Tenth Cave

Christo's The Gates opened seven years ago

2012-02-02T17:38:00.000-05:00

I went on opening day. It was Saturday, February 12, 2005. I brought home a fabric sample (swatch).

Gingrich wins South Carolina primary; hopes Americans have matured; I don't think so

2012-01-23T11:34:00.002-05:00

Is Newt Gingrich electable?

I try not to get involved with US politics. Hell, I don’t even vote, so it’s none of my business, right? Yet, as a student of American society and of human nature in general, I cannot but wonder whether the Gingrich campaign has forgotten Gary Hart, or whether they think that American society has changed all that much in the last 25 years, or whether American society has indeed changed. It used to be that Americans didn't want their presidents to deceive their wives but they didn’t mind if their presidents deceived Congress. Is this not the case any more?

Let me remind you what the great John Irving wrote about Gary Hart and American society in “A Prayer for Owen Meany”:

Toronto: May 9, 1987 – Gary Hart, a former U.S. senator from Colorado, quit his campaign for the presidency after some Washington reporters caught him shacked up for the weekend with a Miami model; although both the model and the candidate claimed that nothing “immoral” occurred – and Mrs. Hart said that she supported her husband, or maybe it was that she “understood” him – Mr. Hart decided that such intense scrutiny of his personal life created an “intolerable situation” for him and his family.

[…]

What do Americans know about morality? They don’t want their presidents to have penises but they don’t mind if their presidents covertly arrange to support the Nicaraguan rebel forces after Congress has restricted such aid; they don’t want their presidents to deceive their wives but they don’t mind if their presidents deceive Congress – lie to the people and violate the people’s constitution! What Mr. Hart should have said was that nothing unusually immoral had occurred, or that what happened was only typically immoral; or that he was testing his abilities to deceive the American people by deceiving his wife first – and that he hoped the people would see by this example that he was immoral enough to be good presidential material!

Mask party at the art gallery

2012-01-14T13:02:00.000-05:00

That's what I'm talking about!

US economic decline brings down immigration

2012-01-07T13:21:00.000-05:00

What I have been saying for years, and what immigration attorneys have known all along, has now made it to Fox News: US economic decline brings down immigration. Which should be a serious cause for concern at the very top -- and I mean the US Congress. Without delay, the US must implement a radical change in immigration policy. Instead of trying to keep immigrants out, the US must find ways to attract them.

Writes Daniel Garza:

Previous generations of immigrants demonstrated a remarkable risk-taking spirit and a knack for creating jobs. Today’s potential immigrants are no different. But people see what is happening in America and are making a benefit/cost analysis of their options. And like never before, they are choosing to stay in their countries of origin because they do not feel they will be free to buy, sell, or trade in the United States at the same level immigrants who came before them were.

Full article at FoxNews.com.

Call for co-author(s)

2012-01-03T22:48:00.002-05:00

As many of my readers know, I have entered the 21st year of my US immigration ordeal. In recent years I have been thinking about writing a book about the whole saga. Any doubts about whether I should proceed with the book project were eliminated by my (and my son’s) detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and subsequent release (after 65 days) last year. I now know the US immigration system inside and out, and I want to tell the world about it.

So the book project is on. I have tons of material, and copious notes from the two-plus months’ detention at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey. But while I have been writing and publishing technical articles for many years, I am hesitant to try to pull off a book project all by myself.

Here’s the call to action: If you (or someone you know) love to write, are interested in co-authoring with me a book on immigration, want to raise awareness about the issue, and could stand to make some money in the process, drop me an email at atanas.entchev@gmail.com.

I look forward to hearing from you.

PS To be clear, I have no problem with ICE. They are just doing their jobs, and doing them well. But I do blame the outdated Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1965(!) for labeling hundreds of thousands of people “illegal” who shouldn’t be, causing the break-ups of hundreds of thousands of families, and triggering the meaningless waste of public resources for incarcerating and deporting these people – instead of allowing people who have been contributing to the US economy for decades and have already assimilated into society de facto to become citizens de jure. The US will be better for reexamining and rewriting this half-a-century-old act ASAP. This will take some political courage. So this book will be a call for courage.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T01:02:00.000-05:00

We did not send out Christmas cards this year. Not because we forgot about our friends, or about Christmas. It's just that we had a lot of other stuff on our hands and on our minds.

2011 was a year to remember -- for a variety of things, but for friendship above all. We thank you all for your kindness and support, and wish you a very Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year! --Atanas, Mayia and Eni Entchev

The Entchev immigration saga in the media

2011-12-22T12:03:00.001-05:00

Much to my delight, the mainstream media has taken an interest in our story. I am delighted not only because it is our story, but because I believe we represent a category of immigrants stuck between a rock and a hard place, immigrants who have been contributing to this country's economy for decades, yet face deportation because we have no straightforward way to adjust our immigration status. I do hope and believe that something good will come out of all that, and the country will be better for it.

Below are excerpts from the media coverage, with links to the full articles.

---

“Entchev and his family should never have been imprisoned, nor should they be threatened with deportation. Entchev was trying to do the right thing; he wasn’t living life in the shadows, as many other illegal immigrants do. He has been a college professor and is considered an expert in the field of geographical information systems that can assist government in urban planning and zoning. His wife is a renowned architect. His son knows only this country; he arrived here when he was two years old.” --Courage needed on immigration reform, editorial, MyCentralJersey.com

---

“Atanas said that Enislav was born in Bulgaria and came to the U.S. when he was two. He has no memory of the country of his birth.
"If anyone didn't belong there, he was him," Entchev said. "He had no say in any decisions I made for him."
Despite being imprisoned, Entchev said the two were able to bond over the two months.” --North Brunswick Family Reunited After Husband and Son Detained by Homeland Security For 65 Days, NewBrunswickPatch

---

“Well-known researcher invited to U.S. on prestigious fellowship released from deportation proceedings after wife launched online campaign on Change.org. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has released prominent researcher, consultant, and business owner Atanas Entchev and his son from detention after his wife Mayia started a campaign on Change.org that garnered more than 1,000 supporters.” --Prominent New Jersey Scholar And Son Released From Detention Following Online Campaign, The Paramus Post (based on a Change.org press release)

---

““We are thrilled the Entchevs were released from detention,” said Eric Mark, attorney for the family. “However, the Stay of Removal is a temporary and insufficient solution. We will begin immediately to work on a permanent solution to keep this talented, hard-working and beloved family in the United States, where they can continue to contribute to this country as they have for 20 years.”” --Clock ticking for North Brunswick family facing deportation, The Home News Tribune

---

“During his time in detention, Atanas sent handwritten notes that were typed into blog posts on his personal website. “I wish that I’d be free to continue to contribute to the U.S. economy, instead of being a drain on it [while in detention],” he wrote in early November. “I want to pay for my food. Let me do it.” In another post, upon his release, he describes the ingenious crafts made “out of nothing” by immigrant detainees: woven crosses from orange jumpsuit thread, a frame out of ramen noodle boxes. “There is a lesson to be learned here,” he writes. “Are you listening DC?”” --Success! Expert Scholar Atanas Entchev and Family Out of Detention, Change.org

“Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be”

2011-12-20T23:51:00.002-05:00

The thank-yous have been said. The tears have been cried. The family is together again. The friendships have been tested (most have endured; many have been strengthened; some have been broken). The business has survived — barely. The finances have been shattered.

Now what?

Roll up the sleeves, pick up the pieces, and start rebuilding, right? Rebuild what, though. I feel that I must do more than just go back to my life-as-it-was-before-THAT. I believe that THAT happened for a reason, and there is a calling that I must answer. But what to do, what to do? Write a book? Start a charity? Run for office?

Things are very much hectic these days, and I must tackle way too many pressing and immediate tasks before I can focus on a loftier one. But I think about the loftier one all the time. About where I am meant to be. So that all THAT would not have been in vain. So that I can contribute something to the common good as a result of THAT.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, so do drop me a line if you have a suggestion. I’ll be back with more posts when things get settled and I have more clarity. For now, happy holidays to all!

…

The man who wrote the words in the title of this blog post was an immigrant. He had troubles with the US immigration authorities. He was shot dead on the streets of New York City on December 8, 1980. It is only appropriate to close with the lyrics of another one of his songs:

“And in the end
The love you take
Is equal to the love
You make”

A world of gratitude to John Reiser who built this website, to Dawn McCall who managed the content, and to all friends and supporters who rushed to our aid. I felt your love.

This blog post originally appeared on FreeAtanas.com.

Prison arts and crafts, or how to make something from nothing

2011-12-11T15:07:00.001-05:00

There are no art supplies stores in prison. But never doubt immigrants’ ingenuity. People make amazing things out of scrap.

Take, for example, the cross on the left. My friend Alfredo from Guatemala made this cross for me from thread. The orange thread comes from the orange jumpsuits. The white thread comes from the bedding sheets. Alfredo painstakingly weaves the whole thing from string, in about a day. He gave it to me as a gift; I gave him two Ramen noodle soups (chicken flavor) as a gift. We exchange gifts. Trading is prohibited in jail.

On the right is a picture frame made out of the discarded cellophane wrappings of the Ramen noodle soups we ate to supplement our meals. My friend Jairo from Mexico made the picture frame and gave it to me as a gift. I gave him a gift of a bag of instant coffee.

Take a bunch of illegal immigrants, lock them up, and they find ways to make something from nothing. There is a lesson to be learned here. Are you listening, DC?

"My boys are back"

2011-12-11T12:54:00.000-05:00

This is what my wife called that photo. I have nothing to add.

Out on day 65

2011-12-09T14:33:00.001-05:00

It has been less than 24 hours since I got the news that my son and I would be released; about sixteen hours since I walked out the doors of the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, New Jersey. It has been an emotional rollercoaster of a day, to say the least.

Once the emotional dust settles and I gather my thoughts, I intend to write a series of posts about my experiences in the last two months. For now, here’s a brief summary of our situation:

We have been granted a one-year stay of removal, and have been released “on supervision.” What this means is that there are some strings attached to our release – we are not yet 100% legal permanent residents (green card holders). There is a lot more work to be done, but we are on the right path.

We couldn’t have gotten here without the amazing and overwhelming support of all our friends and sympathizers. For this I will be forever grateful to all.

Thanksgiving in Immigration Jail

2011-11-23T11:00:00.016-05:00

Never before in my life have I had the occasion to thank so many people.

First off, I give thanks to the thousands of folks who have supported me in myriads of ways-by signing the online petition, by writing letters of support, by voicing support in social media, by sending money. I thank you all very, very much!

Secondly, I thank the team of close friends and family headed by my attorney Eric Mark for their ongoing tireless work towards our release. Your efforts are priceless, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Finally, I thank my family for their unwavering resilience in the face of adversity. I know you are going through a much more stressful time than Eni and I are, and my heart goes out to you. I love you all very much.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Atanas Entchev

November, 24, 2011

Delaney Hall Detention Center

Newark, NJ

posted by CE for AE - Nov 23, 2011 - CE

One Month Later

2011-11-04T23:31:00.002-04:00

Dear Friends:

I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for our cause. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! By voicing your support you help not only my family, but the hundreds of thousands of families that are in the same situation. Families who have been building this country, only to find themselves unwelcome after decades of hard work. This is not just.

It has been one month since I was detained. We are being treated well, yet I wish that I’d be free to continue to contribute to the U.S. economy, instead of being a drain on it. I want to pay for my food. Let me do it.

I am confident that common sense will prevail, and that the U.S. will again, and soon, welcome those who came to start here a new and better life.

Your continued support is crucial, and I thank you once again.

Atanas Entchev
November 4, 2011
Delaney Hall Detention Center
Newark, NJ

download original (PDF)

posted by CE for AE - Nov 4, 2011, 11:31pm - CE

A Plea For Help

2011-10-17T22:56:00.011-04:00

After living legally in the United States for over 20 years, I was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on an immigration charge, and am currently facing deportation. My son Eni, 21, who came to the United States at the age of two, is also detained and wears an orange jumpsuit through no fault of his own. We continue to pursue all possible legal avenues to remain in the US – our home.

However, our 18-year immigration ordeal has depleted our resources. My detention is about to cripple my small IT consulting business. We cannot keep up with our growing expenses, and I have no other choice but to turn to the community for help.

I ask friends and sympathizers of our cause to donate to our legal fund. No donation is too small. Please spread the word.

Thank you for your kindness, and God bless you.

Posted for Atanas Entchev, by his daughter, Christina

Links:
http://njgeo.org/2011/10/17/colleague-in-need-atanas-entchev/
http://www.spatiallyadjusted.com/2011/10/19/freeatanas-best-thing-youll-read-all-day/
http://mapbrief.com/2011/10/19/political-hypocrisy-economic-ignorance-the-case-against-atanas-entchev/
http://twitter.com/#!/rjhale/status/126073203608137728
http://twitter.com/#!/atanas
http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/10/open-borders-obama-sets-new-deportation-record
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/lost-in-detention/
http://www.freeatanas.com/how-to-help/

Old red truck

2011-10-04T22:07:00.002-04:00

As seen on the road today.

Consumers are broke but continue buying expensive shiny objects

2011-10-03T14:41:00.005-04:00

Dan Lyons describes in The Daily Beast what I have been observing, in befuddlement, for a while. Dan tries to explain this irrational-looking phenomenon.

"Defying the economic recession, strapped shoppers are gobbling up high-priced gizmos from Apple, Amazon, and others."

"Nobody needs an iPad, after all. This is pure discretionary spending. For that matter, most people don’t really need a smartphone, either, yet worldwide sales will be up 55 percent this year, according to IDC, a market researcher. Smartphones that run Google’s Android operating system tend to cost a little less than an iPhone, but they’re still not cheap. The best Android phone, the Samsung Galaxy S II, will run you $199. And, like the iPhone, it has been a smash hit, selling 10 million units in its first five months on the market, with most of those sales coming from outside the United States. Samsung’s overall smartphone sales have been up nearly 400 percent this year."

Full article.

How to make it in America

2011-10-03T10:13:00.000-04:00

Select advice from Twitter users:

Real simple...hard work.
get an alarm clock and actually use it
Fake it till' you make it
hustle hard
kiss ass and suck dick
All you need is intelligence, ambition, and perseverance. But you have to have all 3 or you won't get anywhere.
A man can steal more money with a suit than he can with a gun.
create a product everyone wants...then create another with one small change...hey that's what apple does
why would you want to make it in america when you can make it cheaper overseas and then import it

Get more on Twitter.

SNL on the Kindle Fire

2011-10-02T23:14:00.008-04:00

Seth Meyers on the Kindle Fire: "It's expected to sell well among parents who always buy the wrong thing."

[UPDATE 11:12 PM 10/04/2011] For some reason the video only plays on the main blog page, and not on this post's individual page. If you are on the individual page and only see a black rectangle, go to the main Tenth Cave page and scroll down to this post to play the video.

Circa 1975

2011-10-02T21:27:00.000-04:00

Massive Security Vulnerability In HTC Android Devices (EVO 3D, 4G, Thunderbolt)

2011-10-02T18:51:00.001-04:00

Artem Russakovskii from androidpolice.com reports about a suite of HTC logging tools exposing tons of customer data -- phone numbers, GPS, SMS, email addresses, much more.

Full article.

OFC (Obama Fried Chicken) opens in Beijing

2011-10-02T18:37:00.000-04:00

Source: The Daily Mail (UK)

Explains The Daily Mail:

"The Obama Fried Chicken could be a response to the U.S. filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization about Chinese tariffs on American chicken exports."

The publication also reports on The Obama Fried Chicken joint in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, and the Obama Fried Chicken and Pizza in Harlem, NY.

The Governator drives a man's truck

2011-10-02T00:05:00.000-04:00

Arnold Schwarzenegger drives a man's truck. See the whole series on the United Press Media website.

The Phony War

2011-10-01T23:44:00.000-04:00

Watch some of the most extraordinary iPhone/Android love scenes, brought to you by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation.

Colorado, Wyoming, same thing...

2011-10-01T23:12:00.000-04:00

The White House press office issued credentials to those reporters and photojournalists who are covering the president’s trip this week to Washington state, California, and Colorado. But on the press pass Wyoming is highlighted instead of Colorado.

Source: CNN

Sunset on Long Island Sound

2011-10-01T22:56:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite sailing photos, taken during the 2005 Vineyard Race.

Grigor "Baby Federer" Dimitrov

2011-10-01T22:50:00.002-04:00

"Baby Federer" Grigor (Grisha) Dimitrov, as captured by our friends at United Press Media.

Winnie the Pooh on the value of Doing Nothing

2011-10-01T21:15:00.002-04:00

"Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering." --Winnie the Pooh

Windows is like an East German flat

2011-10-01T20:01:00.001-04:00

"Windows is like an East German flat. It's all crowded because there's only one virtual screen, the phone is bugged and I'm constantly reminded that I'm just a renter and others are in control."

From a comment on a Google+ discussion

Content of a Beatles Song

2011-09-30T23:28:00.001-04:00

City of Orange Township Interactive Zoning Map

2011-09-25T17:56:00.001-04:00

[UPDATE 09/29/2011] This is NOT the official zoning map for the municipality, only a proof of concept. Send me an email if you want me to put a map of your municipality on your website.

Below is an interactive zoning map for the City of Orange Township in New Jersey. Click on a zone to display its code and description.

RYC mooring field interactive map

2011-09-14T23:53:00.001-04:00

Google Fusion Tables experiment built with data publicly available on the website of the Raritan Yacht Club. Click on a marker for information about a mooring.

Ana Ivanovic receiving serve

2011-08-27T02:19:00.001-04:00

US Open, August 26, 2011, New York, New York

Tennis courts -- what is the actual distance between the baseline and the fence?

2011-08-12T16:39:00.000-04:00

I am a club tennis player, and every once in a while I run into the back fence or curtain. One of my partners -- a younger and much faster guy who runs for every ball -- hits the back fence much more frequently. We were wondering whether the pros at large tournaments have more room behind the baseline than us tennis hackers. So I decided to find out.

It turns out they do.

I used my Geographic Information Systems (GIS) skills and aerial photography from Google Maps to compare the courts at the US Open in Flushing Meadows, New York to the courts at a local East Brunswick, New Jersey park.

The image below illustrates my findings (distances between baseline and fence in feet). In summary -- yes, the pros do have more room, but not that much more. In addition, I found that no two distances between baseline and fence were the same. Measurements are approximate, +/- 1'.

UPDATE: For completeness, the *recommended* distance between the baseline and the fence is 21 feet. There is no standard.

Please don't email me.

2011-07-31T00:40:00.002-04:00

Everybody needs one of these. You know you do.

http://www.cafepress.com/EntchevDotCom.560123115

Psychedelic bike ride

2011-07-07T12:17:00.001-04:00

More Doctors Smoke CAMELS than any other cigarette!

2011-07-01T15:43:00.001-04:00

THE DOCTORS' CHOICE IS AMERICA'S CHOICE!

Phasing out Tumblr

2011-03-19T09:23:00.000-04:00

About six months ago (circa September 2010) a series of events convinced me to give Tumblr a try. Today I am phasing it out. Maybe I'll explain why in more detail in a future post, but the short of it is that I just don't get the point of it. The technology is there (albeit with occasional failures), but Tumblr's entire concept, centered (at least the way I see it) around ad-infinitum reposting others' stuff, makes zero sense to me.

Why I am on Tumblr

2010-09-17T18:02:00.000-04:00

It took me a while to warm up to Tumblr, but I’m sold now. Why?

http://atanasentchev.tumblr.com/post/1139294276/why-i-am-on-tumblr

GPS Interns Poll

2010-05-09T15:10:00.001-04:00

Please take our poll and help us find the answer to this recurring question. Have you worked with interns on GPS data collection? Was the project a success? Was it a flop? Why was it one or the other?

Interns collecting GPS data -- Good, Bad or Ugly?online surveys

Nice article on GeoDesign

2010-03-12T14:43:00.001-05:00

After a minor hiccup (article went online; I sent an email blast and tweeted about it; article was pulled for publication on the following day (i.e., today)) ESRI’s Matt Artz’s Directions Magazine article on GeoDesign is online.

Matt does a great job of explaining the concept and controversies around GeoDesign, a new discipline. Naturally, the article is that much dearer to me because it quotes me, and it places me in the distinguished company of ESRI’s Jack Dangermond and Carl Steinitz from the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Accomplishment without effort

2010-02-26T12:03:00.002-05:00

Another snow storm in New Jersey.

As I was driving slowly to work this morning in my sedan (rear-wheel drive, stick-shift), a guy in a four-wheel drive was riding my bumper for miles, inches away. I recalled a recent status update of a Facebook friend: “4wd does NOT keep you from sliiiiiiding.” Well, duh! What really took me off guard in this status update was the surprise in its tone. The four-wheel-drive industry had convinced my friend that she wouldn’t have to learn how to drive in the snow – all she had to do was buy their product. Accomplishment without effort.

Or take the radio commercial for an online university which says (quoting from memory): “Sign up for our program and you will get a degree for what you already know!” In other words, we are not going to teach you anything. We know you hate that stuff anyway. We are just going to sell you a diploma. Accomplishment without effort.

Or take the software vendor who says: “Our new release, X+1, is more powerful yet easier to use than release X.” Isn’t that an oxymoron? How can that be? But think not, just buy the upgrade. Accomplishment without effort.

We live in a culture that celebrates accomplishment without effort.

A friend told me a Little Johnny joke in which the teacher rewards a correct answer by allowing the student to go home early. Makes sense, right? Not to me.

David Foster Wallace is the greatest American writer of the 20th century.

2010-02-23T11:40:00.001-05:00

Salinger is a distant second.

Musings on the value of professional certification and branding

2010-01-18T13:17:00.000-05:00

I am republishing this piece on my blog in 2010 because I think all raised issues are still very valid. I find that I am not the only one wondering about the value of the acronyms after their names (I became an AICP in 1993, a GISP in 2007). I will share more of my current thinking in a follow-up to this post.

Building a Brand

Directions magazine publishes my GIS architecture article

2010-01-07T08:35:00.000-05:00

Directions magazine, the premier English language GIS publication, published my GIS architecture article. The article is based on my Design-Build GIS post.

Celebrating Four Years in Business

2009-12-01T10:11:00.000-05:00

ENTCHEV GIS Architects was born four years ago today – on December 1st, 2005.

The past four years have been interesting – exciting, challenging, full of long hours and hard work. We had to learn a myriad of new things – management, accounting, business development, sales and marketing, human resources. We had to learn how to collect from deadbeat clients. We are still learning every day.

Macy*s's Dumb Move

2009-11-27T11:13:00.000-05:00

Macy's web ads manage to get past Chrome's pop-up blocker and launch themselves in new tabs. Way to engender customer goodwill. This will surely get me into Macy*s stores.

Report: Wikipedia Losing Volunteers. Is Open Street Map Next?

2009-11-24T12:26:00.000-05:00

My post on The ENTCHEV GIS Blog generated a lot of discussion, mostly criticism. Which is healthy. Add your thoughts to the discussion.

If you build a system based on volunteerism, what will you do when the volunteers don't want to volunteer any more? Proponents of various community mapping efforts seem certain of the existence of an unlimited supply of volunteer (read 'free') labor. But they should take note of this cnet news article, which shows that a volunteer's passion can be a fleeting thing.

Original post.

Parcels in Google Maps

2009-10-07T19:57:00.000-04:00

Google launched a massive map data update today, plus a number of other changes. On the data front -- parcel data are now available for some areas in the US (more on that later). Also available are "more detailed natural features like parks and water bodies, and new base map data types like bike paths and university campus maps." There is also a new feature on Google Maps that allows users to report map data problems and send feedback directly to Google. Which brings me back to the data -- "Google has decided to stop using Tele Atlas map data for the U.S. Google will now use its own map data." At this point it is unclear what the source of Google's "own" data is, and what happens to the user-generated updates.

Web Malware and Isolated Tabs

2009-10-04T10:35:00.000-04:00

Legitimate websites are getting injected with malware at a discomforting rate. A couple of weeks ago it was The New York Times (the NYT initially tried to blame the security breach on their advertiser Vonage, but quickly fessed up to being duped directly). This morning it is NJ.com – the website I go to for New Jersey news.

Both breaches “feature” the same malware, which pretends to be a virus scanner.

Read more at The ENTCHEV GIS Blog.

2002 J29 North Americans Anemone City Island YC

2009-09-29T19:18:00.001-04:00

Seven years ago.

Follow ENTCHEV GIS Architects on Twitter

2009-09-22T11:21:00.001-04:00

http://twitter.com/entchev

"The computer industry is the only industry that's more fashion-driven than women's fashion."

2009-09-21T12:30:00.000-04:00

So says Larry Ellison, Oracle's CEO. More on The ENTCHEV GIS Blog.

Red Grant Regatta 2009

2009-07-22T11:59:00.001-04:00

Yours truly and skipper Doug Stryker squeezing out every bit of air on this downwind leg. Team Project Mayhem took a division second.

Photo by Amy Aidelbaum Stryker

ENT3R V4 Launched

2009-07-10T16:41:00.000-04:00

ENT3R V4 launched last week. Also on Facebook and Twitter.

Let's Connect on Facebook

2009-05-28T14:30:00.000-04:00

Let's connect on Facebook! Click on the Facebook badge below.

ENTCHEV GIS Architects's Facebook Page | Promote Your Page Too

Auto-Tune the News

2009-04-23T15:06:00.000-04:00

Katy Couric is hilarious, starting at 1:21.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Tracked Down on Google Street View

2009-03-30T14:21:00.001-04:00

More here (do read the comments).

On the AIG Tragicomedy

2009-03-21T11:51:00.000-04:00

A few clippings from a Facebook discussion on AIG (resulting from a link I posted):

"The teenager-parent analogy does apply, not as much to AIG as to its siblings, watching in disbelief the parent's arbitrary and capricious display of power."

"I am not debating whether AIG committed fraud or not. All I'm saying is that a targeted, tailor-made after-the-fact punitive tax doesn't fix anything, only makes everyone involved look bad. Or stupid."

And an excerpt from Lauren Weinstein's blog:

"A reader reminded me that if Congress is looking for a role model for this sort of retroactive contract annulment, it need look no farther than Darth Vader's opinion regarding deals."

Twouble with Twitters

2009-03-18T17:15:00.000-04:00

This made me laugh, recognizing that I was laughing at myself.

"I just twoted all over the place!"

Williams Sisters Conspiracy Theory Rebuke

2009-03-03T12:33:00.000-05:00

Some have claimed that the outcomes of the Williams sisters’ tennis matches are a predetermined family affair. For a while I gave credence to this theory.

Having seen, live, the two sisters duke it out at Madison Square Garden last night, I must say that these conspiracy theories are ridiculous, in addition to being insulting to the sisters. The two exhibited a fierce competitiveness that goes way beyond sibling’s rivalry. I could see it on their faces, between points, and during all these other moments that you don’t see on TV. They play to win.

I must also say that my wife was right about this all along.

ENT3R V3 is Live

2009-01-03T20:41:00.001-05:00

Check it out live at http://ENT3R.com.

Experiment with ENT3R Design

2008-12-27T13:24:00.000-05:00

Drastically toned down the design of http://ent3r.com/. Wondering if people will see it as I do. Comments?

Magic Shows for Grownups

2008-11-10T13:34:00.001-05:00

Technology vendors' sales seminars are nothing but magic shows for decision-makers. The decision-makers buy the illusion, take it home to their organizations, and task their staff to replicate it. This is where things fail.

"Microsoft has a problem"

2008-10-31T20:29:00.000-04:00

As someone who has written before (1, 2, 3, 4) about the obvious idiocy of some patents and patent applications, I am glad to report that some normalcy is about to be restored. According to the Bengaluru, India-based IT Examiner "The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) in Washington DC has decided that in the future, instead of automatically granting a patent for a business practice, there will be a specific testing procedure to determine how patentable is that process."

The IT Examiner also observes that "Microsoft has a problem" and that "Much of the patent portfolio of some of the world's biggest software companies has become worthless overnight, thanks to a ruling yesterday by the US patent court."

Full article.

How-To Advice

2008-10-19T14:27:00.002-04:00

"'Assembly of Japanese bicycle require great peace of mind.'" --Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values

Presidential Election Thoughts

2008-10-19T13:26:00.000-04:00

Getting excited about the Presidential election is like getting excited when your favorite sports franchise makes it to the Superbowl or the World Series. The contest provides some needed emotional distraction from your daily worries, followed by a week of euphoria or dejectedness. When it’s over, you realize that your life hasn’t changed one bit – for better or for worse.

Unless you are on the winning team. Not ROOTING for the wining team – ON the team.

I'm Back

2008-10-19T13:20:00.000-04:00

You knew it, didn't you?

I have been on and off Blogger since 2003. More off than on. When I launched The ENTCHEV GIS Blog in 2006, most of my blogging energy went into it.

But work isn't everything. So here I am again.