone to take these photos.  I also used Google Maps on my phone to navigate.  Smart phones make us smart.  We should have them implanted.