This is a bit old, but it is of note because people doing business on the web should be mindful of a "new age" in consumer relations.
MediaPost Publications - Consumer-Generated Justice: Blogger Sidelines E-Commerce Site - 12/02/2005
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Cell Phone Reception and Tower Search
Now this is useful, in case you've wanted to know where those towers are...
Cell Phone Reception and Tower Search
Cell Phone Reception and Tower Search
David Pogues Top 10 Gadget List
From http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/29/technology/circuits/29pogue.html?pagewanted=all
- The Folding Memory Card – from SanDisk – fold it, it fits into the USB port – look Ma, no cables!
- VoiceMail VCR controls on the Treo 700 w – people don’t know what keys to hit – other people have it, Visual VoiceMail is what it’s starting to be called
- The Front-Side TV Connector – a tunnel to snake the cable to the front, a light to see what your doing and a door to hide it all when your done – thank you HP
- Bigger-Than-TV Movie – Canon’s Powershot S80 takes higher resolution video
- TV à La Carte – iPod video replays of old shows – 2 bucks each
- The Outer-Button Flip Phone – look who’s calling, press the button to send ‘em to voicemail – wow… took them long enough
- The Free Domain Name – http://www.yournamehere.com/ – from Microsoft, no less
- The Modular DVD Screen – hang it from driver seat, car-ceiling mount, under the kitchen cabinet, wherever… from Audiovox
- The Family-Portrait Burst Mode – from Casio – 3 pics a fraction of sec apart, has to be a picture there with everyone’s eye open
- The Hybrid High-Definition Tape – JVC and Sony get accolades for keeping high-def on the $4 drug store video tape, instead of some new proprietary format, thank you, thank you, thank you
Monday, December 26, 2005
The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
OK, I'm cool with the walkman, but the Treo at 20? vs. a thin phone (Razr) at 12? At least the original Palm got #4
PCWorld.com - The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
PCWorld.com - The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years
Sunday, December 25, 2005
I found the work, time formula's
Engineers and scientists will never make as much money as business executives.
Now we have mathmatical proof that explains why this is true:
Now we have mathmatical proof that explains why this is true:
Postulate 1: Knowledge is Power. Postulate 2: Time is Money.
As every engineer knows,
Work
-------- = Power
Time
Since Knowledge = Power, and Time = Money, we have:
Work
-------- = Knowledge
Money
Solving for Money we get:
Work
------------ = Money
Knowledge
Thus, as Knowledge approaches zero, Money approaches infinity regardless of the Work done.
Conclusion: The less you Know, the More you Make. "
Friday, December 23, 2005
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Monday, December 05, 2005
Attitude is Everything
I ran across this "internet story" today and I felt I should publish it here for any of my readers...
--Author unknown
Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.
Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"
Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."
"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.
"Yes it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."
I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business, he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gun point by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center.
After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.
I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he said, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?" I declined to see his wounds but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.
"The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.
"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.
Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man. " I knew I needed to take action."
"What did you do?" I asked.
"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything.
"Yes," I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, "Bullets!"
Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."
Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.
Attitude, after all, is everything.
--Author unknown
Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.
Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"
Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."
"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.
"Yes it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."
I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business, he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gun point by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center.
After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.
I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he said, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?" I declined to see his wounds but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.
"The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.
"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.
Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man. " I knew I needed to take action."
"What did you do?" I asked.
"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything.
"Yes," I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, "Bullets!"
Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."
Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.
Attitude, after all, is everything.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
WEATHER BULLETIN
For those of you who are not aware, North Dakota and southwestern Montana got hit with their first blizzard of the season about 3 weeks ago. Colorado was getting stuff this Thanksgiving weekend.
This text is from county emergency manager out in the western part of North Dakota state after the storm.
Amusing...
WEATHER BULLETIN
Up here in the Northern Plains we just recovered from a historic event --- may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" --- with an historic blizzard of up to 24" inches of snow and winds to 50 MPH that broke trees in half, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed all roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands.
We just melted snow for water, sent out caravans to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars, fired up wood stoves, broke out coal oil lanterns or Aladdin lamps and put on an extra layer of clothes.
Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this early...we know we live in a place where this kind of thing can happen. So we've learned how to deal with it ourselves.
Everybody is doing just fine at the present. Relief is on the way.
This text is from county emergency manager out in the western part of North Dakota state after the storm.
Amusing...
WEATHER BULLETIN
Up here in the Northern Plains we just recovered from a historic event --- may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" --- with an historic blizzard of up to 24" inches of snow and winds to 50 MPH that broke trees in half, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed all roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands.
- George Bush did not come....
- FEMA did nothing....
- No one howled for the government...
- No one even uttered an expletive on TV...
- Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.....
- No news anchors moved in.
We just melted snow for water, sent out caravans to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars, fired up wood stoves, broke out coal oil lanterns or Aladdin lamps and put on an extra layer of clothes.
Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this early...we know we live in a place where this kind of thing can happen. So we've learned how to deal with it ourselves.
Everybody is doing just fine at the present. Relief is on the way.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Recent Tack Room activity...
Well, the tack room (a.k.a., exercise room, private dojo, etc.) is painted and the built-in cabinets are now fully installed (a little trimming on the right side was necessary, but nothing that handy dandy jig saw won't take care of). I think I will treat the ceiling to another bit of plaster and painting, but that will be another time. It's starting to rain out here and I need to get the "stuff" inside before the tarps blow off or leak or "whatever" and I have more problems than I need.
Over turkey day holiday I moved the fridge and freezer (defrosting included) and those two items are in their final position. The room received the remaining cleaning it needed... mucho grosso behind the freezer...
More stuff to be put away or taken to Goodwill, I hope to have a usable exercise room in a couple of weeks.
Sad News ( The television I thought we might use out here won’t turn on…)
Pictures will be posted. Stay tuned!
Over turkey day holiday I moved the fridge and freezer (defrosting included) and those two items are in their final position. The room received the remaining cleaning it needed... mucho grosso behind the freezer...
More stuff to be put away or taken to Goodwill, I hope to have a usable exercise room in a couple of weeks.
Sad News ( The television I thought we might use out here won’t turn on…)
Pictures will be posted. Stay tuned!
Monday, November 21, 2005
Can you believe it?
I was in Kansas City last week, but somehow I missed getting ANY of that famous BBQ!
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
RFP conversation snippets
During a recent conference all, someone joined the conference bridge and there was a subsequent amount of airport background noise. The conference coordinator asked, "Who joined the call, please?" The answer was "Those are the voices inside my head."
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
How to Carve a Pumpkin
How to Carve a Pumpkin
By Julia Posz
Hi, and welcome to how to carve a pumpkin with Julia. The first thing you need is a round, clean orange pumpkin from the store. Now that you have you’r pumpkin get a strong sharp knife and cut a circle around the top then take the top off and get the seeds out. Now that you have the seeds out you may get a tracer of a princess, vampire, or an old fashen one. Then get you’r knife and start tracing the design. Finally you need a little candle then light it and there it is. You made a Halloween pumpkin so now set it outside so every one can see! See you next time!
Happy Halloween!
Friday, October 28, 2005
Thursday, October 27, 2005
The Story of the Five Balls
The Story of the Five Balls - from "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" by James Patterson
Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called
And you're keeping all of them in the air.
But one day you finally come to understand that Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.
The other four balls -- Family, Health, Friends, Integrity -- are made of glass. If you drop one these, that ball will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of balance in your life.
I know I need to get more BALANCE in my life. I hope I will remember this.
I also know a lot of people are all working very hard for the company. And while we hope that these work activities become something positive, we all need to have this BALANCE and to a certain extent, set some limits. I have witnessed a couple of the team members on various projects go beyond their own limits, which then creates a new set of problems in getting a project done.
So, let’s remember the lesson of the Five Balls.
Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called
- Work,
- Family,
- Health,
- Friends, and
- Integrity.
And you're keeping all of them in the air.
But one day you finally come to understand that Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.
The other four balls -- Family, Health, Friends, Integrity -- are made of glass. If you drop one these, that ball will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of balance in your life.
I know I need to get more BALANCE in my life. I hope I will remember this.
I also know a lot of people are all working very hard for the company. And while we hope that these work activities become something positive, we all need to have this BALANCE and to a certain extent, set some limits. I have witnessed a couple of the team members on various projects go beyond their own limits, which then creates a new set of problems in getting a project done.
So, let’s remember the lesson of the Five Balls.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Texas RFP joke
Two guys are in the office working on an RFP when one of them collapses.
He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other man pulls out his phone and calls emergency services.
He gasps to the operator: "My friend is dead! What can I do?"
The operator in a calm, soothing voice replies: "Take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead."
There is a silence, then a gun-shot is heard.
Back on the phone, the man says, "OK, now what?"
He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other man pulls out his phone and calls emergency services.
He gasps to the operator: "My friend is dead! What can I do?"
The operator in a calm, soothing voice replies: "Take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead."
There is a silence, then a gun-shot is heard.
Back on the phone, the man says, "OK, now what?"
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Monday, October 17, 2005
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Monday, October 10, 2005
Sunday, October 09, 2005
A cracking good adventure!
Julia and I are going to see this today.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0312004/
That's just not cricket!
soccermatic
on the garage front, I've put up a little bit more drywall on the ceiling in the corner (my last row of drywall) and insulated the remaining last 2 rows of rafters. I should finish the drywall install this weekend, and perhaps the last of the plaster/taping Monday or Tuesday. I also purchased some eve vents, in order to keep air ventilating in this new "attic"... So much to do, so little time...
We shall see...
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Famous quote
“Word-smithing is a much greater percentage of what I am supposed to be doing in life than I would ever have thought” (Knuth)
Oxymorons
--------------
Mandatory options
Hot water heater
Uninvited guest
Open Secret
Dry lake
Silent Alarm
Reasonable Attorney's Fees
Live recording
Non-Stop Flight
Non-Dairy Creamer
Clearly confused
Wireless Cable
Holy war
Mutual Differences
Legislative restraint
Congressional ethics
Original copy
Act naturally
Found missing
True replica
Resident alien
Advanced BASIC
Country Music
Genuine imitation
Airline Food
Good grief
Same difference
Almost exactly
Government organization
Sanitary landfill
Alone together
Legally drunk
Silent scream
British fashion
Living dead
Small crowd
Business ethics
American culture
Athletic scholarship
Black Light
Chili
Corporate planning
Media scrutiny
Forward lateral
Definite maybe
Liberal values
Good television
Honest politician
Jumbo shrimp
Logical Thought
Moral Majority
Never generalize!!
Plastic glasses
Postal service
Practical logic
President Bush
Standard options
Rapid transit
Social Security
Sweet sorrow
Union craftsman
Highly depressed
Soft rock
Butt Head
Military Intelligence
Software documentation
New York culture
New classic
Childproof
"Now, then ..."
Synthetic natural gas
Christian Scientists
Passive aggressive
Taped live
Clearly misunderstood
Peace force
Extinct life
Temporary tax increase
Computer jock
Computer security
Political science
Tight slacks
Pretty ugly
Twelve-ounce pound cake
Diet ice cream
Rap music
Working vacation
Exact estimate
Religious tolerance
Campaign reform
Microsoft Works
Bitter sweet
Sensitive man
Freezer burn
Compassionate conservative
Legal principles
“Word-smithing is a much greater percentage of what I am supposed to be doing in life than I would ever have thought” (Knuth)
Oxymorons
--------------
Mandatory options
Hot water heater
Uninvited guest
Open Secret
Dry lake
Silent Alarm
Reasonable Attorney's Fees
Live recording
Non-Stop Flight
Non-Dairy Creamer
Clearly confused
Wireless Cable
Holy war
Mutual Differences
Legislative restraint
Congressional ethics
Original copy
Act naturally
Found missing
True replica
Resident alien
Advanced BASIC
Country Music
Genuine imitation
Airline Food
Good grief
Same difference
Almost exactly
Government organization
Sanitary landfill
Alone together
Legally drunk
Silent scream
British fashion
Living dead
Small crowd
Business ethics
American culture
Athletic scholarship
Black Light
Chili
Corporate planning
Media scrutiny
Forward lateral
Definite maybe
Liberal values
Good television
Honest politician
Jumbo shrimp
Logical Thought
Moral Majority
Never generalize!!
Plastic glasses
Postal service
Practical logic
President Bush
Standard options
Rapid transit
Social Security
Sweet sorrow
Union craftsman
Highly depressed
Soft rock
Butt Head
Military Intelligence
Software documentation
New York culture
New classic
Childproof
"Now, then ..."
Synthetic natural gas
Christian Scientists
Passive aggressive
Taped live
Clearly misunderstood
Peace force
Extinct life
Temporary tax increase
Computer jock
Computer security
Political science
Tight slacks
Pretty ugly
Twelve-ounce pound cake
Diet ice cream
Rap music
Working vacation
Exact estimate
Religious tolerance
Campaign reform
Microsoft Works
Bitter sweet
Sensitive man
Freezer burn
Compassionate conservative
Legal principles
Friday, September 30, 2005
DUCK IS DEAD
DUCK IS DEAD
A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird’s chest.
After a moment or two, the vet shook his head sadly and said, “I’m so sorry, your Duck Cuddles has passed away.”
The distressed owner wailed, “Are you sure?"
”Yes, I am sure. The duck is dead,” he replied.
”How can you be so sure?” she protested. “I mean, you haven’t done any testing on him or anything! . He might just be in a coma or something.”
The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room, and returned a few moments later with a black Labrador Retriever.
As the duck’s owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head. The vet patted the dog and took it out, and returned a few moments later with a cat.
The cat jumped up on the table and also sniffed delicately at the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on it’s haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room.
The vet looked at the woman and said, “I’m sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck.”
Then the vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman.
The duck’s owner, still in shock, took the bill. ”$150!" she cried, “$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!! "
The vet shrugged. “I’m sorry. If you’d taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it’s now $150.00.”
A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird’s chest.
After a moment or two, the vet shook his head sadly and said, “I’m so sorry, your Duck Cuddles has passed away.”
The distressed owner wailed, “Are you sure?"
”Yes, I am sure. The duck is dead,” he replied.
”How can you be so sure?” she protested. “I mean, you haven’t done any testing on him or anything! . He might just be in a coma or something.”
The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room, and returned a few moments later with a black Labrador Retriever.
As the duck’s owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head. The vet patted the dog and took it out, and returned a few moments later with a cat.
The cat jumped up on the table and also sniffed delicately at the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on it’s haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room.
The vet looked at the woman and said, “I’m sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck.”
Then the vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman.
The duck’s owner, still in shock, took the bill. ”$150!" she cried, “$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!! "
The vet shrugged. “I’m sorry. If you’d taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it’s now $150.00.”
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Friday, September 23, 2005
From Wireless Week:
Battery life has always been an issue. It is one of the more mundane, yet increasingly prominent challenges in the wireless world. Phones are becoming more powerful, applications more complex, and even though batteries are not benefactors of Moores Law, they too are getting slimmer, lighter and longer lasting. But there comes a point, and its fast approaching, that battery technology will hit a wall physically unable to get any smaller, yet under increasing pressure to have more oomph! After Trevor Baylisss famed clockwork radio, the UK has spawned yet another mighty innovator, Peter Ash a 16 year old schoolboy who hooked up his sisters hamster wheel to a phone charger, and hey presto! Free juice. Rumours that Fitness First is teaming up with Carphone Warehouse to offer a corporate solution to recharging batteries remain, at this stage, a complete fabrication.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Harold, the Computer Guy
I was having trouble with my computer. So I called Harold, the computer guy, to come over.
Harold clicked a couple of buttons and solved the problem. He gave me a bill for a minimum service call.
As he was walking away, I called after him, "So, what was wrong?"
He replied, "It was an ID ten T error."
I didn't want to appear stupid, but nonetheless inquired, "An ID ten T error?
What's that? in case I need to fix it again?"
Harold grinned.... "Haven't you ever heard of an ID ten T error before?"
"No," I replied.
"Write it down," he said, "and I think you'll figure it out."
So I wrote down I D 1 0 T.
I used to like Harold.
I was having trouble with my computer. So I called Harold, the computer guy, to come over.
Harold clicked a couple of buttons and solved the problem. He gave me a bill for a minimum service call.
As he was walking away, I called after him, "So, what was wrong?"
He replied, "It was an ID ten T error."
I didn't want to appear stupid, but nonetheless inquired, "An ID ten T error?
What's that? in case I need to fix it again?"
Harold grinned.... "Haven't you ever heard of an ID ten T error before?"
"No," I replied.
"Write it down," he said, "and I think you'll figure it out."
So I wrote down I D 1 0 T.
I used to like Harold.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Sick, tackroom, and good news!
After not feeling so well this morning (something I ate last night) I finally got myself together about 3pm and did some fixit stuff around the house. After a bit I actually went out to the garage-tackroom and put one more sheet of drywall on the ceiling.
I have 2 half-sheets to go up and that's the end of the drywall work, so am nearing the end. I also used joint compound on screw-heads and joints, so I only have about 60-80 square feet of that left to do, and then I'm caught up with the drywall installation itself.
After this, I think it's get everything out of the room, sand the joint compound, paint first coat of paint and we're pretty much ready to move the appliances, finish the lower cabinet installation. We're getting close to the end!
Work-- been busy, another RFP is consuming my time, fell asleep last two nights at the keyboard... I have an associate that's pretty much in the same boat, last week there was mention of "driving around aimlessly looking for chocolate..." I keep thinking...
For the good news around here, Eunice has signed on for a coursework in baking and pastry at the California Culinary Academy. It starts in November and runs thru June. We will have to rearrange finances and schedules around here, but I think it's worth it. This is something she's been talking about for some time. I'm especially looking forward to chocolates, since she gets to bring home some of her classwork!
Quote for the day: “When you're in the elevator and it stops to pick up someone who stood for five minutes waiting for the darn thing only to go DOWN one floor, and you say "that lazy b*&%$#"...... You need to pray at work.”
I have 2 half-sheets to go up and that's the end of the drywall work, so am nearing the end. I also used joint compound on screw-heads and joints, so I only have about 60-80 square feet of that left to do, and then I'm caught up with the drywall installation itself.
After this, I think it's get everything out of the room, sand the joint compound, paint first coat of paint and we're pretty much ready to move the appliances, finish the lower cabinet installation. We're getting close to the end!
Work-- been busy, another RFP is consuming my time, fell asleep last two nights at the keyboard... I have an associate that's pretty much in the same boat, last week there was mention of "driving around aimlessly looking for chocolate..." I keep thinking...
got to be a better way...
For the good news around here, Eunice has signed on for a coursework in baking and pastry at the California Culinary Academy. It starts in November and runs thru June. We will have to rearrange finances and schedules around here, but I think it's worth it. This is something she's been talking about for some time. I'm especially looking forward to chocolates, since she gets to bring home some of her classwork!
Le Cordon Bleu Pâtisserie and Baking - This program provides
students with hands-on training in four areas: breads and doughs; cakes; service pastry and desserts; and chocolate, confectionery and show pieces. In addition, the curriculum includes professional development courses on safety and sanitation, nutrition and human resource management.
Quote for the day: “When you're in the elevator and it stops to pick up someone who stood for five minutes waiting for the darn thing only to go DOWN one floor, and you say "that lazy b*&%$#"...... You need to pray at work.”
Friday, September 16, 2005
protocol drivers
I need to rant on programs and/or people that feel they need to override the protocol drivers already on your system in order to install their own, "better" driver.
I have just spent the better part of 2 hours, backing out some software that installed itself, as an update, to an existing set of software. The original intent of this software was a database of hotspots around the world. Sounds like a good thing, right?
So, why do they think that someone interested in a database of hotspot locations would like, all of a sudden, want to have a new set of protocol drivers for a wireless card installed?
Jeez, nothing was working, my laptop was crapping out with the big "blue screen of death" and a huge memory dump, each time I booted.
Get a life! Leave me alone.
I have just spent the better part of 2 hours, backing out some software that installed itself, as an update, to an existing set of software. The original intent of this software was a database of hotspots around the world. Sounds like a good thing, right?
So, why do they think that someone interested in a database of hotspot locations would like, all of a sudden, want to have a new set of protocol drivers for a wireless card installed?
Jeez, nothing was working, my laptop was crapping out with the big "blue screen of death" and a huge memory dump, each time I booted.
Get a life! Leave me alone.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Bubba was bragging to his boss one day, "You know, I know everyone there is to know. Just name someone, anyone, and I know them."
Tired of his boasting, his boss called his bluff, "OK, Bubba how about Tom Cruise?"
"Sure! Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it."
So Bubba and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise's door, and sure enough, Tom Cruise, shouts, "Bubba! Great to see you! You and your friend come right in and join me for lunch!"
Although impressed, Bubba's boss is still skeptical. After they leave Cruise's house, he tells Bubba that he thinks Bubba's knowing Cruise was just lucky.
"No, no, just name anyone else," Bubba says.
"President Bush," his boss quickly retorts.
"Yes," Bubba says, "I know him, too--- let's fly out to Washington."
And off they go. At the White House, Bush spots Bubba on the tour and motions him and his boss over, saying, "Bubba, what a surprise, I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and let's have a cup of coffee first and catch up."
Well, the boss is very shaken by now, but still not totally convinced.
After they leave the White house grounds, he expresses his doubts to Bubba, who again implores him to name anyone else.
"The Pope," his boss replies.
"Sure!" says Bubba. "My folks are from Germany. I've known the Pope a long time."
So off they fly to Rome. Bubba and his boss are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when Bubba says, "This will never work. I can't catch the Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards so let me just go upstairs and I'll come out on the balcony with the Pope."
And he disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican. Sure enough, half an hour later Bubba emerges with the Pope on the balcony. But by the time Bubba returns, he finds that his boss has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics.
Working his way to his boss' side, Bubba asks him, "What happened? Are you ok?"
His boss looks up and says, "I was doing fine until you and the Pope came out on the balcony and the man next to me said, 'Who's that on the balcony with Bubba'?"
Tired of his boasting, his boss called his bluff, "OK, Bubba how about Tom Cruise?"
"Sure! Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it."
So Bubba and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise's door, and sure enough, Tom Cruise, shouts, "Bubba! Great to see you! You and your friend come right in and join me for lunch!"
Although impressed, Bubba's boss is still skeptical. After they leave Cruise's house, he tells Bubba that he thinks Bubba's knowing Cruise was just lucky.
"No, no, just name anyone else," Bubba says.
"President Bush," his boss quickly retorts.
"Yes," Bubba says, "I know him, too--- let's fly out to Washington."
And off they go. At the White House, Bush spots Bubba on the tour and motions him and his boss over, saying, "Bubba, what a surprise, I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and let's have a cup of coffee first and catch up."
Well, the boss is very shaken by now, but still not totally convinced.
After they leave the White house grounds, he expresses his doubts to Bubba, who again implores him to name anyone else.
"The Pope," his boss replies.
"Sure!" says Bubba. "My folks are from Germany. I've known the Pope a long time."
So off they fly to Rome. Bubba and his boss are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when Bubba says, "This will never work. I can't catch the Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards so let me just go upstairs and I'll come out on the balcony with the Pope."
And he disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican. Sure enough, half an hour later Bubba emerges with the Pope on the balcony. But by the time Bubba returns, he finds that his boss has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics.
Working his way to his boss' side, Bubba asks him, "What happened? Are you ok?"
His boss looks up and says, "I was doing fine until you and the Pope came out on the balcony and the man next to me said, 'Who's that on the balcony with Bubba'?"
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Paris Hilton Sidekick Hacker Sentenced
By Susan Rush at wirelessweek
The hacker who compromised the information on Paris Hilton's Sidekick II earlier this year plead guilty to hacking her cell phone account. The guilty party is a 17-year-old, whose name is being kept under wraps because of his age.
In February, phone numbers from the hotel heiress' Sidekick II wireless device, which makes use of an online server, were posted on the Internet.
At the time of the incident, T-Mobile USA said it was investigating the incident and encouraged customers to use passwords and monitor account activity. The teenager was sentenced to a juvenile detention center where he will serve ? months.
T-Mobile USA confirmed the teenager was the hacker and told Wireless Week in an e-mailed statement, "We are pleased the individual has been brought to justice."
The hacker who compromised the information on Paris Hilton's Sidekick II earlier this year plead guilty to hacking her cell phone account. The guilty party is a 17-year-old, whose name is being kept under wraps because of his age.
In February, phone numbers from the hotel heiress' Sidekick II wireless device, which makes use of an online server, were posted on the Internet.
At the time of the incident, T-Mobile USA said it was investigating the incident and encouraged customers to use passwords and monitor account activity. The teenager was sentenced to a juvenile detention center where he will serve ? months.
T-Mobile USA confirmed the teenager was the hacker and told Wireless Week in an e-mailed statement, "We are pleased the individual has been brought to justice."
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
You are a worker on a project. The weekly status report meeting is in progress. As the Project Manager goes from person to person getting status, here is what develops:
- Mary says, "98% complete, just a few details left!" (You know that Mary hasn't started yet.)
- John says, "No problems here." (John has not been home in 3 weeks.)
- Maureen says, "We'd be finished now, but I want to be really perfect." (Yesterday she asked you if there were any windows that opened on the 30th floor.)
- Harry says, "Going smoothly, boss" (He spent most of this morning drafting a new resume.)
- Then, Donna says, "Well, there are a few glitches, we may be a few days late..."
At that last word, the PM jumps out of his chair, pounds a fist on the desk, and says, "Donna, this is a high priority project that has to be finished by the due date or heads will roll! Work harder, work smarter and have a full explanation of the problems on my desk before you leave! Do you know what the 30th floor will do to me, what they will do to us, if I tell them we'll be late?"
Now it's your turn and you feel sweat beads forming on your forehead. Yeah, your portion of the project looks bad today but some good things could happen... maybe the tooth fairy will visit... maybe you will win the lottery... Sure, you could finish on time. So you say, "Going as planned, we'll be ready."
The PM nods sagely, gives you the briefest of smiles and looks at the team member to your right. The sweat beads fade and you look over at Donna with head downcast like a death row inmate.
----
This is why this joke developed over time... "How do you tell the difference between a car salesman and a software salesman?"
The car salesman knows he is lying.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Other than making very strong rope, I was wondering what else they could be used for
Carbon nanotube TV
Carbon nanotube TV
Monday, September 05, 2005
Saturday, September 03, 2005
I heard a bit on a radio program about this, don't know if it's being grown in the US yet, but this is interesting stuff...
CSIRO - BARLEYmax� - new barley for better health
CSIRO - BARLEYmax� - new barley for better health
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Gads
Gads, it is good that no one bid on this. Unbelievable…
eBay: Wi-Fi Speed Spray DramaticalIy Increase Data Throughput
This seller has sold a sidekick and a bunch of Motorola Q phones (perhaps before they're generally available) so other than this, appears to be an ok eBayer, strange indeed, to try to “pull” something over on unsuspecting wifi users...
eBay: Wi-Fi Speed Spray DramaticalIy Increase Data Throughput
This seller has sold a sidekick and a bunch of Motorola Q phones (perhaps before they're generally available) so other than this, appears to be an ok eBayer, strange indeed, to try to “pull” something over on unsuspecting wifi users...
Sunday, August 28, 2005
The weekend
The weekend was spent in MN, on my way to a set of business meetings in Philadelphia.
Family is all doing well, niece was surprised at her “surprise” house warming. (Real Estate tip: buy houses in Eagle Lake, MN a small town about 2 miles from Mankato.)
Saw this quote on the wall at my sister’s:
Always behave like a duck, keep calm and unruffled on the surface, but paddle like the devil underneath.
Family is all doing well, niece was surprised at her “surprise” house warming. (Real Estate tip: buy houses in Eagle Lake, MN a small town about 2 miles from Mankato.)
Saw this quote on the wall at my sister’s:
Always behave like a duck, keep calm and unruffled on the surface, but paddle like the devil underneath.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Here, here... get your drives backed up. NYTimes.c...
Here, here... get your drives backed up. NYTimes.com: Circuits Newsletter
In garage matters, I have more drywall up (only about 3 sheets left) and the remaining lights. Things are really shaping up in there now… (of course, the taping and painting is a big project, too, but let’s not get into that right now)
In garage matters, I have more drywall up (only about 3 sheets left) and the remaining lights. Things are really shaping up in there now… (of course, the taping and painting is a big project, too, but let’s not get into that right now)
Sunday, August 21, 2005
More Drywall
Two more rows (sets) of drywall are in. I continue to find little “plumb” problems in the room…
Just in case you need to know: the adjective of plumb I’m talking about is “at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line”. Something the carpenter’s that built our house should have paid attention to, evidently.
I hope to finish dry-walling the west wall, get 4 more feet of joists in, get the last lights installed up in those joists – by the end of this week. This should mean that we can rearrange the former occupants of this room, such as refrigerator and freezer movement, throwing out more stuff, keeping what we want to keep, and not having to worry about rain, animals, or the yard people. Taping/plastering, painting, carpeting may take the next couple of months, time permitting, and we’ve decided to do the sliding glass door in the spring…
Just in case you need to know: the adjective of plumb I’m talking about is “at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line”. Something the carpenter’s that built our house should have paid attention to, evidently.
I hope to finish dry-walling the west wall, get 4 more feet of joists in, get the last lights installed up in those joists – by the end of this week. This should mean that we can rearrange the former occupants of this room, such as refrigerator and freezer movement, throwing out more stuff, keeping what we want to keep, and not having to worry about rain, animals, or the yard people. Taping/plastering, painting, carpeting may take the next couple of months, time permitting, and we’ve decided to do the sliding glass door in the spring…
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Cabinet's are in! I had salvaged these cabinets from Matt's bedroom years ago, and they've been in the garage for as long. Yesterday and today I used my car jack, numerous levers and the lower cabinets as a support base to "hoist" the cabinets into position and mount them on the back wall (the new wall) in the garage.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
San Fran Joins Wi-Fi Craze (someone needs to tell this guy that it's San Francisco, not San Fran, it's also not Frisco!)
Wireless Week newsat2direct 08/17/05 Table of Contents page 2
Wireless Week newsat2direct 08/17/05 Table of Contents page 2
Monday, August 15, 2005
A bit more progress on the tackroom project - I have most of the siding installed on the outside wall. I've been working inside as well, with the insulation of the walls finished and the
n a few sheets of drywall up and installed.I found out that the room is not square, oh surprise, surprise. I think the height of the west wall is about 3 inches shorter than the east wall... Oh, well, it was just a garage, right?
I have 2 of the recessed ceiling light fixtures installed and wired, I'll probably apply power to this circuit in the next day or so, which will improve lighting as I continue to work :-)
Thursday, August 11, 2005
All you need is an Industrial cryogenic cooling device and you too can make your computer go 10x faster!How to overclock to 7GHz - Engadget - www.engadget.com
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Electricity... hmm.. Yes, I want to write some about that today... I did nail in three more rows of outside boards are on the wall now. The big news of the day, however, is The electrical is now all complete. I finished wiring in the last box and tested each, and magic, I have 110 volts in each wall socket. BREAK OUT THE CHAMPAGNE!
This made me think about that old WAV formula, and I'm not talking about sound files. In case you forget that standard old formula from high school physics, here it is:
Watts = Amps x Volts or WAV W=AxV
Watts are the basic unit of power, and other than being equal to the product of volts and amps, is defined as equal to one joule per second. If you want to convert Watts to Horsepower, multiply by 1.341E-03.
so remember that Watts is a unit of power having the dimension of time (energy per unit of time) Your power bill has a number of KWH or kilo-watt-hours or thousands of watt-hours. Volts are the unit of force, kind of like the force of pressure in a water hose (but let's not mix water and electricity, please!)... The thing is .. if your consumption of electricity increases rapidly, the power company compensates but "pushing" more electricity down to the substations and to the power transformers on the poles and eventually into your house! That's their job...
so W = A x V + A x V (of newly turned on appliance) + and so on
W = A x 110 + A2 x 110 + A3 x 110 + etc.
or, simplified
W/110 = A + A2 + A3 + etc.
the more things you turn on, the more watts (or thousands of watts = kilowatt) you turn on because each appliance is contributing it's own amperage "component" to the circuits in your house. When we say a circuit is rated for 20 amps, what we are saying is that the fuse in the fuse panel is going to blow or melt or trip or whatever at 20 amps of current flowing through that circuit. This is good, because if too much current flows because of this and that appliance being turned on, then the wires heat up to much and at the extreme, could cause a fire. (think of this like the water hose, but with the idea of more pressure being pushed down the hose as the appliances are turned on-- eventually, the hose would burst).
My power supply for my own laptop computer is rated or listed as 100-240V 1.5Amps, 50-60hz with the 50-60hz being the frequency at which the alternating current cycles back and forth. When I plug this into a 110 volt outlet, the W=110x1.5 = 165watts. It also lists that power it supplies to the laptop is 19.5volts, 4.62amps, 90watts and voila 19.5x4.62=90.09! So, where are the missing watts going! Feel the power supply, it's warm and indeed some of the power does get wasted in the transformation of power from one voltage level to another, thus the heat as the wires in the transformer get warm.
BTW, who is the Watt named after? What country was he/she from?
Hope you enjoyed the electricity lesson :-)
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Julia did not get into the finals, but she shaved 3 seconds off her breaststroke time to 31.66. So best times in freestyle and breaststroke, but she didn't too so well in butterfly. She had a great time at the pool, it was very hot, but still she had fun with her friends. Her teacher from 2nd grade was there, watching her daughter on another team, so plenty of socializing.
We had a 3 hour power outage here today, started about 4pm, right when it was it's hottest (~102F). We got out of the house (there was an awards event for the swimmers, anyway). When we got back, it seemed to take forever to get the house cooled down. And this is what we pay the electric company 15-20 cents per kwh. Highest rates in the country and no sign of letting up. The paper said that they were asking for another rate increase and that they wanted to close all of their customer service offices. Nowhere else can you declare bankruptcy and come out with the customers footing the bill... :-(
We had a 3 hour power outage here today, started about 4pm, right when it was it's hottest (~102F). We got out of the house (there was an awards event for the swimmers, anyway). When we got back, it seemed to take forever to get the house cooled down. And this is what we pay the electric company 15-20 cents per kwh. Highest rates in the country and no sign of letting up. The paper said that they were asking for another rate increase and that they wanted to close all of their customer service offices. Nowhere else can you declare bankruptcy and come out with the customers footing the bill... :-(
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Julia won her heat in freestyle this morning, but didn't get into the finals, she did her 25 yard freestyle in 24.06 seconds, her best time by another 4 seconds. Her 24.06 put her in 24th place for all the heats, the leader was at 20.something, so these heats are all very tight. She's a little bummed by all of this, still young to understand it all. Of course, there were other bigger kids on our team who weren't making the times they wanted to either, and there were some real tears being shed some of the time.
She must of messed up her stroke in butterfly (she's usually pretty good at this stroke) because she was DQ'd. And that's how our day at the pool ended on Saturday!
I have 2 rows of outside boards now nailed in on the new wall in the tackroom. It's been staying hot outside until about 700 or 730pm, so I can't expect to get much else done.
She must of messed up her stroke in butterfly (she's usually pretty good at this stroke) because she was DQ'd. And that's how our day at the pool ended on Saturday!
I have 2 rows of outside boards now nailed in on the new wall in the tackroom. It's been staying hot outside until about 700 or 730pm, so I can't expect to get much else done.
Friday, August 05, 2005
It continues to be hot leading up to this weekend, I did get some insulation done on the west wall (pretty much complete with mostly 24" stud spaces. I also did one roll of 16" wide insulation in the new north wall... THEN I went out to find the outside planks for the new wall. They don't make the redwood v-grove stuff anymore, I guess it's too expensive, with redwood and all, I did find some "shiplap" that is pre-primed and in the right width. It's pine, but jeez, it's almost $18 for an 8 foot length, so my new wall requires about $370 worth of this stuff!Julia is swimming in the city meet this weekend, so we'll be at the Concord pool early, no construction in the morning hours :-) Oh well.
Shihan John Choi is having training in the park on Sunday. I have to time at the swim meet after that. It's going to be in the 100's by the time I have to do that...
I saw a dead bird yesterday, just in case you don't know, you're supposed to call "vector control" in some areas, like ours, so that they can test the bird for the virus. It's part of the transmission chain. Spraying for mosquitoes is one way to keep that population down and then spread of virus is limited. Otherwise, use a good repellent. I see that MN is also on the watched state list, so be careful out there!
CDC West Nile Virus Homepage
Looks like MN is on the map with 4 deaths, 1 in Lyon county, just to the west of Redwood county.
Do you guys hear much about this issue in MN?
We have problems in Solono and Sacramento counties, which are to the north and east of us, primarily along the Sacramento delta area, I think
CDC West Nile Virus Homepage
Looks like MN is on the map with 4 deaths, 1 in Lyon county, just to the west of Redwood county.Do you guys hear much about this issue in MN?
We have problems in Solono and Sacramento counties, which are to the north and east of us, primarily along the Sacramento delta area, I think
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Well, I got the final studs in place in the wall and the window installed. Hammered in some electrical boxes and ran romex to all of them. I still need about 6' of roamex to complete the "circuit" so to speak.I have to find the redwood sideboard for the outside of the wall, then insulate, and I should be ready for inside drywall.
Oh, the joys of intermittent construction...
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Monday, August 01, 2005
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Tackroom blueprint
Well, I have some stuff out of there, and I've taken measurements, and subsequently put the room into visio. Here is the blueprint with the minimal stuff, like our freezer and fridge --- the "kitchen" cabinets we took from Matt's bedroom.
Way too much to do...
Other exercise gear has to go in here yet. And I'd like to find some carpet to go down, so the floor isn't too hard for karate training...
Later...
What's blogging? This NYTimes article gives you some ideas, this lady is turning her personal life into something for everyone, and somehow, she's become celebrity status.
Reader, I Dated Him - New York Times
Reader, I Dated Him - New York Times
It has been hot here, jeez, some days I can't believe it. This week, I've been trying to do outside things, like clean out the garage/tack room, but after about 1pm, you can't stand it much more. I have more to do, which is what my intent is today.
If you haven't heard, we're turning the tack room into an exercise room / dojo, and when it's done, it will be great, but there is soooo much stuff in there, it's hard to believe.
There are other projects, like the tree trimming, (see the picture for details) but I digress
So, my first post, won't be my last, I'll keep them coming, so you all can see what's going on out here...
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