The NORAD Santa Tracker is back this year and we don't need the help of the NSA or secret wiretaps to do this. Simply point your browser to the Santa Tracker.
Santa ain't no slacker!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
The Deal With Deal Or No Deal
I've now watched two episodes of the weeklong run on NBC of "Deal or No Deal." I'm torn between whether or not I like it.
NBC's description of the show at their website was far too simplistic. Here's my take. The contestant chooses a briefcase. It is opened to reveal a dollar amount which is eliminated from a list of all the available dollar amounts. Of course, the contestant would love for all the dollar amounts except $500,000, $750,000 or $1 Million to be removed.
After the contestant has made several choices, the "banker" will call to offer the contestant an amount of money to walk away from the game. Hence, the "deal or no deal." It doesn't get anymore complicated than that.
At one point in last night's episode, a woman was crying because she couldn't figure out what to do. There were four cases left, three had low dollar amounts attached to them and one had $1 Million. The "banker" offered her $201,000. Hmmm, either $1 Million or something like $5, $500, or $2,000. Yeah, take the deal. And she did, after several tense moments.
The next contestant had most of the high amounts eliminated from the game early on and I suspect he was continuing to play in order to get the banker to offer higher deals. At the end of his run, it was either continue to go for the $500,000 case or $99,000. He took the deal. It wasn't going to get any better.
I have to wonder though, who NBC is catering the show to. At one point during the second contestant's run, it was mentioned in a caption that there was "1 in 4 chance" of picking the $500,000 briefcase. Uh, duh, ya think?
Plus, the so-called "banker" is a hokey device. Just let the show's host make the offer.
That, of course, brings me to the host. Howie Mandel. He did such a poor job of acting with regard to talking with "The Banker" on a cordless phone that nobody was fooled. Even the contestants were making fun of "The Banker."
The show is also heavily edited and voices were overdubbed later in the studio.
"Deal or No Deal" has potential but I guess that once they tidy things up, it will be too much like "The Price is Right."
NBC's description of the show at their website was far too simplistic. Here's my take. The contestant chooses a briefcase. It is opened to reveal a dollar amount which is eliminated from a list of all the available dollar amounts. Of course, the contestant would love for all the dollar amounts except $500,000, $750,000 or $1 Million to be removed.
After the contestant has made several choices, the "banker" will call to offer the contestant an amount of money to walk away from the game. Hence, the "deal or no deal." It doesn't get anymore complicated than that.
At one point in last night's episode, a woman was crying because she couldn't figure out what to do. There were four cases left, three had low dollar amounts attached to them and one had $1 Million. The "banker" offered her $201,000. Hmmm, either $1 Million or something like $5, $500, or $2,000. Yeah, take the deal. And she did, after several tense moments.
The next contestant had most of the high amounts eliminated from the game early on and I suspect he was continuing to play in order to get the banker to offer higher deals. At the end of his run, it was either continue to go for the $500,000 case or $99,000. He took the deal. It wasn't going to get any better.
I have to wonder though, who NBC is catering the show to. At one point during the second contestant's run, it was mentioned in a caption that there was "1 in 4 chance" of picking the $500,000 briefcase. Uh, duh, ya think?
Plus, the so-called "banker" is a hokey device. Just let the show's host make the offer.
That, of course, brings me to the host. Howie Mandel. He did such a poor job of acting with regard to talking with "The Banker" on a cordless phone that nobody was fooled. Even the contestants were making fun of "The Banker."
The show is also heavily edited and voices were overdubbed later in the studio.
"Deal or No Deal" has potential but I guess that once they tidy things up, it will be too much like "The Price is Right."
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
NYC Transit Workers On Strike
Yeah, to all those transit workers, I saw Santa's list and well, let's just say we're talking coal in the stockings. At least you can use the coal to keep warm this winter since your union is getting slapped with $1million fines each day you're on strike.
Coals!
Coals!
I'm sure we all get the occasional Christmas Letter in which the sender reports highlights of things that happened over the previous year. I think they're great.
Lifehacker.com mentioned a weblog written for a 2 year-old boy that has a year in review article in which the 2 year-old son is interviewed by Ted Koppel. Funny and a great idea for future Christmas letters.
Read the blog here.
Lifehacker.com mentioned a weblog written for a 2 year-old boy that has a year in review article in which the 2 year-old son is interviewed by Ted Koppel. Funny and a great idea for future Christmas letters.
Read the blog here.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Curtailing Rude Movie House Behavior
On Sunday, I went to see The Chronicles of Narnia. It was an OK film. As a friend said, great epic battle but mediocre acting. It also probably didn't help that the past three Decembers were all about Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings.
Nonetheless, what really got to me while watching CoN was the kid sitting behind me who was constantly kicking the back of my chair. I don't understand this because there is a wide gap between the rows. Several times I turned around and asked him to stop. The father, sitting next to him, just smiled.
Then, someone down in the front row got a call on his cell phone. He had the volume set to low but that was still bad enough but it got worse. The thing with many cell phones these days is the backlighting. My Motorola e815, for example, could probably help get me home in the dark. And that was the case with this guy's cell phone. It pretty much lit up a small area around him.
The National Organization of Theatre Operators has been petitioning the FCC to block cell phone signals inside movie theatres in an attempt to curtail "rude behavior."
On the other side of the fence, the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association is trying to block this request, saying it interferes with the ability for the cell phone owner to receive emergency calls.
Personally, I really don't want more regulations. People just need to learn to be courtious and turn their cell phones off while the movie is on. It really isn't that hard.
Nonetheless, what really got to me while watching CoN was the kid sitting behind me who was constantly kicking the back of my chair. I don't understand this because there is a wide gap between the rows. Several times I turned around and asked him to stop. The father, sitting next to him, just smiled.
Then, someone down in the front row got a call on his cell phone. He had the volume set to low but that was still bad enough but it got worse. The thing with many cell phones these days is the backlighting. My Motorola e815, for example, could probably help get me home in the dark. And that was the case with this guy's cell phone. It pretty much lit up a small area around him.
The National Organization of Theatre Operators has been petitioning the FCC to block cell phone signals inside movie theatres in an attempt to curtail "rude behavior."
On the other side of the fence, the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association is trying to block this request, saying it interferes with the ability for the cell phone owner to receive emergency calls.
Personally, I really don't want more regulations. People just need to learn to be courtious and turn their cell phones off while the movie is on. It really isn't that hard.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Scrambled Eggs Unscrambled
We've all made scrambled eggs before, or at least I hope we all have. Here's a website with info on how to do scrambled eggs right. Just be sure not to make them your first meal after a fun evening of helping to ring in the new year.
Mr. Breakfast Makes Scrambled Eggs
Mr. Breakfast Makes Scrambled Eggs
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Unsafe At Any Speed
Michelle Rodriguez may do a great job of acting on Lost but my oh my, she can't act properly in the role of car driver. According to TVSquad.com,
Michelle Rodriguez, who plays Ana Lucia on Lost, has paid nearly $1,000 in traffic fines in Hawaii since August of this year. Here's a rundown of her offenses:One observation noted in the comments for the TVSquad.com story is that she never had a drivers license or learners permit before staring in The Fast and the Furious. Seems to explain a lot of things.Rodriguez just pleaded no contest to the November citation and paid the big fine. And, of course, she's still waiting for her court date on those lovely drunk driving charges from earlier this month. And, she was charged with 3 misdemeanors in in 2003 in LA for hit and run, drunk driving, and driving without a license.
- August, fined $197 for going 90 mph in a 50 mph zone
- October, fined $300 for going 90 mph in a 35 mph zone (!)
- November, fined $357 for going 83 mph in a 55 mph zone
Charlie Brown Is Not A Blockhead
For a Christmas special that first aired in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas still pulls in the viewers.
According to TVSquad.com,
According to TVSquad.com,
A Charlie Brown Christmas, drew 15.3 million viewers, which was good for 8th place in the Nielsen rankings. It also ranked first in its time slot among kids aged 2-11 and adults aged 25-54 (jeez... what's wrong with those teenagers? Too cool for a little Chuck Brown?)I think it is still one of the best special shows for Christmas and does a stellar job of conveying the reason for the season. I have it on DVD and will watch it Christmas Eve.
Out of stock? What do you mean, "Out of stock?"
Not to brag, but rather to make a point...I live in America where I can go to a store and choose between at least 20 different brands and types of toilet paper, several types of potatoes, whatever brand and type of TV but yet, amazingly, try to find certain items for Christmas gifts and it's out of stock.
Christmas comes once a year. Same date every year. We all know it's coming and yet some companies cannot properly plan stock levels. Best examples this year are iPods and the Xbox 360.
Argh!
There, I feel much better.
Christmas comes once a year. Same date every year. We all know it's coming and yet some companies cannot properly plan stock levels. Best examples this year are iPods and the Xbox 360.
Argh!
There, I feel much better.
Monday, December 12, 2005
You Know You're Living in 2005 When...
You know you’re living in 2005 when:
1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2. You haven’t played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that
they don’t have e-mail addresses.
6. You go home after a long day at work and you still answer the phone in a business manner.
7. You make phone calls from home, you accidentally dial “9? to get an
outside line.
8. You’ve sat at the same desk for four years, and worked for three
different companies.
10. You learn about your redundancy on the 11:00 news.
11. Your boss doesn’t have the ability to do your job.
12. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see If
anyone is home.
13. Every commercial on television has a website at the bottom of the
screen.
14. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn’t have the
first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you
turn around to go and get it.
15. You get up in the morning and go on-line before getting your coffee.
16. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
17. You’re reading this and nodding and laughing.
18. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this
message.
19. You are too busy to notice there was no # 9 on this list.
20. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn’t a # 9 on this
list.
SOURCE
1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2. You haven’t played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that
they don’t have e-mail addresses.
6. You go home after a long day at work and you still answer the phone in a business manner.
7. You make phone calls from home, you accidentally dial “9? to get an
outside line.
8. You’ve sat at the same desk for four years, and worked for three
different companies.
10. You learn about your redundancy on the 11:00 news.
11. Your boss doesn’t have the ability to do your job.
12. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see If
anyone is home.
13. Every commercial on television has a website at the bottom of the
screen.
14. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn’t have the
first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you
turn around to go and get it.
15. You get up in the morning and go on-line before getting your coffee.
16. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
17. You’re reading this and nodding and laughing.
18. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this
message.
19. You are too busy to notice there was no # 9 on this list.
20. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn’t a # 9 on this
list.
SOURCE
Guide To Dating Geeky Guys
I found this site by way of tuaw.com.
Emily Hambridge wrote in her blog, a guide of sorts, about dating an Apple Developer. While I'm not a developer I do work with computers and electronic gadgets so there are pointers in there that apply to me as well. Pretty funny too.
Emily Hambridge wrote in her blog, a guide of sorts, about dating an Apple Developer. While I'm not a developer I do work with computers and electronic gadgets so there are pointers in there that apply to me as well. Pretty funny too.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Snow? Time to get milk, bread and toilet paper
Washington DC wasn't just supposed to get snow last night but a snow storm. Given how little snow the DC area normally gets, panic mode by the area's citizens ensues. Or at least panic mode sets in on the news media.
Paul Farhi, of the Washington Post, set out to look at salesof milk, bread and toilet paper, or, as he called it, MBTP. These are the staple items that are said to be what people rush out to buy at stores before a snow storm hits.
He checked with records of area Safeway grocery stores and found that, compared to December 5, 2004,
Gasoline should be added to that list. When our family lived in Illinois, we had to trek five miles into town to pick up milk, bread, fill the car and fill the can with kerosene for our portable heaters.
While State College PA gets its share of snow, the winters are nothing like what I experienced in Illinois and Iowa, people get into serious panic mode. As soon as the forecast says "Storm" the parking lots of all the grocery stores are filled and staple items make their way off the shelves faster than a kid asking his parents if he really, really has to shovel the driveway.
Paul Farhi, of the Washington Post, set out to look at salesof milk, bread and toilet paper, or, as he called it, MBTP. These are the staple items that are said to be what people rush out to buy at stores before a snow storm hits.
MBTP are supposedly what everyone runs to the store for at the first sign of a flake or flurry. More than staple commodities, they are the supposed bench marks of the region's ability to "cope" with a few inches of snow. Look! gawp the TV weather people, zooming in on denuded supermarket shelves, as if a Dupont Circle supermarket had suddenly turned into a Soviet supply depot. It's not really snowing until someone reports a run on MBTP.
He checked with records of area Safeway grocery stores and found that, compared to December 5, 2004,
...milk and bread sales roughly doubled Monday at Safeway's 100 stores throughout the mid-Atlantic region...Those two products were among the chain's best sellers...Then again, so were bacon, scrapple and eggs...along with fruit, water, soda, infant formula, Kool-Aid and boneless chicken breasts.But toilet paper was not even amongst the top 50. Giant, another grocery chain, said that ice cream sold better than toilet paper. This is probably because, as the story noted and I can attest to, there is probably a more than adaquet supply of TP in the house. Trust me, when supplies get low and Cottonelle goes on sale, I'm all about it.
Gasoline should be added to that list. When our family lived in Illinois, we had to trek five miles into town to pick up milk, bread, fill the car and fill the can with kerosene for our portable heaters.
While State College PA gets its share of snow, the winters are nothing like what I experienced in Illinois and Iowa, people get into serious panic mode. As soon as the forecast says "Storm" the parking lots of all the grocery stores are filled and staple items make their way off the shelves faster than a kid asking his parents if he really, really has to shovel the driveway.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Harry Potter And His Millions
This weekend, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" took in $20.45 million. The domestic total thus far, is $229.8 million. The movie has brought in $560 million worldwide.
The current ticket prices helped, as did showing the movie on multiple screens. One local theatre boasted showings on the hour, every hour. I'm sure that will change as we move into this weekend with the release of "The Chronicles of Narnia," "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Syrianna."
King Kong will follow on the 14th. Steven Speilberg's "Munich" will have a limited release this month, no doubt to get in for the running for Oscars.
The current ticket prices helped, as did showing the movie on multiple screens. One local theatre boasted showings on the hour, every hour. I'm sure that will change as we move into this weekend with the release of "The Chronicles of Narnia," "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Syrianna."
King Kong will follow on the 14th. Steven Speilberg's "Munich" will have a limited release this month, no doubt to get in for the running for Oscars.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Good Xbox Hunting
My quest for an Xbox 360 continues although I think my search will slow down. The local Target got four in yesterday but shortly after their doors opened, they were sold out. If Hasbro tries to tell you that the latest Elmo doll is this season's hot toy, don't believe it.
On eBay, some guy was selling only the Xbox 360 box. That's right, someone bid $400 for the silly empty box.
After reading an online forum discussion where someone requested those lucky dogs who got an Xbox 360 to post the manufacture date on the back of their consoles, I'm convinced that Microsoft didn't necessarily artificially create a shortage. Owners posted dates anywhere between October 11, 2005 and November 17, 2005. The official US launch was November 22, 2005. So it seems the console went gold master very close to launch and production hasn't had a chance to really ramp up.
Then again, maybe I should be counting my blessings for not getting an Xbox 360 on November 22. I am leary of buying a product so soon into it's product life. All the manufacturing kinks still need to be worked out.
I think the launch has backfired for Microsoft. The Walmart here and some other stores have moved their Xbox 360 kiosks to the back of the store because they simply cannot get enough (or any) consoles to meet the demand. Receiving four in one week then nothing really doesn't help.
On eBay, some guy was selling only the Xbox 360 box. That's right, someone bid $400 for the silly empty box.
After reading an online forum discussion where someone requested those lucky dogs who got an Xbox 360 to post the manufacture date on the back of their consoles, I'm convinced that Microsoft didn't necessarily artificially create a shortage. Owners posted dates anywhere between October 11, 2005 and November 17, 2005. The official US launch was November 22, 2005. So it seems the console went gold master very close to launch and production hasn't had a chance to really ramp up.
Then again, maybe I should be counting my blessings for not getting an Xbox 360 on November 22. I am leary of buying a product so soon into it's product life. All the manufacturing kinks still need to be worked out.
I think the launch has backfired for Microsoft. The Walmart here and some other stores have moved their Xbox 360 kiosks to the back of the store because they simply cannot get enough (or any) consoles to meet the demand. Receiving four in one week then nothing really doesn't help.
Friday, November 25, 2005
Black Sunday Has Nothing On Black Friday
CNN.com, in a story about Wal-Mart claiming to have had 2 million shoppers in one hour on Friday November 25, 2005, definied Black Friday:
My definition is quite a bit different. It is the one day of the year that some normal everyday people turn into rude ugly monsters.
I went to Wal-Mart at 5am on a Black Friday once and swore I'd never do that again. This year I not only stood in line at Best Buy for their 5am opening in the 17°F temps (with gusty winds), I was standing in line with the hopes of scoring an elusive Xbox 360 videogame system.
There are rumors that Microsoft artificially created the acute shortage of units to increase the hype through March, when the Sony Playstation 3 gets released.
As we inched to the entrance, the guy behind me told us to look to our left, toward the parking lot, to see the people getting out of their cars and heading to the door too. Those folks figured to take advantage of how kind people are and squeeze in the door. I told everyone around us not to let them in. Yes, it wasn't a nice thing but my numb toes and fingers told me to not let the cheaters in. We all had been standing outside for over an hour, why should these folks make it in without enduring what we had?
And sure enough, there were people trying to cut in but there were about 10 of us who kind of deflected their attempts to squeeze in. One woman even went so far as to say "excuse me, I really need to get in." I told her she needed to get to the back of the line. Then she scoffed. She actually got mad that we wouldn't let her cut in line.
Once inside, I found that there weren't any Xbox 360s to be found. So as not to have my valiant efforts be all for naught, and to show I wasn't just shopping for myself, I checked off some of the items on my Christmas shopping list.
I also stopped by Circuit City, Target and Wal-Mart to see if I had a chance but no luck. The person working the electronics counter at Wal-Mart said, "We sold out of those Monday."
What kind of an answer is that? So I responded with a stupid question. "Wow, sold out? That was the last stock you'll be getting?"
She said more would come in stock and I should check back in every once in awhile. I guess it's fair to assume she didn't realize this is what I was doing since I don't shop there regularly (I'm a Target fan).
One Xbox related discussion forum member jokingly mentioned, after striking out on Black Friday as well, that he's looking forward to the [real] Xbox 360 launch. I think he has a point. I'm hearing of people having trouble with their Xbox 360s already so maybe when we get ours in January, February, March or June of 2006, we'll get the revised versions.
I'm now looking to order online since that seems to be the only way to reserve one. As much of a frequent customer as I am at Best Buy, I am not on the same level as basketball star Lebron James who bought 15 Xbox 360s with 15 sets of every available game and accessory. He had all this stuff loaded into his SUV in front of the line of people at the local Best Buy last Monday night waiting to buy an Xbox 360 of their own. He then drove off, then the doors opened for the pions and they all found there was a shortage of units for sale. Hmmm...
Lesson learned. Black Friday still sucks. Mean people suck.
The day after Thanksgiving is called "Black Friday" because it traditionally marks the period when retailers finally move out of the red and into the black, or profitability.
My definition is quite a bit different. It is the one day of the year that some normal everyday people turn into rude ugly monsters.
I went to Wal-Mart at 5am on a Black Friday once and swore I'd never do that again. This year I not only stood in line at Best Buy for their 5am opening in the 17°F temps (with gusty winds), I was standing in line with the hopes of scoring an elusive Xbox 360 videogame system.
There are rumors that Microsoft artificially created the acute shortage of units to increase the hype through March, when the Sony Playstation 3 gets released.
As we inched to the entrance, the guy behind me told us to look to our left, toward the parking lot, to see the people getting out of their cars and heading to the door too. Those folks figured to take advantage of how kind people are and squeeze in the door. I told everyone around us not to let them in. Yes, it wasn't a nice thing but my numb toes and fingers told me to not let the cheaters in. We all had been standing outside for over an hour, why should these folks make it in without enduring what we had?
And sure enough, there were people trying to cut in but there were about 10 of us who kind of deflected their attempts to squeeze in. One woman even went so far as to say "excuse me, I really need to get in." I told her she needed to get to the back of the line. Then she scoffed. She actually got mad that we wouldn't let her cut in line.
Once inside, I found that there weren't any Xbox 360s to be found. So as not to have my valiant efforts be all for naught, and to show I wasn't just shopping for myself, I checked off some of the items on my Christmas shopping list.
I also stopped by Circuit City, Target and Wal-Mart to see if I had a chance but no luck. The person working the electronics counter at Wal-Mart said, "We sold out of those Monday."
What kind of an answer is that? So I responded with a stupid question. "Wow, sold out? That was the last stock you'll be getting?"
She said more would come in stock and I should check back in every once in awhile. I guess it's fair to assume she didn't realize this is what I was doing since I don't shop there regularly (I'm a Target fan).
One Xbox related discussion forum member jokingly mentioned, after striking out on Black Friday as well, that he's looking forward to the [real] Xbox 360 launch. I think he has a point. I'm hearing of people having trouble with their Xbox 360s already so maybe when we get ours in January, February, March or June of 2006, we'll get the revised versions.
I'm now looking to order online since that seems to be the only way to reserve one. As much of a frequent customer as I am at Best Buy, I am not on the same level as basketball star Lebron James who bought 15 Xbox 360s with 15 sets of every available game and accessory. He had all this stuff loaded into his SUV in front of the line of people at the local Best Buy last Monday night waiting to buy an Xbox 360 of their own. He then drove off, then the doors opened for the pions and they all found there was a shortage of units for sale. Hmmm...
Lesson learned. Black Friday still sucks. Mean people suck.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
George Lucas was recently interviewed by the Hollywood Reporter in which he discussed the future of the movie industry. here is the most provocative part of the interview:
Good analogy and I think Lucas is right on target. Interestingly, the movie industry and television broadcast industry seem to be embracing the new technologies faster and more willingly than the stinky pots over at the RIAA.
THR: There are definitely some dynamics that are changing the economics of the business. What do you think of Mark Cuban's idea of releasing films simultaneously at home and in theaters?
Lucas: I think it'll happen -- it'll have to happen.
THR: Really? Because of the economics?
Lucas: Because of piracy. It's the only way you can stop piracy; there is no other way. You have to get a very, very aggressive enforcement program so that people do have consequences to stealing, but you also have to be able to offer it to them (in the home) for the same price they can get it on the street. It won't be DVDs -- DVDs aren't going to be around too much longer. If you can get it at home for $2, then why would you go on the street and get a bad version?
THR: What do you think will replace DVD?
Lucas: Pay-per-view.
THR: Something that streams in, not prerecorded media?
Lucas: It's the way kids do it today. It's how you do it on your iPod: They just download it. You pay 99 cents for music, and movies will be like two bucks. That will definitely change the economics of the business because (studios) are losing money now.
THR: Somebody was telling me that the studios' profit margins are only about 10%.
Lucas: I don't even think it's that: If you look at the (theatrical) divisions, I don't think they make any money. I don't think they've made money for five or six years.
THR: So it's basically a loss leader for DVD, television, etc.?
Lucas: Yup, all of the ancillary markets. For studios, the fact is that the theatrical film market is less than 10% of their business -- it's very, very small. I mean, you could chop that off in a second, and it wouldn't even bother them -- they're just doing it as a promotional thing.
THR: Do you think the industry will survive that way?
Lucas: I don't think the theatrical exhibition business will go away because I think people will always want to go to the movies, just as they go to the opera, they go to the ballet, and they go to football games. Football is a perfect example, where you can stay at home and watch it in the comfort of your own home and see a much better presentation, but people still sit out in the cold and cheer on (their teams) ... and you can't see anything because it's all distant. And now they have giant screens so you can watch it on television right there -- but they still fill up 100,000-seat (stadiums). We'll end up with fewer theaters with bigger screens and better presentations, and the theater owners will work very hard to make the whole thing an event.
Good analogy and I think Lucas is right on target. Interestingly, the movie industry and television broadcast industry seem to be embracing the new technologies faster and more willingly than the stinky pots over at the RIAA.
Friday, November 18, 2005
What's In Your Widget Folder?
I like the Dashboard in Apple's Mac OS X 10.4. What I don't like is how much screen real estate some of those widgets use. Unfortunately, Windows users don't know what I'm talking about since Dashboard is not Windows compatible. Check out Konfabulator. This program is similar to Dashboard and works with both Mac and Windows.
Both Dashboard and Konfabulator make use of widgets, tiny applications that do one or two things and those one or two things well.
The showcase widgets for both applications are the ones for showing you the weather. You can also get widgets that will update you on sports scores, play Asteroids or Frogger, show current gasoline prices in your area, et cetera.
Another difference beetween Dashboard and Konfabulator is how much space the widgets use. The folks who build widgets for Konfabulator get it. Their widgets don't take up as much needless space as Dashboard widgets.
Still, check out both Dashboard and Konfabulator. There are some great and fun widgets.
Both Dashboard and Konfabulator make use of widgets, tiny applications that do one or two things and those one or two things well.
The showcase widgets for both applications are the ones for showing you the weather. You can also get widgets that will update you on sports scores, play Asteroids or Frogger, show current gasoline prices in your area, et cetera.
Another difference beetween Dashboard and Konfabulator is how much space the widgets use. The folks who build widgets for Konfabulator get it. Their widgets don't take up as much needless space as Dashboard widgets.
Still, check out both Dashboard and Konfabulator. There are some great and fun widgets.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Food Thoughts
Next Thursday is Thanksgiving here in the US and thoughts turn to food. Kinda helps that I am writing this while eating lunch.
- KFC is preparing advertising to focus on the Avian Influenza just in case of a widespread outbreak in America. The company said it does not import poultry from affected countries. There are something like 1500 KFC locations in China. Personally, I don't care what sort of advertising they come up with, if the bird flu hits here, that's just the perfect excuse to focus on steak. Doh! Mad Cow...can't win for nothing.
- Snapple has come out with pie flavored beverages. Just in time for the holidays and only for the holidays. They say you can really taste the apple pie, crust and all. Serve cold or hot.
- Want truly conversational food? Get some Marmite or Vegemite and have some blind taste tests. Trust me, commentary will be guaranteed
- KFC is preparing advertising to focus on the Avian Influenza just in case of a widespread outbreak in America. The company said it does not import poultry from affected countries. There are something like 1500 KFC locations in China. Personally, I don't care what sort of advertising they come up with, if the bird flu hits here, that's just the perfect excuse to focus on steak. Doh! Mad Cow...can't win for nothing.
- Snapple has come out with pie flavored beverages. Just in time for the holidays and only for the holidays. They say you can really taste the apple pie, crust and all. Serve cold or hot.
- Want truly conversational food? Get some Marmite or Vegemite and have some blind taste tests. Trust me, commentary will be guaranteed
Love Hate Foods
A recent slashfood.com article discussed what foods you like in one form but really dislike in another form. Here's my list:
My list probably gets more bizarre as we go on.
- Love tomatos in pizza, salsa, tomato sauce but hate it elsewhere.
- Love French Fries, boiled potatos, hash browns and baked potatos but not a huge fan of mashed potatos.
- Love corn bread and corn chips, hate corn
- Love chili hate beans
- Love spinach and arugula salad hate cooked greens
- Hot tea is OK occasionally hate hot coffee but love ice tea and the occasional ice coffee
My list probably gets more bizarre as we go on.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Sitting On The Beat
What's great about iTunes is the ability to create playlists and we all love playlists, known back in the day as a mix tape. The movie, "High Fidelity" centers around playlists/mix tapes.
What's cool about the iTunes Music Store are the celebrity playlists. It's always intriguing to read what sort of a playlist whatever celebrity would create and why each song was chosen.
I just finished reading the playlist created by Jeff Daniels, the actor. I learned that Daniels is a definite Blues fan and his description for each song is amazing. Here's what he said for inclusion of "Bring Your Fine Self Home" by Albert Collins:
Here's my current playlist with very short notes:
What's cool about the iTunes Music Store are the celebrity playlists. It's always intriguing to read what sort of a playlist whatever celebrity would create and why each song was chosen.
I just finished reading the playlist created by Jeff Daniels, the actor. I learned that Daniels is a definite Blues fan and his description for each song is amazing. Here's what he said for inclusion of "Bring Your Fine Self Home" by Albert Collins:
One of my favorite blues songs. The passion behind the lyric, the build to the music and the story of the song all want Albert to take off, but he sits on the beat which only makes the song that much stronger.His other explanations are just as descriptive and telling. Great stuff. There are 187 celebrity playlists out there at the iTunes Music Store. Check 'em out.
Here's my current playlist with very short notes:
- Come To Jesus - Mindy Smith: I love the lyrics and it helps that her voice works well with them.
- Loving In My Baby's Eyes - Shannon McNally: Her version of this Taj Mahal song is probably the best out there. Great jam.
- Things We Said Today - The Beatles: After all the years of listening to The Beatles, it comes back to this song. I read a musician's analysis of this song and am amazed at the actual complexity of the tune. This just might be the best example of the Lennon/McCartney collaborations.
- Hard Times - Eastmountainsouth: What a shame this group broke up.
- Drop Thumb Medley - Steve Martin: Comedian, actor, author and the one thing Steve Martin really really enjoys is the banjo. This shows he clearly is no slouch.
- Desire - Ryan Adams: I first heard this on "The West Wing." Ryan Adams is becoming a favorite of mine even though I'm not a huge fan of Country music. Proves that I can be attracted to a song despite it's genre.
- Just A Kid - Wilco: First heard on XM Radio. Thanks to XM, I am hearing stuff by Wilco and Beck.
- Stolen Car - Patty Griffin: Great take on a Bruce Springsteen tune. She obviously heard what The Boss was trying to do on "Nebraska" and made it her own.
- I Want You To Want Me - Letters to Cleo: Best cover of a Cheap Trick tune ever. Great song and I'm sure it's a blast to stand up on stage and play this tune.
Normally, I am very good at figuring out remote control buttons and adapting to finding them without having to look at the remote, my Adelphia DVR's remote is not Roger-friendly. The number buttons are too small and too close to each other.
I've been looking for some sort of replacement and the Harmony remotes from Logitech look cool enough. The remote can be connected to your computer so you can download configuration files that allow the remote to work with an ever changing list of audio/video products. Logitech is even selling one that will work with the new Xbox 360 gaming console.
My only problem is that at $200-$300, you really have to take care of the remote. And we all know how abused remote controls are. As meticulous as I am with my Palm TX or Apple iPod, my remote controls get fairly abused.
I've been looking for some sort of replacement and the Harmony remotes from Logitech look cool enough. The remote can be connected to your computer so you can download configuration files that allow the remote to work with an ever changing list of audio/video products. Logitech is even selling one that will work with the new Xbox 360 gaming console.
My only problem is that at $200-$300, you really have to take care of the remote. And we all know how abused remote controls are. As meticulous as I am with my Palm TX or Apple iPod, my remote controls get fairly abused.
Black Friday Cometh
Beyond the first aisle, there be dragons.
That's borrowed from the quote on a plaque sold in a mail order catalog ("Beyond this place, there be dragons.") but it's pretty much a good observation of the people inside WalMart on the Friday after Thanksgiving, known as "Black Friday," the busiest shopping day of the year.
I did the early morning Black Friday thing once...once! I've sworn myself to never do that again. People are downright nasty on Black Friday.
So, if you are going to do battle with other shoppers on Black Friday, you can either take the Capital One barbarians with you or heed the tips at dollarhacker.com on how to survive Black Friday. Better than my suggestion of carrying a nice Glock 9mm semi-automatic with a couple of clips. Probably illegal in most states, definitely in San Francisco.
Two tips at the end of the list are important. Don't bring the kids. It will be crowded, lots of people running around and generally unpleasant for them. Also, be kind and flexible with the store staff. It's rough for them too and they are going to be dealing with a lot of nonsense. A smile goes a long way.
By the way, I just learned that quote, "Beyond this place there be dragons" was written at the ends of maps 500 or so years ago.
That's borrowed from the quote on a plaque sold in a mail order catalog ("Beyond this place, there be dragons.") but it's pretty much a good observation of the people inside WalMart on the Friday after Thanksgiving, known as "Black Friday," the busiest shopping day of the year.
I did the early morning Black Friday thing once...once! I've sworn myself to never do that again. People are downright nasty on Black Friday.
So, if you are going to do battle with other shoppers on Black Friday, you can either take the Capital One barbarians with you or heed the tips at dollarhacker.com on how to survive Black Friday. Better than my suggestion of carrying a nice Glock 9mm semi-automatic with a couple of clips. Probably illegal in most states, definitely in San Francisco.
Two tips at the end of the list are important. Don't bring the kids. It will be crowded, lots of people running around and generally unpleasant for them. Also, be kind and flexible with the store staff. It's rough for them too and they are going to be dealing with a lot of nonsense. A smile goes a long way.
By the way, I just learned that quote, "Beyond this place there be dragons" was written at the ends of maps 500 or so years ago.
Know Your Name Elmo Hacked
Knows Your Name Elmo is the latest itteration of the Elmo doll released just in time for Christmas shopping. According to Endgadget.com, "Knows Your Name Elmo" is
Indeed, the first how-tos for helping those hackers has been posted.
Hmmm...so Elmo knows your kid's name, bedtime, birthday...maybe it should be renamed as Stalker Elmo.
a version of the furry red Sesame Street character that comes complete with a CD full of software and his very own USB cable. Program the $40 toy (which also comes in a Winnie the Pooh version) on your PC and it will sing, tell stories and remind your kid to eat his breakfast, all using the tyke’s own name (and just to make sure Madison and Jaxon are covered, there’s a database of 15,000 names available). We always thought that’s what parents were for, but it looks like the marketers at Fisher-Price know better, since they’re hoping to sell out of these this holiday season. We can only hope that at least a few will be bought by hackers, who will show us what Elmo and Pooh are really capable of.
Indeed, the first how-tos for helping those hackers has been posted.
Hmmm...so Elmo knows your kid's name, bedtime, birthday...maybe it should be renamed as Stalker Elmo.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Sorry Martha But You're Fired
Sorry Martha, but your show just isn't working for us.
NBC said it will not order another season of the Martha Stewart version of "The Apprentice."
NBC: Martha, what do you think went wrong?
Martha: My show is a good thing because it features Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and...
NBC: So you're saying that's the problem? Answer my question.
Martha: It's Koppelman and his stupid cigar.
NBC: But you run the show, aren't you ultimately responsible?
Martha: I did my part. It's the other people. The house arrest didn't help and...
NBC:(chuckles) No, it didn't...
Martha: But Martha Stewart is a strong brand!
NBC: The ratings say otherwise.
Martha: What other executive can you get to replace me that has stronger recognition with the general public?
NBC: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Ken Lay
Martha: But I run MSLO!
NBC: I think we've heard enough, Martha, I'm sorry but you just don't fit in. Thank you.
NBC said it will not order another season of the Martha Stewart version of "The Apprentice."
NBC: Martha, what do you think went wrong?
Martha: My show is a good thing because it features Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and...
NBC: So you're saying that's the problem? Answer my question.
Martha: It's Koppelman and his stupid cigar.
NBC: But you run the show, aren't you ultimately responsible?
Martha: I did my part. It's the other people. The house arrest didn't help and...
NBC:(chuckles) No, it didn't...
Martha: But Martha Stewart is a strong brand!
NBC: The ratings say otherwise.
Martha: What other executive can you get to replace me that has stronger recognition with the general public?
NBC: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Ken Lay
Martha: But I run MSLO!
NBC: I think we've heard enough, Martha, I'm sorry but you just don't fit in. Thank you.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
The. Best. Christmas. Tree. Ever
Urban Outfitters has a replica "Charlie Brown Pathetic Christmas Tree."
Original
Replica
Order your's today!
Original
Replica
Order your's today!
Bottled Holidays 2005 Vintage
The Winter holidays are coming and several beer makers are coming out with their annual holiday batches. Not to be left out...errr...in the cold, Jones Soda has also has a special gift pack of unique flavored soda for the holidays
I first saw this at Target and took a double-take at the flavors and I'm sure you will too when you read further. The flavors? The nationally available package includes Brussels Sprout with Prosciutto, Cranberry Sauce, Turkey & Gravy, Wild Herb Stuffing, and Pumpkin Pie. The regionally available version (look at the Jones Soda website for details) has Broccoli Casserole, Smoked Salmon Paté , Turkey & Gravy, Corn on the Cob, and Pecan Pie.
Yummy.
Actually, I'm sure that instead of "yummy" the first word you thought of was "Why?" According to their website, "In an effort to provide more support for children’s charities, Jones launched two different holiday packs benefiting St. Jude’s Children’s Research Center and Toys for Tots, with the goal of raising $100,000 and $50,000, respectively.
J. Scott Wilson at WTAE in Pittsburgh did his own taste test. The best flavor he tasted? Cranberry.
If you want to try these sodas, hurry down to the stores. Wilson reported that his local Target is sold out and Jones said that once they are gone, they are gone. Maybe this will be the "It" item on eBay?
I first saw this at Target and took a double-take at the flavors and I'm sure you will too when you read further. The flavors? The nationally available package includes Brussels Sprout with Prosciutto, Cranberry Sauce, Turkey & Gravy, Wild Herb Stuffing, and Pumpkin Pie. The regionally available version (look at the Jones Soda website for details) has Broccoli Casserole, Smoked Salmon Paté , Turkey & Gravy, Corn on the Cob, and Pecan Pie.
Yummy.
Actually, I'm sure that instead of "yummy" the first word you thought of was "Why?" According to their website, "In an effort to provide more support for children’s charities, Jones launched two different holiday packs benefiting St. Jude’s Children’s Research Center and Toys for Tots, with the goal of raising $100,000 and $50,000, respectively.
J. Scott Wilson at WTAE in Pittsburgh did his own taste test. The best flavor he tasted? Cranberry.
If you want to try these sodas, hurry down to the stores. Wilson reported that his local Target is sold out and Jones said that once they are gone, they are gone. Maybe this will be the "It" item on eBay?
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Semper Fidelis for 230 Years
The United States Marine Corp was founded on this date in 1775. Hoo-rah! 230 years old.
I just finished reading Jeff Shaara's book on the Great War, "To The Last Man," which focussed in part on Marines who fought on the Western Front. Through that book, because of a particular quote, I read more information on one of the most legendary Marines, Sergeant Major Daniel Daly.
During the Battle of Belleau Wood, one of the American Expeditionary Force's first actions during WWI, Daly and his men found themselves surrounded by Germans. Outgunned and outflanked, Daly figured the best way to save their butts was to order an assault, not unlike Joshua Chamberlain at Gettysburg.
Daly moved ahead and inspired his men to move forward wth him by yelling, "Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?" Daly and the other soldiers defeated the Germans and captured the town of Lucy le Bocage.
For his actions, Daly was awarded the Navy Cross. This was on top of the two Medals of Honor he received in the Boxer Rebellion and in Haiti. He probably should have received a third Medal of Honor for this action.
With the help of folks like Dan Daly, the Marine Corp will live forever.
Happy Birthday to the Corp! Hoo-rah!
I just finished reading Jeff Shaara's book on the Great War, "To The Last Man," which focussed in part on Marines who fought on the Western Front. Through that book, because of a particular quote, I read more information on one of the most legendary Marines, Sergeant Major Daniel Daly.
During the Battle of Belleau Wood, one of the American Expeditionary Force's first actions during WWI, Daly and his men found themselves surrounded by Germans. Outgunned and outflanked, Daly figured the best way to save their butts was to order an assault, not unlike Joshua Chamberlain at Gettysburg.
Daly moved ahead and inspired his men to move forward wth him by yelling, "Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?" Daly and the other soldiers defeated the Germans and captured the town of Lucy le Bocage.
For his actions, Daly was awarded the Navy Cross. This was on top of the two Medals of Honor he received in the Boxer Rebellion and in Haiti. He probably should have received a third Medal of Honor for this action.
With the help of folks like Dan Daly, the Marine Corp will live forever.
Happy Birthday to the Corp! Hoo-rah!
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Harry Potter Notes
Here are some FYI kinda things regarding the latest Harry Potter movie that will storm the country next weekend.
- It's rated PG-13. Not because of really scary stuff but because of some kissing. Yes, the kids are hitting puberty. New reports are saying it's because of some scary scenes. We'll find out on the 18th.
- 2.5 hours. That's how long the movie is. Be sure to sit at the end of the aisle for a fast bathroom break so as not to miss much.
- I'm definitely not going to the midnight showing. I also might avoid opening weekend unless my nieces and one nephew try to twist my arm. I want to see it but hate crowds (not a phobia). Maybe I could say they shouldn't be seeing any on-screen snogging yet.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Shack Attack
Radio Shack is now an authorized Apple reseller. Their stores will be stocking iPods in addition to the iPod accessories they already sell.
Hopefully, this also means they will be stocking Macs as well.
The one thing that can be said for Radio Shack is that unlike other electronics stores, the stuff they have on display are turned on and operational.
I went to Circuit City the other day to look at Palm PDAs and Windows Mobile PDAs. They had five on display. None were working (needed recharging) and the sales rep had no clue as to how to answer my question. Best Buy was no better.
I really, really, really wish we'd get a CompUSA here. There's no doubt they'd do well. The State College PA WalMart, in the North Atherton Mall, according to a manager I spoke with, is the most successful branch at the start of school. Probably because that Wal-Mart is Back To School central for many of the outlying towns in the area.
Since Lowe's is moving from their one location to a new one a quarter mile down the road, there's already a big-box store sized building waiting.
Hopefully, this also means they will be stocking Macs as well.
The one thing that can be said for Radio Shack is that unlike other electronics stores, the stuff they have on display are turned on and operational.
I went to Circuit City the other day to look at Palm PDAs and Windows Mobile PDAs. They had five on display. None were working (needed recharging) and the sales rep had no clue as to how to answer my question. Best Buy was no better.
I really, really, really wish we'd get a CompUSA here. There's no doubt they'd do well. The State College PA WalMart, in the North Atherton Mall, according to a manager I spoke with, is the most successful branch at the start of school. Probably because that Wal-Mart is Back To School central for many of the outlying towns in the area.
Since Lowe's is moving from their one location to a new one a quarter mile down the road, there's already a big-box store sized building waiting.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Butter Bust!
Sometimes, you just can't make this up. This from the Montreal Gazette.
As one outsidethebeltway.com reader noted, "They didn’t take into account the street value after the margarine was cut with jelly."
So while Canadian law enforcement officers were chasing down and handcuffing margarine, other more serious crimes were not be tended to.
Agriculture Department inspectors swooped down on four Wal-Mart stores in the Quebec City area yesterday and seized 72 plastic tubs of yellow Becel margarine with an estimated street value of $179.28.The best part of the story was this,
The margarine is butter yellow, which makes it illegal for sale in Quebec.
The measure is intended to protect the province's 3,000 dairy producers.
On Thursday, Maxime Arseneau, agriculture critic for the Parti Quebecois, tabled a margarine tub in the National Assembly and charged that Unilever Canada Inc., which makes Becel, and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Canada were conspiring to bring yellow margarine into the province.Honestly, if I was a reporter there, I would probably have died laughing.
"This is serious," Arseneau chided reporters who found the situation humorous.
As one outsidethebeltway.com reader noted, "They didn’t take into account the street value after the margarine was cut with jelly."
So while Canadian law enforcement officers were chasing down and handcuffing margarine, other more serious crimes were not be tended to.
Movie Mumblings
Videogames and comic book heros rarely make for good movies. Exceptions have been Batman (Batman Begins definitely, others depends on which one), Spiderman, Superman (once you work with the idea that eyeglasses really do keep Clark Kent's identity secret). Super Mario Brothers, no. Doom could have been good. Tomb Raider? So-so.
Halo, the beyond popular videogame for the Xbox is being made into a movie. According to one guy who allegedly got a hold of the alleged script said it is excellent, and he doesn't play videogames.
Another sure sign this movie will do well is that Peter Jackson is producing. Speaking of Peter Jackson, his schedule is pretty much carved in stone for awhile. He is releasing King Kong in December, Halo is due in 2007, as is The Lovely Bones, based on the bestselling book.
I've read The Lovely Bones and figured it would be made into a movie. This should be a welcome break from all the special effects laden Lord of the Rings, King Kong and Halo. Maybe returnig to the style he used for "Heavenly Creatures."
Yet another comic book hero coming to the big screen. Marvel Comics' Nick Fury. Who is rumored to portray the action hero? Will Smith (Independence Day, Hitch).
Back in the day, I only read one or two Nick Fury comics but maybe Samuel L. Jackson, Laurence Fishburne would be better. Actually, I like the one suggestion at Cinematical.com, George Clooney. I wouldn't be surprised if his hairstyle was inspired by reading Nick Fury comics.
Halo, the beyond popular videogame for the Xbox is being made into a movie. According to one guy who allegedly got a hold of the alleged script said it is excellent, and he doesn't play videogames.
Another sure sign this movie will do well is that Peter Jackson is producing. Speaking of Peter Jackson, his schedule is pretty much carved in stone for awhile. He is releasing King Kong in December, Halo is due in 2007, as is The Lovely Bones, based on the bestselling book.
I've read The Lovely Bones and figured it would be made into a movie. This should be a welcome break from all the special effects laden Lord of the Rings, King Kong and Halo. Maybe returnig to the style he used for "Heavenly Creatures."
Yet another comic book hero coming to the big screen. Marvel Comics' Nick Fury. Who is rumored to portray the action hero? Will Smith (Independence Day, Hitch).
Back in the day, I only read one or two Nick Fury comics but maybe Samuel L. Jackson, Laurence Fishburne would be better. Actually, I like the one suggestion at Cinematical.com, George Clooney. I wouldn't be surprised if his hairstyle was inspired by reading Nick Fury comics.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Chicken Cam
Koen Bogaert in Belgium has set up a webcam featuring his two chickens, Thelma and Louise. Why? Originally he just wanted to set up the webcam and see what happened. Then the whole Bird Flu thing started up and well, it really went from there.
"Since Europe is under the threat of the bird flu, Thelma & Louise became the symbol of the fight against the forced quarantine and massacre of domestic birds," he writes. "Newspapers, radio, and television are all bringing Thelma & Louise into the picture, and thousands of visitors are watching these funky chicks daily."
Burrito Wars
I can understand two guys fighting over a girl at a bar, a fight between neighbors over a dog that barks way too much but a fight over a burrito?
Are 7-11 burritos that good?
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating an early-morning fight that supposedly started over a burrito.As Outsidethebeltway.com observed: "If she released the hounds, I have to imagine it was carne asada and not just bean & cheese..."
Police said a man inside the store didn't have enough money to pay for his burrito and left the store to get more. While he was outside, another of the store's patrons decided to buy that burrito.
News4 talked to that patron, who didn't want to be identified. He said when the man came back into the store, he became livid that someone had bought his burrito and the fight escalated from there.
Police said the fight then spilled outside the store and at some point, the girlfriend of the original purchaser opened a car door and released a 75- to 80-pound pit bull, which bit three men, including an innocent bystander. SOURCE
Are 7-11 burritos that good?
The Death Star's Inner Workings
Imagine you're at the party and someone poses the question: "Hey, really, how does the Star Wars Deathstar work?" Well, howstuffworks.com has come to the rescue with their take on an answer to that question.
Personally, the most enlightening thing I've heard about Star Wars or Star Trek was when someone mentioned observing how you can tell where a particular episode was in the Star Trek season. Just watch Captain Kirk's belly. At the start of the season, William Shatner would be somewhat svelte. Toward the end of the season, the beer gut was starting. I suppose that catering truck on the production lot was just a little too tempting.
Personally, the most enlightening thing I've heard about Star Wars or Star Trek was when someone mentioned observing how you can tell where a particular episode was in the Star Trek season. Just watch Captain Kirk's belly. At the start of the season, William Shatner would be somewhat svelte. Toward the end of the season, the beer gut was starting. I suppose that catering truck on the production lot was just a little too tempting.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
The WiFi Sweet Spot
Looking for a legal free wireless internet (WiFi) connection for your laptop, Smartphone or wireless enabled PDA? Wi-Fi-FreeSpot can help.
All the locations here in town are listed.
All the locations here in town are listed.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Mother Of All Mountain Dew
As far as soda goes (no, I don't call it "pop"), I'm a Coca Cola fan. In second place is Mountain Dew and that's because we had a Pepsi vending machine in our high school. It was a toss up between getting soda between classes or using the quarters to play Asteroids at the grocery store after school let out. The caffeine really helped my friends and I survive our classes after Noon. To me, Caffeine-Free Mountain Dew is sort of sacrilege.
Mountain Dew as been around nationally since the year I was born. (Wikipedia.com is a great source of information).
And now, the mother of all Mountain Dew flavors will be unleashed this month. Mountain Dew MDX. It is being billed as an energy soda, a hybrid of Mountain Dew and an energy drink like Red Bull, but tasting a whole lot better. Oh yeah, and there's more caffeine.
In other words, this may be the jet fuel I need some mornings since I don't drink coffee. Recently though, I've tried Energy Orange from Jones Soda Co. but it doesn't do anything for me.
Mountain Dew as been around nationally since the year I was born. (Wikipedia.com is a great source of information).
And now, the mother of all Mountain Dew flavors will be unleashed this month. Mountain Dew MDX. It is being billed as an energy soda, a hybrid of Mountain Dew and an energy drink like Red Bull, but tasting a whole lot better. Oh yeah, and there's more caffeine.
In other words, this may be the jet fuel I need some mornings since I don't drink coffee. Recently though, I've tried Energy Orange from Jones Soda Co. but it doesn't do anything for me.
Banned in Connecticut!
Slashfood.com reported that Seriously Bad Elf Ale has been banned in Connecticut!
According to the website for the Seriously Bad Elf Ale importers, Shelton Brothers,
Then there's Very Bad Elf Ale. It's a darker, bolder ale.
Bad elf! Bad! Go sit on the time-out chair!
According to the website for the Seriously Bad Elf Ale importers, Shelton Brothers,
Connecticut regulations prohibit the use of images of Santa Claus, children or children's toys, the Easter Bunny, and even dear old Mom, on beer labels because they could appeal to youngsters, who, in Connecticut, it seems, routinely cruise the aisles of their local liquor store for appealing packaging. These fiendishly precocious children then purchase the products, or convince their unsuspecting parents to purchase them and leave them unattended.Yep, some Connecticut lawmakers actually got paid for pushing this silly legislation through. I guess the current laws against underaged drinking weren't discouraging the kids or the people buying the kids beer. Maybe they should do some public service announcements announcing that if your kids drink Seriously Bad Elf Ale, they'll end up on Santa's Seriously Bad Kids list.
The wayward youths, investigators believe, then spirit the bottles to their rooms for consumption, typically ignoring the brewers' recommendations for proper serving temperature, glassware, and food pairings.
Then there's Very Bad Elf Ale. It's a darker, bolder ale.
Bad elf! Bad! Go sit on the time-out chair!
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Lock Down The Wireless
I've been tinkering with wireless connectivity on a new Palm TX and a loaner Siemens SX66 Windows Mobile 2003 PDA.
I've found the PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) functions work just fine on the SX66 without having the cell phone (Cingular) portion turned on. This is fine because the SX66 is a loaner from Cingular to my friend.
I provide computer support for the dean in the College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State. He purchased a Treo 650 PDA cell phone with the idea that he could leave his laptop behind while traveling. The Treo uses the Palm OS and I've been working with Palm PDAs pretty much since 1996. Even so, the Treo 650 is a slightly different beast and we ran into some major issues with it, mainly that our network calendar would not synchronize between the Mac and the Treo.
Before I found a solution for the Treo 650, I started looking at how well a Windows Mobile PDA can connect with a Mac and borrowed the SX66. This then led into looking at wireless connectivity, as opposed to a cell phone connection to the internet and then an evaluation of the new Palm TX with built-in wireless support.
Both PDAs offer built-in 802.11b wireless internet connectivity. The faster wireless protocols would be nice but a battery drain. The coolness with a wireless PDA is that things really open up in terms of personal computing.
Imagine driving around all day taking care of errands. For relief, you walk into the local Starbucks and load up on some espresso latte thingamajigger concoction (can you tell I don't drink coffee?) and sit down to enjoy whatever CD is spinning on the PA system. Just pull out the Palm or Pocket PC (as the hardware end of the Windows Mobile stuff is called), turn on WiFi and connect with Starbucks' wireless internet. From there, you can grab email, send a message to someone check college football BCS standings or log on to AOL Instant Messenger.
The world is your oyster.
Wireless internet is becoming more prevalent. Hotel lobbies have wireless internet in addition to Ethernet jacks in the rooms (kiss telephone access and worries goodbye!). McDonald's has wireless in some locations (buy a Big Mac, get access).
Locally, I can get free wireless internet access at Wegman's Grocery Store (they have a nice café, Denny's, the Honda dealership, Barnes & Noble and a couple other cafés.
I installed a program on the Palm TX called NetChaser. It is designed to continuously scan for wireless networks as one walks or drives down the road When it finds a network, it will log its name and information (the name and whether or not it is locked from anonymous log ons).
On the way home from the grocery store last night, I turned NetChaser on and drove the two or so miles to my house. As I drove through the neighborhood, NetChaser picked up well over 15 different wireless networks. To make matters worse, all but five or so of the listed networks allowed for anonymous connections.
This means I could stand outside someone's home and use their internet connection with my wireless Palm PDA, Windows Mobile PDA or laptop, gratis. Of course, this is very much against the law. The courts here in the United States pretty much treat that as illegal trespass and there have been convictions.
Aside from legality, we should all be working to keep the hackers and snoops out of home computer networks.
My own wireless setup is far more secure. I don't broadcast my network name (known as SSID), require a password to connect and only allow computers with certain IDs (known as MAC address) to connect to my network. All is not perfect though, I really need to get a new router that allows for a certain type of encrypted password.
So my advice to you, ensure your wireless network is locked down. Don't worry Mom and Dad, I definitely locked down your wireless router.
In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy a nice Saturday afternoon at Wegman's with some hot tea, a good book (currently reading "To the Last Man" by Jeff Shaara) and occasionally logging onto the internet to check email, without my PowerBook. The world is my oyster (I've said it before, this is a favorite saying these days).
I've found the PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) functions work just fine on the SX66 without having the cell phone (Cingular) portion turned on. This is fine because the SX66 is a loaner from Cingular to my friend.
I provide computer support for the dean in the College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State. He purchased a Treo 650 PDA cell phone with the idea that he could leave his laptop behind while traveling. The Treo uses the Palm OS and I've been working with Palm PDAs pretty much since 1996. Even so, the Treo 650 is a slightly different beast and we ran into some major issues with it, mainly that our network calendar would not synchronize between the Mac and the Treo.
Before I found a solution for the Treo 650, I started looking at how well a Windows Mobile PDA can connect with a Mac and borrowed the SX66. This then led into looking at wireless connectivity, as opposed to a cell phone connection to the internet and then an evaluation of the new Palm TX with built-in wireless support.
Both PDAs offer built-in 802.11b wireless internet connectivity. The faster wireless protocols would be nice but a battery drain. The coolness with a wireless PDA is that things really open up in terms of personal computing.
Imagine driving around all day taking care of errands. For relief, you walk into the local Starbucks and load up on some espresso latte thingamajigger concoction (can you tell I don't drink coffee?) and sit down to enjoy whatever CD is spinning on the PA system. Just pull out the Palm or Pocket PC (as the hardware end of the Windows Mobile stuff is called), turn on WiFi and connect with Starbucks' wireless internet. From there, you can grab email, send a message to someone check college football BCS standings or log on to AOL Instant Messenger.
The world is your oyster.
Wireless internet is becoming more prevalent. Hotel lobbies have wireless internet in addition to Ethernet jacks in the rooms (kiss telephone access and worries goodbye!). McDonald's has wireless in some locations (buy a Big Mac, get access).
Locally, I can get free wireless internet access at Wegman's Grocery Store (they have a nice café, Denny's, the Honda dealership, Barnes & Noble and a couple other cafés.
I installed a program on the Palm TX called NetChaser. It is designed to continuously scan for wireless networks as one walks or drives down the road When it finds a network, it will log its name and information (the name and whether or not it is locked from anonymous log ons).
On the way home from the grocery store last night, I turned NetChaser on and drove the two or so miles to my house. As I drove through the neighborhood, NetChaser picked up well over 15 different wireless networks. To make matters worse, all but five or so of the listed networks allowed for anonymous connections.
This means I could stand outside someone's home and use their internet connection with my wireless Palm PDA, Windows Mobile PDA or laptop, gratis. Of course, this is very much against the law. The courts here in the United States pretty much treat that as illegal trespass and there have been convictions.
Aside from legality, we should all be working to keep the hackers and snoops out of home computer networks.
My own wireless setup is far more secure. I don't broadcast my network name (known as SSID), require a password to connect and only allow computers with certain IDs (known as MAC address) to connect to my network. All is not perfect though, I really need to get a new router that allows for a certain type of encrypted password.
So my advice to you, ensure your wireless network is locked down. Don't worry Mom and Dad, I definitely locked down your wireless router.
In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy a nice Saturday afternoon at Wegman's with some hot tea, a good book (currently reading "To the Last Man" by Jeff Shaara) and occasionally logging onto the internet to check email, without my PowerBook. The world is my oyster (I've said it before, this is a favorite saying these days).
Battle, Not
Some senators and members of the press are predicting a huge battle over Judge Alito's nomintion to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court of the United States.
It hasn't happened yet and based on what some senators are saying in their press conferences, it looks like Alito will be on the Court.
News media sensationalism has really hit an all time high and the blame should go to the creation of 24/7/365 news channels. A small airplane wreck in a small town makes it to the nationally broadcast news these days. Gotta fill those 24 hours with something. Soon you'll see an in-depth investigative report on teenagers battling their principals over what they can wear to school.
"He like said like that you know I couldn't wear this cute tight short pants to school. It's like you know from like Abercrombie and like Fitch you know. Omigod I need to like channel with my homeys."
"Talking points: Godless children dressing like hookers in our schools and what we need to do about it!"
It hasn't happened yet and based on what some senators are saying in their press conferences, it looks like Alito will be on the Court.
News media sensationalism has really hit an all time high and the blame should go to the creation of 24/7/365 news channels. A small airplane wreck in a small town makes it to the nationally broadcast news these days. Gotta fill those 24 hours with something. Soon you'll see an in-depth investigative report on teenagers battling their principals over what they can wear to school.
"He like said like that you know I couldn't wear this cute tight short pants to school. It's like you know from like Abercrombie and like Fitch you know. Omigod I need to like channel with my homeys."
"Talking points: Godless children dressing like hookers in our schools and what we need to do about it!"
Penn State: Winning Ugly
Back in 1983, the Chicago White Sox were having a successful year but the stats really didn't show it. They were winning through "scrappy play" (that's how Wikipedia.com termed it). This scrappy play was explained as "Winning Ugly."
Winning ugly pretty much describes Penn State football's 8 wins and 1 loss thus far this season. One game, the defense will shut down the other team, maybe that game or another, the offense will really shine.
Michael Robinson, the first string quarterback, is dangerously inconsistant. I say this because they take on Wisconsin this Saturday in what may be the showdown for top of the heap in the Big Ten conference. He can execute the play but from there but his long throws don't always connect, his short tosses are OK and the running plays work well enough, especially when he's running the ball himself.
Penn State has the potential to win this last home game of the season but...but...
Winning ugly pretty much describes Penn State football's 8 wins and 1 loss thus far this season. One game, the defense will shut down the other team, maybe that game or another, the offense will really shine.
Michael Robinson, the first string quarterback, is dangerously inconsistant. I say this because they take on Wisconsin this Saturday in what may be the showdown for top of the heap in the Big Ten conference. He can execute the play but from there but his long throws don't always connect, his short tosses are OK and the running plays work well enough, especially when he's running the ball himself.
Penn State has the potential to win this last home game of the season but...but...
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Sox Sweep Series
It's been a long time since I've watched such a great World Series and the Chicago White Sox definitely earned the championship title. They played solid baseball, even during the wild Game 3 which went 14 innings with both the Sox and Houston Astros going through so many pitchers.
It wasn't luck, just consistant solid ball playing and teamwork, as well as management. To me, naming one person as MVP is really hard. The whole team is MVP
For me, one of the best moments was watching the broadcast from Jimbo's near Cominsky Park after the Sox won. Everyone was standing or sitting behind the reporter singing the chorus to Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye). Reminded me of Fall semesters at my alma mater, Illinois State University.
So the only team that still has a "curse" is the Chicago Cubs. I would say there's no such thing as a curse but for the Cubs? Probably.
It wasn't luck, just consistant solid ball playing and teamwork, as well as management. To me, naming one person as MVP is really hard. The whole team is MVP
For me, one of the best moments was watching the broadcast from Jimbo's near Cominsky Park after the Sox won. Everyone was standing or sitting behind the reporter singing the chorus to Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye). Reminded me of Fall semesters at my alma mater, Illinois State University.
So the only team that still has a "curse" is the Chicago Cubs. I would say there's no such thing as a curse but for the Cubs? Probably.
Na-na na-na-na na na na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye
Hey hey-hey, goodbye
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye [repeat many times and fade out]
Razors in Candy? A Myth!
Yahoo News has a story from LiveScience.com about those rumors we've heard from the dawn of time, or at least when the concept of Trick or Treating came about, regarding razor blades and other stuff being in candy or other types of tampering with Halloween candy. Bottom line, it's probably one of the strongest urban legends going out there.
It is the same deal every Halloween, kids dress up in outfits, walk through the neighborhood, knocking on doors and yelling "Trick or Treat!" when the person opens the door. The neighbor does the neighborly thing and comments on how scary the kids' costumes look and not say anything about knowing this or that kid set fire to his trash can the other night (confession time: my friend Gary did that in the 5th grade). The neighbor then puts candy in each kid's bag and they go off to scare another neighbor.
When the kids get home, parents inspect the candy for any sort of tampering, remembering their mothers reminders every Halloween about sick people in the world tampering with Halloween candy. Sometimes, parents will go to the hospital emergency room to have the candy X-Rayed.
Benjamin Radford, of the Skeptical Inquirer, reported that
It is the same deal every Halloween, kids dress up in outfits, walk through the neighborhood, knocking on doors and yelling "Trick or Treat!" when the person opens the door. The neighbor does the neighborly thing and comments on how scary the kids' costumes look and not say anything about knowing this or that kid set fire to his trash can the other night (confession time: my friend Gary did that in the 5th grade). The neighbor then puts candy in each kid's bag and they go off to scare another neighbor.
When the kids get home, parents inspect the candy for any sort of tampering, remembering their mothers reminders every Halloween about sick people in the world tampering with Halloween candy. Sometimes, parents will go to the hospital emergency room to have the candy X-Rayed.
Benjamin Radford, of the Skeptical Inquirer, reported that
Despite e-mail warnings, scary stories, and Ann Landers columns to the contrary, there have been only two confirmed cases of children being killed by poisoned Halloween candy, and in both cases the children were killed not in a random act by strangers but intentional murder by one of their parents. The best-known, "original" case was that of Texan Ronald Clark O'Bryan, who killed his son by lacing his Pixie Stix with cyanide in 1974.And what of the candy that the X-Ray machine deemed to be safe? It is now contaminated with a small amount of radiation. In effect, you tampered with your own candy.
There have been a few instances of candy tampering over the years—and in most cases the "victim" turned out to be the culprit, children doing it as a prank or to draw attention. With the exceptions noted above, no child has been killed or seriously harmed by contaminated Halloween candy.
X-raying candy helps parents feel like they are protecting their children, but in fact parents are simply wasting resources and feeding children's fears unnecessarily.If you have doubts about a piece of candy, just throw it out. The only thing that will come out of taking the candy to the hospital to be X-rayed or calling the police is that you will find out your HMO will not cover the cost and the cops will be taken away from real emergencies.
This is perhaps the saddest part about this myth: children are given the message that their neighbors might try to poison or hurt them. In fact, a child is in far more danger from his or her own parents than from strangers. Surely there are better uses for the X-ray equipment and film than battling a myth. Clinics would do more good offering free or low-cost X-rays to needy families than scanning candies.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
First Snow Of The Season
As I speak (10:50am) snow is falling and sticking. We didn't have a first frost or first snow flurry. Because of that, I am now officially not looking forward to Winter. The predictions of a cold and very white Winter may come true.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Bond, Batman and Jack
With all the recent news and PR surrounding Pierce Brosnan being dumped for a blonde...errr...the producers naming a new Bond, Cinematical has made a list of what they think are the best Bond flicks. I tend to agree but I'd omit any Roger Moore flavored movies. Simon Templer is not James Bond.
Oh, and by the way, there are lots of rumors about the next Christian Bale (Batman Begins) flavored Batman movie, notably, who will play The Joker? The best guess is Michael Keaton. he played Batman/Bruce Wayne in the first Tim Burton bat-flick. At first, I thought it was a wild pick but then it grew on me. Just look at Keaton in BeetleJuice, he could really play The Joker, and I'm not dissing Jack Nicholson's version at all.
Which, of course, reminds me of when I watched the Oscars one year when they gave a lifetime achievement award to Jack Nicholson. A montage of his movies was shown but instead of showing him as The Joker, they showed Batman. Nicholson just wouldn't let this go at the film's end saying something to the effect of "A movie about me and they show the G******ed Batman," on live TV. Of course, he was wearing that famous grin of his but noboby thought he was joking.
Jack rules.
Oh, and by the way, there are lots of rumors about the next Christian Bale (Batman Begins) flavored Batman movie, notably, who will play The Joker? The best guess is Michael Keaton. he played Batman/Bruce Wayne in the first Tim Burton bat-flick. At first, I thought it was a wild pick but then it grew on me. Just look at Keaton in BeetleJuice, he could really play The Joker, and I'm not dissing Jack Nicholson's version at all.
Which, of course, reminds me of when I watched the Oscars one year when they gave a lifetime achievement award to Jack Nicholson. A montage of his movies was shown but instead of showing him as The Joker, they showed Batman. Nicholson just wouldn't let this go at the film's end saying something to the effect of "A movie about me and they show the G******ed Batman," on live TV. Of course, he was wearing that famous grin of his but noboby thought he was joking.
Jack rules.
Mickey D's Quality Food But...
Sure, I'll agree with McDonald's press release about the high quality of their food but healthy is a different matter.
Mickey D's Quality Food But...
OK, I'll agree with McDonald's claims of their food offering high quality. But healthy? Ahhhh...
We're Getting There
We must be at some stage in technology when a guy notes in an online discussion that he has a PDA set to remote control his stereo and does so while he's in the bathroom.
There is a program, Salling Clicker, for the Mac that allows you to control it via a Bluetooth wireless enabled device, in this case a Palm Treo 650. The Mac can either have a really good speaker system or be connected to the home stereo (you can get very hi tech in this regard).
The next big step will be to have iPods Bluetooth enabled. Then hookup in cars will be simplified, as well as remote control of the iPod connected to the home stereo.
Still, remote control of the stereo via your PDA and computer. Yeah.
There is a program, Salling Clicker, for the Mac that allows you to control it via a Bluetooth wireless enabled device, in this case a Palm Treo 650. The Mac can either have a really good speaker system or be connected to the home stereo (you can get very hi tech in this regard).
The next big step will be to have iPods Bluetooth enabled. Then hookup in cars will be simplified, as well as remote control of the iPod connected to the home stereo.
Still, remote control of the stereo via your PDA and computer. Yeah.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Music Video Made on Apple II
Blair Witch Project and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow were done on Macs with all the latest, at the time, tools?
Pfffthhpth, forget that noise, Stewart Smith made a music video for Jed's Other Poem by Grandaddy using his 1979 vintage Apple II+ that has a whopping 48K of RAM. The video is actually pretty cool, check it out.
By the way, I know Bob Leonard, the father of the main Blair Witch actor, Joshua Leonard. Pretty interesting tales about how Josh got into the movie business.
Pfffthhpth, forget that noise, Stewart Smith made a music video for Jed's Other Poem by Grandaddy using his 1979 vintage Apple II+ that has a whopping 48K of RAM. The video is actually pretty cool, check it out.
By the way, I know Bob Leonard, the father of the main Blair Witch actor, Joshua Leonard. Pretty interesting tales about how Josh got into the movie business.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Cure For The Cold
Time to get ready for cold and flu season. Here's what I use as part of my cure by way of food:
I probably should get a box of Sudafed (made by Pfizer, the folks who brought us Viagra).
Sudafed/SudaCare has a product, Vapor-Plug, that works in the same manner as a plug-in scent dispenser. Instead of some sort of fragrance like Amazon Rain Forest, Clean Laundry or Bachelor Apartment (probably prohibited by the Geneva Convention), it emits a menthol smell.
Shower Soothers is similar but is a big tablet you have in the shower with you. A plug-in with electrical cord might present some safety issues and legal litigation Pfizer would probably want to avoid.
Wonder how the Vapor-Plug would affect my cats. The Shower Soothers could be a good idea but only in a shower before going to bed. I'd hate to walk around work smelling like a menthol cough drop. "Hey, nice aftershave!" "Gee, every time you walk into our office, our nasal passages clear up immediately."
But always, hot & sour soup is my cure. Dump in some Frank's Red Hot and your nasal passages will surely have smooth sailing afterward. Don't worry, Frank's is not as fiery hot (we're talking the original flavor here) as other sauces but is great for cooking. Try it as a baste on hamburgers or on scrambled eggs.
My only prayer though is that the bird flu pandemic predictions don't come true. It's been said that it's not a case of whether or not there will be a repeat of the 1918 pandemic but when.
- Gatorade - Orange and lemon-lime flavors work for me.
- Hot & Sour Soup - I haven't been able to find Knorr Hot & Sour. Great stuff.
- Coca Cola - You could substitute seltzer water but I like Coke to help clear out the throat congestion.
- Tea - Earl Grey or other black teas
- Ramen Noodles - At 25¢ a packet, hard to beat Chinese noodles to help provide a cure.
I probably should get a box of Sudafed (made by Pfizer, the folks who brought us Viagra).
Sudafed/SudaCare has a product, Vapor-Plug, that works in the same manner as a plug-in scent dispenser. Instead of some sort of fragrance like Amazon Rain Forest, Clean Laundry or Bachelor Apartment (probably prohibited by the Geneva Convention), it emits a menthol smell.
Shower Soothers is similar but is a big tablet you have in the shower with you. A plug-in with electrical cord might present some safety issues and legal litigation Pfizer would probably want to avoid.
Wonder how the Vapor-Plug would affect my cats. The Shower Soothers could be a good idea but only in a shower before going to bed. I'd hate to walk around work smelling like a menthol cough drop. "Hey, nice aftershave!" "Gee, every time you walk into our office, our nasal passages clear up immediately."
But always, hot & sour soup is my cure. Dump in some Frank's Red Hot and your nasal passages will surely have smooth sailing afterward. Don't worry, Frank's is not as fiery hot (we're talking the original flavor here) as other sauces but is great for cooking. Try it as a baste on hamburgers or on scrambled eggs.
My only prayer though is that the bird flu pandemic predictions don't come true. It's been said that it's not a case of whether or not there will be a repeat of the 1918 pandemic but when.
Richard Widmark Still Here
I just read a note at another blog that Richard Widmark is going to be awarded the career achievement award by the LA Film Critics Association. The biggest news is that Widmark is still very much alive. So why does the guy have to wait until he's 91 years-old and 74 movies later to get an achievement award? Just goes to show how underrated an actor he is. He should have gotten his due a long time ago.
Something Wicked This Way Hops
On Sunday, I saw Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
The movie took something like 5 years to make and it shows. So much detail for clay figures and small sets. The jokes are funny but I think what Marcella said at the end of the movie sums it up pretty well, "It was cute."
The movie took something like 5 years to make and it shows. So much detail for clay figures and small sets. The jokes are funny but I think what Marcella said at the end of the movie sums it up pretty well, "It was cute."
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
The RIAA...greedy?
While listening to XM Radio on the drive home from work, one DJ mentioned that the RIAA only allows three songs from an album to be played on services like XM Radio.
The RIAA is really doing their darndest to avoid new technology. Anybody like Apple or Microsoft have a rough and tumble time dealing with them. They don't like XM because of it's digital broadcast quality, the onslaught of some satellite radio receivers that can record a broadcast.
Now Slashdot is reporting the "RIAA may seek $1 billion plus in music rights fees for a new contract covering 2007 to 2012 to replace the current $80 million pact that expires in 2006."
The RIAA is a dinosaur that not only doesn't get it, they refuse to get it. They won't even buy the clue if you gave them $1 million. They' probably demand $100 Million and when you walk away, they won't get that money.
What I'm trying to say is that XM Radio, Sirius, iPods and iTunes Music Store are helping to sell tunes in ways the RIAA cannot.
The RIAA claimed that CD sales suffered because of illegal downloading but when they lowered CD prices, sales picked up.
They just don't get it.
The RIAA is really doing their darndest to avoid new technology. Anybody like Apple or Microsoft have a rough and tumble time dealing with them. They don't like XM because of it's digital broadcast quality, the onslaught of some satellite radio receivers that can record a broadcast.
Now Slashdot is reporting the "RIAA may seek $1 billion plus in music rights fees for a new contract covering 2007 to 2012 to replace the current $80 million pact that expires in 2006."
The RIAA is a dinosaur that not only doesn't get it, they refuse to get it. They won't even buy the clue if you gave them $1 million. They' probably demand $100 Million and when you walk away, they won't get that money.
What I'm trying to say is that XM Radio, Sirius, iPods and iTunes Music Store are helping to sell tunes in ways the RIAA cannot.
The RIAA claimed that CD sales suffered because of illegal downloading but when they lowered CD prices, sales picked up.
They just don't get it.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Folger's Coffee had a new tugging at the heart strings ad during Law & Order last night (an average, predicatable episode) in which they have various employees reading off cue cards and telling the world that well, our plant in New Orleans got hit but the hurricane and we are working to rebuild as fast as humanly possible. There's even a website with further info.
One little side note for all you eight cups a day addicts/drinkers, since about 50% of Folger's coffee comes from the New Orleans area expect the price of coffee to go up.
On a bright note though, Folger's said the New Orleans area employees still have jobs. Did you hear that Mayor Ray Nagin?
One little side note for all you eight cups a day addicts/drinkers, since about 50% of Folger's coffee comes from the New Orleans area expect the price of coffee to go up.
On a bright note though, Folger's said the New Orleans area employees still have jobs. Did you hear that Mayor Ray Nagin?
Monday, October 03, 2005
Cold Turkey
This past Sunday, there was an ad from a local grocery chain, Weis Markets, announcing that their free Thanksgiving Day turkey promotion is now under way. Just collect enough points after each purchase and you'll have a free bird.
This reminded me that I have a cold turkey still in my freezer from last year's promo. According to ochef.com:
I think this weekend will be good time to borrow Mom's roaster and get ready for a month of turkey sandwiches and turkey rice soup.
Weis says that if you spend $250 at their stores, you can get a free turkey. How about if I spend $20, I can get a turkey. Besides, Weis is the most expensive grocery store in town. They are even more expensive than Wegman's.
This reminded me that I have a cold turkey still in my freezer from last year's promo. According to ochef.com:
in terms of safety, frozen turkeys will keep indefinitely in the freezer. Quality is another matter, however, and is said to decline after about a year.
I think this weekend will be good time to borrow Mom's roaster and get ready for a month of turkey sandwiches and turkey rice soup.
Weis says that if you spend $250 at their stores, you can get a free turkey. How about if I spend $20, I can get a turkey. Besides, Weis is the most expensive grocery store in town. They are even more expensive than Wegman's.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Subway Maps On Your iPod
iPodsubwaymaps.com is sort of like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Many people who make use of subway systems have iPods. So why not have subway maps on your iPod? Tada! Website born!
iPodSubwayMaps.com has had some start up pains though. Both San Francisco and New York City have siced their lawyers on William Bright, the guy who started the website, sending cease and desist letters. NYC said he could use their maps so long as he obtains an annual license, $500
per year.
Maybe San Francisco and New York City should buy a clue from Washington D.C. They said Bright can use their maps for free. They should help Bright. Any way to increase usage of public transit systems should definitely be encouraged. And really, is San Francisco or NYC losing money by allowing people to download the maps for free?
In fact, I did a little bit of research about which subway has free maps online:
New York City MTA - Downloadable PDF
San Francisco BART - Downloadable PalmOS or PocketPC guide
Washington D.C. Metro - downloadable PDF
When I visited the nation's capitol about a year and a half ago, with my cousin Alsona and her husband Alan, we used the Metro to ride from Falls Church, VA into the city. I fell in love with the D.C. Metro line. Clean, easy to use and now I can have the map on my iPod without legal issues. Cool!
iPodSubwayMaps.com has had some start up pains though. Both San Francisco and New York City have siced their lawyers on William Bright, the guy who started the website, sending cease and desist letters. NYC said he could use their maps so long as he obtains an annual license, $500
per year.
Maybe San Francisco and New York City should buy a clue from Washington D.C. They said Bright can use their maps for free. They should help Bright. Any way to increase usage of public transit systems should definitely be encouraged. And really, is San Francisco or NYC losing money by allowing people to download the maps for free?
In fact, I did a little bit of research about which subway has free maps online:
New York City MTA - Downloadable PDF
San Francisco BART - Downloadable PalmOS or PocketPC guide
Washington D.C. Metro - downloadable PDF
When I visited the nation's capitol about a year and a half ago, with my cousin Alsona and her husband Alan, we used the Metro to ride from Falls Church, VA into the city. I fell in love with the D.C. Metro line. Clean, easy to use and now I can have the map on my iPod without legal issues. Cool!
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
The Monster...On Tour
Halloween is right around the corner and before you start thinking the photo here is Frankenstein's Monster, think again, it's really Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. And that, folks, is scary enough.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
The Rocker In Autumn
I just finished converting the new CDs by Neil Young and Sheryl Crow to my computer and viewing a couple of scenes from the DVDs included with both albums. I did the same for Paul McCartney's new album released few weeks back.
I'll have to agree with an Amazon.com user review of Neil Young's "Prairie Wind," too many reviewers are labeling this album as part of some sort of trilogy along with "After The Gold Rush" and "Harvest Moon." These reviewers forget about other similar albums in Neil's eclectic catalog.
Neil Young is sort of a rock and roll carmudgeon. When he did MTV Unplugged for example, he refused to submit a play list to the producers so they could figure out camera angles for each song. Instead, Neil laid out all the instruments on stage and would play whatever song he was in the mood to play. I've heard that's pretty much how he is in concert. Another time, during an interview, live, on MTV, the reporter made the mistake of calling Neil's music "classic rock." Neil let fly with a few colorful words and said he hasn't retired, he's still putting out fresh stuff.
Neil has always followed his own lead, or his own muse. Much to the irritation, at times, of record companies (he was famously sued by Geffen Records for being "uncreative"). So here, Neil once again takes a turn putting out a country/folk/rock album.
Prairie Wind certainly seems to be somethng of a Autumnal album. The songs have a retrospective, introspective, reflective, comfortable feel. I'm still listening to the album but "The Painter" and "This Old Guitar" are early favorites.
Neil Young is in his own class, it's very hard to put a label on him and I'm sure he'd be happy to hear that. "Prairie Wind" is a solid effort. The DVD edition features a making-of-the-album movie that shows a band that is comfortable with each other, which helps to make this album so solid.
I'll have to agree with an Amazon.com user review of Neil Young's "Prairie Wind," too many reviewers are labeling this album as part of some sort of trilogy along with "After The Gold Rush" and "Harvest Moon." These reviewers forget about other similar albums in Neil's eclectic catalog.
Neil Young is sort of a rock and roll carmudgeon. When he did MTV Unplugged for example, he refused to submit a play list to the producers so they could figure out camera angles for each song. Instead, Neil laid out all the instruments on stage and would play whatever song he was in the mood to play. I've heard that's pretty much how he is in concert. Another time, during an interview, live, on MTV, the reporter made the mistake of calling Neil's music "classic rock." Neil let fly with a few colorful words and said he hasn't retired, he's still putting out fresh stuff.
Neil has always followed his own lead, or his own muse. Much to the irritation, at times, of record companies (he was famously sued by Geffen Records for being "uncreative"). So here, Neil once again takes a turn putting out a country/folk/rock album.
Prairie Wind certainly seems to be somethng of a Autumnal album. The songs have a retrospective, introspective, reflective, comfortable feel. I'm still listening to the album but "The Painter" and "This Old Guitar" are early favorites.
Neil Young is in his own class, it's very hard to put a label on him and I'm sure he'd be happy to hear that. "Prairie Wind" is a solid effort. The DVD edition features a making-of-the-album movie that shows a band that is comfortable with each other, which helps to make this album so solid.
Monday, September 26, 2005
The Apprentice: Martha's Take
I saw part of the series opener for Martha Stewart's "The Apprentice" and the first thought was that her PR spin crew worked overtime with this series. At the start, we see Martha walking through the offices, saying hi and one employee running up to her to show off some layouts. So cute and Martha seems to be so nice and calm. Nothing like what we saw on the television movie that starred Cybil Shepard as Martha.
So we don't get to see Martha raging at the contestants, pity. Martha said the Shepard portrayal was a bunch of hooie but after reading about her temper and controlling nature, I'm sort of wont to believe the television movie wasn't too far from the truth. I've endured a manager who wanted to scream and cuss up a storm at employees, belittling them and telling them the company did that employee a favor by hiring them.
What we do get however is Martha's take on Donald Trump's "You're fired!" (and that little "cobra snap" of the hand when he said it). Her phrase is "You just don't fit in."
"You just don't fit in?" That's like when I was laid off at Gateway and the HR rep was trying to smooth my anger by saying "We didn't lay you off, just eliminated the job." That only made me angrier and I asked, "so I'm still on the payroll with my current salary?" "Well....I wouldn't say that."
Julie Hinds, at the Detroit Free Press, has a great article about how "You just don't fit in" is such a bad phrase. The best reason:
Hinds definitely hits the nail on the head with her last reason. Isn't it true that the ones who don't fit in are the ones that come up with innovative ideas? That's the whole idea behind Apple's Think Different ad campaign.
I'm sorry Martha but your flan is overcooked.
So we don't get to see Martha raging at the contestants, pity. Martha said the Shepard portrayal was a bunch of hooie but after reading about her temper and controlling nature, I'm sort of wont to believe the television movie wasn't too far from the truth. I've endured a manager who wanted to scream and cuss up a storm at employees, belittling them and telling them the company did that employee a favor by hiring them.
What we do get however is Martha's take on Donald Trump's "You're fired!" (and that little "cobra snap" of the hand when he said it). Her phrase is "You just don't fit in."
"You just don't fit in?" That's like when I was laid off at Gateway and the HR rep was trying to smooth my anger by saying "We didn't lay you off, just eliminated the job." That only made me angrier and I asked, "so I'm still on the payroll with my current salary?" "Well....I wouldn't say that."
Julie Hinds, at the Detroit Free Press, has a great article about how "You just don't fit in" is such a bad phrase. The best reason:
It's not delivered with panache. Trump's serpent-like flick of the wrist and his brusque delivery give his catch-phrase a campy charm. Stewart is still too icy on camera, her emotions as frozen as a Botoxed forehead. Maybe if she got angry and threw tiramisu at the departing players, it would perk things up.Throw tiramisu at the axed contestant? Can you imagine what that would do for ratings? Heck, secretly replace Martha with Cybil Shepard and definitely watch those ratings skyrocket. She can yell and be more intimidating that R. Lee Ermy. Then again, the scuttlebutt I've heard was that Cybil really didn't have to stretch to act as Martha.
Hinds definitely hits the nail on the head with her last reason. Isn't it true that the ones who don't fit in are the ones that come up with innovative ideas? That's the whole idea behind Apple's Think Different ad campaign.
I'm sorry Martha but your flan is overcooked.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Bond Confessions
I love the James Bond movies and love to talk up which actor has done the best job of playing Bond. Here's my list with the first being the best:
1. Sean Connery
2. George Lazenby
3. Pierce Brosnan
4. Timothy Dalton
5. Roger Moore
Picking a favorite Bond movie is tough, I just can't do it.
I've only read one of the Ian Fleming books, The Living Daylights. I've read several of the Bond books by John Gardner. I really should read more of the Ian Fleming books, especially From Russia With Love. It is said that book was John F. Kennedy's favorite. That was also the last movie JFK ever saw. He screened the film a couple days before flying down to Texas.
1. Sean Connery
2. George Lazenby
3. Pierce Brosnan
4. Timothy Dalton
5. Roger Moore
Picking a favorite Bond movie is tough, I just can't do it.
I've only read one of the Ian Fleming books, The Living Daylights. I've read several of the Bond books by John Gardner. I really should read more of the Ian Fleming books, especially From Russia With Love. It is said that book was John F. Kennedy's favorite. That was also the last movie JFK ever saw. He screened the film a couple days before flying down to Texas.
"To Be Continued." Noooo!
"To Be Continued."
"Battlestar Galactica returns in January..."
No. Freakin'. Way.
Sure, we can have a couple months between two seasons of a television series but to have almost as much time between two parts of one season and especially after the halfway point episode ends on such an incredible cliffhanger (I won't say anything that may spoil it for timeshifters).
January. January? January!
Ack!
I've never been a huge fan of science fiction but Battlestar Galactica has been great and season 2 is much better than season 1.
Argh! January!
"Battlestar Galactica returns in January..."
No. Freakin'. Way.
Sure, we can have a couple months between two seasons of a television series but to have almost as much time between two parts of one season and especially after the halfway point episode ends on such an incredible cliffhanger (I won't say anything that may spoil it for timeshifters).
January. January? January!
Ack!
I've never been a huge fan of science fiction but Battlestar Galactica has been great and season 2 is much better than season 1.
Argh! January!
Friday, September 23, 2005
It's The End Of The World As We Know It
Hurricane Rita dumps rain on New Orleans which washes over a levee.
Hurricane Rita's Going to Texas.
Bus explodes while leaving Houston with evacuees on board.
L.A. hit with a 3.6 earthquake.
Jennifer Love Hewitt's new TV show debuts tonight.
Surprisingly, for an actor or musician, Britney and hubby gave their newborn a sensible name. Sean Preston Federline.
Coincidence or further signs of The Apocalypse?
Hurricane Rita's Going to Texas.
Bus explodes while leaving Houston with evacuees on board.
L.A. hit with a 3.6 earthquake.
Jennifer Love Hewitt's new TV show debuts tonight.
Surprisingly, for an actor or musician, Britney and hubby gave their newborn a sensible name. Sean Preston Federline.
Coincidence or further signs of The Apocalypse?
Like, No Way!
Like...wow...like...ya know...there's rumors that Paris won't get wed after all. Like...omigod, why did you wear that scarf?
OR
Girl 1: Did you like hear?
Girl 2: No? Like...what?
Girl 1: That like Paris like may not be getting like married, you know?
Girl 2: No way! Shutup!
Girl 1: Like, way, like really!
Girl 2: Like, omigod! Shut up!
Trust me, if you don't think teenage girls still talk like this, you haven't been hanging around teenage girls. I listen to my niece and her friends chat it up. Like, wow.
OR
Girl 1: Did you like hear?
Girl 2: No? Like...what?
Girl 1: That like Paris like may not be getting like married, you know?
Girl 2: No way! Shutup!
Girl 1: Like, way, like really!
Girl 2: Like, omigod! Shut up!
Trust me, if you don't think teenage girls still talk like this, you haven't been hanging around teenage girls. I listen to my niece and her friends chat it up. Like, wow.
Gasoline Price Watch
There is a cool widget for Mac OS X 10.4 which will allow you to monitor gas prices. Known simply as Gas, it can monitor for a single station or plug in your zip code only and the radius to see prices for several gasoline outlets.
Gas gets its info from GasPriceWatch.com. So Windows users won't feel left out in the fun of seeing just how badly we are getting gouged.
Yesterday, I heard it was $2.55 per gallon for regular. This morning, it's already at $2.65 in town. Hmmmm...let's plug in a Texas zip code...Houston is currently $2.45 a gallon for regular.
Gas gets its info from GasPriceWatch.com. So Windows users won't feel left out in the fun of seeing just how badly we are getting gouged.
Yesterday, I heard it was $2.55 per gallon for regular. This morning, it's already at $2.65 in town. Hmmmm...let's plug in a Texas zip code...Houston is currently $2.45 a gallon for regular.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Simon Wiesenthal passed away this morning. He was 96 and he outlived most the Nazis. Good for him!
After surviving five concentration camps and losing 89 of his relatives to the holocaust, Wiesenthal set out to bring Nazi war criminals to justice. It was through his dedication and help that Adolf Eichmann and the police officeer who arrested Anne Frank were captured and punished.
According to the Associated Press,
After surviving five concentration camps and losing 89 of his relatives to the holocaust, Wiesenthal set out to bring Nazi war criminals to justice. It was through his dedication and help that Adolf Eichmann and the police officeer who arrested Anne Frank were captured and punished.
According to the Associated Press,
Wiesenthal spent more than 50 years hunting Nazi war criminals, speaking out against neo-Nazism and racism, and remembering the Jewish experience as a lesson for humanity. Through his work, he said, some 1,100 Nazi war criminals were brought to justice.If I should ever have the opportunity to visit his grave and pay my respects, I'll be sure to put a stone on his marker.
"When history looks back I want people to know the Nazis weren't able to kill millions of people and get away with it," he once said.
Lord Of The Keyboard
Keyboard commands are great timesavers. And if you know enough of them, you can look like the computer users on the movies. You very rarely ever see them use a mouse or have problems unless it's five seconds before the bad guy enters the room ("Drat! I transposed the S on the command to open the bomb bay doors. Hang on...(keyboard noise)...there...(keyboarad noise)...ok, cool, while I was at it, I added $100,000 to your bank account and your son now has an A in physical education classes anymore. You so owe me big time."
One website has a huge plethora (how about that for a $10 word?) of them for the Mac.
I love keyboard commands. I was once even chastised (sorry, it's only a $5 word) by the instructor at a Microsoft seminar for using the keyboard instead of the mouse. She wanted to prove Windows 3.0 was just like the Mac and didn't require the keyboard like DOS.
So here's my advice for the weekend, learn some keyboard commands. Learn what right-clicking the mouse can do for you in each application.
One website has a huge plethora (how about that for a $10 word?) of them for the Mac.
I love keyboard commands. I was once even chastised (sorry, it's only a $5 word) by the instructor at a Microsoft seminar for using the keyboard instead of the mouse. She wanted to prove Windows 3.0 was just like the Mac and didn't require the keyboard like DOS.
So here's my advice for the weekend, learn some keyboard commands. Learn what right-clicking the mouse can do for you in each application.
Bond Rumors Continue
"Casino Royale" has been said to be the darkest of the Bond novels penned by Ian Fleming. That might explain some of the recent rumors that Q will not be on board for the newest installment of the Bond movies.
The writers have said they want this one to be "a grittier, tougher and more realistic Bond movie." Maybe they are taking a cue from "Batman Begins."
Who will play Bond? That seems to be the big question. Supposedly Goran Visnjic, of ER fame, is on the short list as was Hugh Jackman (he's rumored to have turned it down). While Visnjic is a good actor, I just can't imagine him with an English accent. How about Dominic West (The Wire, The Forgotten) or Jamie Bamber (Battlestar Galactica). Both are English and have done great jobs with the American accent.
But now there's word that Pierc Brosnan has been asked by Sony Pictures to come back to the fold. As the title of the "rogue" Bond flick goes, "Never Say Never Again."
The writers have said they want this one to be "a grittier, tougher and more realistic Bond movie." Maybe they are taking a cue from "Batman Begins."
Who will play Bond? That seems to be the big question. Supposedly Goran Visnjic, of ER fame, is on the short list as was Hugh Jackman (he's rumored to have turned it down). While Visnjic is a good actor, I just can't imagine him with an English accent. How about Dominic West (The Wire, The Forgotten) or Jamie Bamber (Battlestar Galactica). Both are English and have done great jobs with the American accent.
But now there's word that Pierc Brosnan has been asked by Sony Pictures to come back to the fold. As the title of the "rogue" Bond flick goes, "Never Say Never Again."
Stevie Nicks, Music Pirate?
Stevie Nicks, of Fleetwood Macm showed up at Walter Reed Medical Center (on the list of recommended base closings) to visit with soldiers. Her appearance on July 8 was unannounced and paparazzi free. She handed out t-shirts and Apple iPods to those she visited with. One USO official noted that Nicks downloaded tunes to the iPods herself.
I certainly hope the songs are legal. Probably Fleetwood Mac and solo tunes.
On a similar note, President Bush isn't the only person in the White House who jams out with an iPod. Margaret Spellings, Education Secretary, two daughters gave her a gift for Mother's Day, an iPod mini (recently replaced by the iPod nano)
The .99¢ pricetag may change soon though as the recording industry is starting to get greedy again and talking about raising prices to $2 per tune.
Steve Jobs, of Apple Computer, Inc., recently spoke out against the idea of raising song prices saying that it is just the recording industry getting greedy and that higher prices will encourage piracy.
For the longest time, the RIAA claimed the reason record companies were losing money (if in fact they really really were) was because of piracy. A funny thing happened though after they lowered prices of CDs, people bought them.
I certainly hope the songs are legal. Probably Fleetwood Mac and solo tunes.
On a similar note, President Bush isn't the only person in the White House who jams out with an iPod. Margaret Spellings, Education Secretary, two daughters gave her a gift for Mother's Day, an iPod mini (recently replaced by the iPod nano)
The iPod mini is jammed with songs from the Police, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, and the Carpenters. "She loves it," says a pal, "for her power walks and spinning class." Not at work, we hope, especially since many schools ban them.Again, I hope the songs are all legal. It's not difficult to stay legal, You can buy songs from the iTunes Music Store for .99¢.
The .99¢ pricetag may change soon though as the recording industry is starting to get greedy again and talking about raising prices to $2 per tune.
Steve Jobs, of Apple Computer, Inc., recently spoke out against the idea of raising song prices saying that it is just the recording industry getting greedy and that higher prices will encourage piracy.
For the longest time, the RIAA claimed the reason record companies were losing money (if in fact they really really were) was because of piracy. A funny thing happened though after they lowered prices of CDs, people bought them.
JFK Dirty Laundry For Sale
The watch Marilyn Monroe gave to President Kennedy the night she famously sang "Happy Birthday Mr. President" will go on the auction block in October. The inscription on the back reads, "Jack, With love as always from Marilyn May 29th, 1962."
To be sure, that's an incredible conversation piece to own, but wait! There's more! Check out the case the watch came in.
According to U.S. News & World Report's Washington Whispers section for September 19, 2005,
To be sure, that's an incredible conversation piece to own, but wait! There's more! Check out the case the watch came in.
Loosely placed in the bottom of the case is a circular paper disk with a red hand-colored border with black-printing, with a poem titled "A HEARTFELT PLEA ON YOUR BIRTHDAY" and ending "Let me love or let me die!"Yeah, I can see the watch going for a couple million dollars. Think it will ever make an appearance at the Kennedy Library?
According to U.S. News & World Report's Washington Whispers section for September 19, 2005,
Auctioneer Bill Panagopulos , president of Alexander Autographs, calls it "undoubtedly the most controversial presidential relic ever offered." To call the watch a scandal is an understatement. Panagopulos says that after first confirming the history of the watch, family members of the JFK aide who kept relics like the outfit Jackie wore the day Kennedy was murdered have clammed up.Understatement indeed. You can see photos of the watch and other JFK artifacts soon to be on the auction block at Alexander Autographs.
[...]
The live and online auction slated for October 15-16 at alexautographs.com looks to be a mother lode of JFK dirty laundry. Also on the block: letters from Kennedy filled with sexual innuendo and competitive talk about dating, catty remarks about unattractive women, and an uncharacteristic four-letter word.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
The Oldest Buffalo Soldier Stands Down
The 9th and 10th Calvary regiments were given the nickname of "The Buffalo Soldiers" by the Native Americans they fought during the late 1800s. These all-black units were given the name, according to CNN, "because the Indians thought the soldiers' hair resembled a buffalo's mane or that the Indians respected the soldiers for their courage and fearlessness, qualities they found in the buffalo."
The courage and fearlessness was undeniable. 20 of those "Buffalo Soldiers" were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
One of those men who wore the nickname with pride, Mark Matthews, passed away September 6, 2005 at the age of 111. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetary, as the oldest surviving member of the Buffalo Soldiers.
Matthews joined the unit at the age of 16 in 1910. While stationed in Arizona, he learned how to ride, shoot and survive. Several years later, he served under General John "Blackjack" Pershing in the pursuit of Pancho Villa.
George S. Patton and Dwight David Eisenhower would go on to become generals themselves. Matthews rose to the rank of First Sergeant and served in WWII in the Pacific Theatre of War.
Matthews retired shortly before President Truman desegregated the unit. The Washington Post reported that,
More Info:
Buffalo Soldiers website
Mark Matthews Washington Post Obituary
In-depth story on Matthews
The courage and fearlessness was undeniable. 20 of those "Buffalo Soldiers" were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
One of those men who wore the nickname with pride, Mark Matthews, passed away September 6, 2005 at the age of 111. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetary, as the oldest surviving member of the Buffalo Soldiers.
Matthews joined the unit at the age of 16 in 1910. While stationed in Arizona, he learned how to ride, shoot and survive. Several years later, he served under General John "Blackjack" Pershing in the pursuit of Pancho Villa.
George S. Patton and Dwight David Eisenhower would go on to become generals themselves. Matthews rose to the rank of First Sergeant and served in WWII in the Pacific Theatre of War.
Matthews retired shortly before President Truman desegregated the unit. The Washington Post reported that,
In retirement, he liked to fish. He also enjoyed sitting on the front porch and telling tales about the old days out West and the not-quite-so-old days in the Pacific during World War II, often to neighborhood kids who came around and sat at the knee of a man who had experienced an adventure-novel's worth of stirring chapters in U.S. history.I know I would have loved to have been one of those sitting on the front porch listening to those adventures.
"I did it all," Sgt. Matthews told The Washington Post a few years ago. "Yes, I was there."
More Info:
Buffalo Soldiers website
Mark Matthews Washington Post Obituary
In-depth story on Matthews
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Me Too!
A new feature was added to Mac OS X with the release of version 10.4, "Widgets." These are tiny applications that perform one task very well. Press F12 and a translucent window appears, showing all the widgets you have open.
Widgets can do anything. The best example is the one provided by Apple to display current weather conditions as well as a forecast from Accuweather, based here in State College. Other widgets can provide a television schedule, calendar, a list of entries at a blog, etc.
Microsoft recently announced a new concept for the next version of Windows, known as "Vista," which was formerly known by it's development name, "Longhorn."
I like to think the name was changed from "Longhorn" to "Vista" because some concerned Texas Aggies on the marketing team forced a change. Could explain the silly and blah name, "Vista." Or maybe Microsoft didn't want "Windows Longhorn" to be confused with Longhorn cheese. All kidding aside, I liked the name "Longhorn" and the logos they were using. Then again, I lived in Austin TX and the "Longhorn" logo reminded me very much of the University of Texas Longhorns.
But back to Gadgets. Just when you think that there's something original going on here, look back at the history of Apple's widgets. At one point, they were called gadgets. No idea why the name was changed to widgets.
Of course, Widgets aren't entirely original either. Widgets are very much akin to another product, Konfabulator, which was recently purchased by Yahoo. Apple probably should have bought Konfabulator.
To be even more fair and concentric, Widgets and Konfabulator are descendants of Desk Accessories from the original Mac OS.
If that doesn't sound crazy enough, there's the whole thing about Apple's original internal online service known as AppleLink. At one point, they thought of having a external version called AppleLink Personal Edition. The software was then sold to a guy named Steve Case who had his own online service for the Commodore computers. Case renamed and retooled the software into America Online, AOL.
Apple then decided they really did want to build an online service for Apple fans and borrowed/rented/whatever the AOL engine and slapped their own front end and name on it, eWorld. I worked at eWorld in their customer technical support department.
Widgets can do anything. The best example is the one provided by Apple to display current weather conditions as well as a forecast from Accuweather, based here in State College. Other widgets can provide a television schedule, calendar, a list of entries at a blog, etc.
Microsoft recently announced a new concept for the next version of Windows, known as "Vista," which was formerly known by it's development name, "Longhorn."
I like to think the name was changed from "Longhorn" to "Vista" because some concerned Texas Aggies on the marketing team forced a change. Could explain the silly and blah name, "Vista." Or maybe Microsoft didn't want "Windows Longhorn" to be confused with Longhorn cheese. All kidding aside, I liked the name "Longhorn" and the logos they were using. Then again, I lived in Austin TX and the "Longhorn" logo reminded me very much of the University of Texas Longhorns.
But back to Gadgets. Just when you think that there's something original going on here, look back at the history of Apple's widgets. At one point, they were called gadgets. No idea why the name was changed to widgets.
Of course, Widgets aren't entirely original either. Widgets are very much akin to another product, Konfabulator, which was recently purchased by Yahoo. Apple probably should have bought Konfabulator.
To be even more fair and concentric, Widgets and Konfabulator are descendants of Desk Accessories from the original Mac OS.
If that doesn't sound crazy enough, there's the whole thing about Apple's original internal online service known as AppleLink. At one point, they thought of having a external version called AppleLink Personal Edition. The software was then sold to a guy named Steve Case who had his own online service for the Commodore computers. Case renamed and retooled the software into America Online, AOL.
Apple then decided they really did want to build an online service for Apple fans and borrowed/rented/whatever the AOL engine and slapped their own front end and name on it, eWorld. I worked at eWorld in their customer technical support department.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Ahhh, Mr. Bond! We've Been Expecting You
Rumor has it that Daniel Craig has been named the next Bond. An English actor, Americans have probably seen him in "I Dreamed of Africa," "Road to Perdition," "Tomb Raider," and "Elizabeth."
Even so, Craig is a relative unknown compared to Ewan McGregor. Then again, Sean Connery was very much an unkown outside bodybuilding circles before he became the first and arguably best Bond.
The rumor has sprung because Craig was seen shopping for a mint condition copy of the first Bond book by Ian Fleming, "Casino Royale." That book title is set to be the title for the next movie.
Annanova reported, "Clive Owen and Hugh Jackman reportedly turned the role down while ER's Goran Visnjic is said to have auditioned for the producers in July."
Hugh Jackman would have been great in the role.
Even so, Craig is a relative unknown compared to Ewan McGregor. Then again, Sean Connery was very much an unkown outside bodybuilding circles before he became the first and arguably best Bond.
The rumor has sprung because Craig was seen shopping for a mint condition copy of the first Bond book by Ian Fleming, "Casino Royale." That book title is set to be the title for the next movie.
Annanova reported, "Clive Owen and Hugh Jackman reportedly turned the role down while ER's Goran Visnjic is said to have auditioned for the producers in July."
Hugh Jackman would have been great in the role.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Bush Helps Out Quietly
While I haven't been able to confirm it yet, I've read that George H. Bush and his wife Barbara have opened their home in Kennebunkport Maine to some who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Same goes for their son. President Bush has allowed some folks to stay on his ranch in Crawford, TX.
Even more important to point out, they did this without issuing any sort of press release, statement or photos of the whole thing. They just quietly opened their hearts to Americans affected by the storm.
I'm still trying to track down news sources to confirm this tidbit.
Even more important to point out, they did this without issuing any sort of press release, statement or photos of the whole thing. They just quietly opened their hearts to Americans affected by the storm.
I'm still trying to track down news sources to confirm this tidbit.
Testing Blog 123
I've looked at blog sites by several companies, including Yahoo's new 360 but I keep returning to Blogger. Thus far, until I can set up my own domain with a service that will allow me to have CGI scripts and other requirements, this is the best for me. Are you listening Apple? I love my .mac account but if add the ability for me to use WordPress, BlosXom or Movable Type, I'll be a seriously happy camper.
I have found a cool blog editing tool, Ecto, for Mac OS X and Windows, that can allow me to edit my Blogger website offline. Makes up for the sometimes turtle-like pace of their admin tools.
Testing continues. I might have to bite the bullet and set up my own domain. Then I have to figure out a name. I've always wanted to do something along the lines of song and album titles R.E.M. came up with:
- Murmur (album)
- Reckoning (album)
- Fables of the Reconstruction of the Fables (album)
- so. central rain (tried to use South Central Rain but it's taken)
- King of Birds
- Moral Kiosk
- Pilgrimage
- Harbour Coat
Can you tell I like the first bunch of albums by R.E.M.?
[Posted with ecto]
I have found a cool blog editing tool, Ecto, for Mac OS X and Windows, that can allow me to edit my Blogger website offline. Makes up for the sometimes turtle-like pace of their admin tools.
Testing continues. I might have to bite the bullet and set up my own domain. Then I have to figure out a name. I've always wanted to do something along the lines of song and album titles R.E.M. came up with:
- Murmur (album)
- Reckoning (album)
- Fables of the Reconstruction of the Fables (album)
- so. central rain (tried to use South Central Rain but it's taken)
- King of Birds
- Moral Kiosk
- Pilgrimage
- Harbour Coat
Can you tell I like the first bunch of albums by R.E.M.?
[Posted with ecto]
Give Us Condi And We'll Give You The Boat
North Korea has offered to return the U.S.S. Pueblo spy boat if we send eithe Condoleezza Rice or a different high-level official for a visit.
One reader at outsidethebeltway.com suggested the following:
1. Secretary of Agriculture. (Given all the food aid we’ve given them, and their everlasting famine)
2. Secretary of Energy. (Another major need of NK, plus controls the US nuclear labs)
3. Dick Cheney. (why not? And he could be more stoic than the NK)
Regarding the notion of potentially sending Dick Cheney, another reader asked, "He wouldn't be coming back, would he?"
Probably the best reader suggestion was to "Send Alec Baldwin over to represent the Film Actors Guild."
One reader at outsidethebeltway.com suggested the following:
1. Secretary of Agriculture. (Given all the food aid we’ve given them, and their everlasting famine)
2. Secretary of Energy. (Another major need of NK, plus controls the US nuclear labs)
3. Dick Cheney. (why not? And he could be more stoic than the NK)
Regarding the notion of potentially sending Dick Cheney, another reader asked, "He wouldn't be coming back, would he?"
Probably the best reader suggestion was to "Send Alec Baldwin over to represent the Film Actors Guild."
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Only Three Remain on Gilligan's Island
Bob Denver died last Friday. He played therugby shirt and sailor hat wearing Gilligan on Gilligan's Island.
Now, the remaining survivors on Gilligan's Island are The Professor, The Movie Star and Mary Ann.
Personally, I think Mary Ann will win this oldest version of Survivor.
As a side note, of all the main actors on Bewitched, another television series that had its start in 1964, only the twins who played Tabitha , Diane and Erin Murphy, remain.
Now, the remaining survivors on Gilligan's Island are The Professor, The Movie Star and Mary Ann.
Personally, I think Mary Ann will win this oldest version of Survivor.
As a side note, of all the main actors on Bewitched, another television series that had its start in 1964, only the twins who played Tabitha , Diane and Erin Murphy, remain.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
What If?
That classic historical question will be the title of a new SciFi Channel series in the works.
One blogger suggested several what ifs that could be asked for episodes including "What if the Germans won WWII?" or what if John F. Kennedy hadn't been murdered.
I am currently reading a book about the Battle of Britain by one of the British fighter pilots who fought in it, "Duel of Eagles" by Peter Townsend. This Townsend should not be confused with the guitar smashing Peter Townshend of The Who. For one thing, The Who's Pete would probably never have dated Princess Margaret.
After much of the reading I've done and documentaries of WWII I've seen this Summer, as well as reading "Why The Allies Won," I am of the conclusion that there was no way the Germans would have been the victors. Granted, this is all in hindsight. During 1939 to probably 1943, the Allies were indeed losing but there were so many variables that worked in the favor if The Allies that the outcome was pretty much certain.
Better what if questions would be:
- What if Great Britain decided to side with Germany against France and Russia (something Hitler and others on his staff hoped for and were surprised didn't happen)?
- What if Hitler had committed suicide before he was arrested and thrown in jail (where he wrote Mein Kampf)? Germany's rebuilding of its military was going on before Hitler started the Nazi party, he just ensured the build up went through.
- What if Hitler didn't survive the attempt to kill him by some other German generals in 1944?
The better What if is that one about John F. Kennedy. If he survived or the bullets missed, he probably would have been reelected, forcing Johnson not to run because he was too old and, provided things went well in the second term, Robert F. Kennedy would have run and potentially cancel out a Nixon presidency.
What if the Wright brothers failed at Kitty Hawk and we only started to fly many, many years later?
What if America remained isolationist during WWII?
The list goes on.
One blogger suggested several what ifs that could be asked for episodes including "What if the Germans won WWII?" or what if John F. Kennedy hadn't been murdered.
I am currently reading a book about the Battle of Britain by one of the British fighter pilots who fought in it, "Duel of Eagles" by Peter Townsend. This Townsend should not be confused with the guitar smashing Peter Townshend of The Who. For one thing, The Who's Pete would probably never have dated Princess Margaret.
After much of the reading I've done and documentaries of WWII I've seen this Summer, as well as reading "Why The Allies Won," I am of the conclusion that there was no way the Germans would have been the victors. Granted, this is all in hindsight. During 1939 to probably 1943, the Allies were indeed losing but there were so many variables that worked in the favor if The Allies that the outcome was pretty much certain.
Better what if questions would be:
- What if Great Britain decided to side with Germany against France and Russia (something Hitler and others on his staff hoped for and were surprised didn't happen)?
- What if Hitler had committed suicide before he was arrested and thrown in jail (where he wrote Mein Kampf)? Germany's rebuilding of its military was going on before Hitler started the Nazi party, he just ensured the build up went through.
- What if Hitler didn't survive the attempt to kill him by some other German generals in 1944?
The better What if is that one about John F. Kennedy. If he survived or the bullets missed, he probably would have been reelected, forcing Johnson not to run because he was too old and, provided things went well in the second term, Robert F. Kennedy would have run and potentially cancel out a Nixon presidency.
What if the Wright brothers failed at Kitty Hawk and we only started to fly many, many years later?
What if America remained isolationist during WWII?
The list goes on.
Do I Like The Current State Of Music?
So, what is it about the current state of music I don't like besides way, way too many bands cutting CDs that really have no business doing so? Let's take one "musician" as an example...
Snoop-Dog on TV shows, Snoop-Dog during the Super Bowl half time show, Snoop-Dog on Chrysler commercials, Snoop-Dog ring tones, Snoop-Dog cell phone wallpapers, Snoop-Dog screen-savers, etc., ad infinitum.
Then again, the Beatles were pretty well hyped. But was it as bad as we are seeing it today? And at least The Beatles could walk the walk music-wise.
I started thinking about this after seeing a free (!) screensaver for the Mac from the anime band, Gorillaz.
Snoop-Dog on TV shows, Snoop-Dog during the Super Bowl half time show, Snoop-Dog on Chrysler commercials, Snoop-Dog ring tones, Snoop-Dog cell phone wallpapers, Snoop-Dog screen-savers, etc., ad infinitum.
Then again, the Beatles were pretty well hyped. But was it as bad as we are seeing it today? And at least The Beatles could walk the walk music-wise.
I started thinking about this after seeing a free (!) screensaver for the Mac from the anime band, Gorillaz.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
DIY Postage Stamps
Ever wish you could have your mug on a postage stamp like various kings, queens, presidents and rock stars? Well, now you can! Not only can you create a postage stamp with your photo, it's legal to use for postage.
Check it out!
Check it out!
Where In The World Is Ray
While our missing district attorney probably won't make it onto a milk carton, a website has been set up which has information and photos to help find him.
Hopefully he's OK.
Hopefully he's OK.
Back In Black In The Black
The RIAA announced that AC/DC's 1980 album, Back In Black, has been certified as having sold 21 million copies. This album is now tied for fifth place bestselling album of all time along with Billy Joel's Greatest Hits Volumes 1 & 2.
I'm not a heavy metal fan but I own this CD and all the songs are on my iPod. I would have to say this is one of those desert island CDs.
Hard to beat this album for absolutely raw, powerful rock n' roll.
I'm not a heavy metal fan but I own this CD and all the songs are on my iPod. I would have to say this is one of those desert island CDs.
Hard to beat this album for absolutely raw, powerful rock n' roll.
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