Drobo
Finally, reliable mass storage for all of
us!
UPDATE:
If you are interested in buying one, go to http://www.drobostore.com and be sure to use this special code: EVBLANKGM so you get the $25 instant rebate. Act soon, because the $25 rebate expires on December 31, 2007.
Call or write me if you want to know more.
UPDATE:
If you are interested in buying one, go to http://www.drobostore.com and be sure to use this special code: EVBLANKGM so you get the $25 instant rebate. Act soon, because the $25 rebate expires on December 31, 2007.
Call or write me if you want to know more.
| Read More |
State to Child Molestors: The Candy Store is Open
I say, if a child is having sex and the parents
are not involved then I do not want my tax dollars being continually dumped into
medication that a sixth grader can get for free but neither my nor my wife's
health insurance will cover for my wife.
| Read More |
Revisionist History: Global Warming
In any case - the point is that even 15 years
ago, when Global Warming was just a whisper, scientists were still teaching that
long term warming and cooling of a planet was the natural evolution or
life-cycle of all celestial bodies.
| Read More |
Epson R1800
First, with the dwindling availability of
external connections it was nice to get a printer that supported both FW and
USB. Secondly, it came highly reviewed and thirdly it allowed the direct
printing to CD/DVD (using appropriate media of
course).
The latter is kind of a biggie for me as my hand-writing is atrocious and I have had some pretty bad experiences with printing to labels and sticking them on CD/DVDs.
...Less than a year after having the printer Apple OS upgraded and Epson Upgraded their drives and since then I haven't been able to reliably print to CDs or DVDs. Each company points at the other and of course Epson continually tells me to download the latest drivers (not updated in a year now), connect directly to the computer bla bla bla.
...Oh - and the EZ CD Print software won't even recognize the ability to print to CD if you connect via USB.
...Insert CD into printer according to instructions (i.e. remove paper, open CD slot, put CD on sleeve, push CD Load button) 2.
...CUPS Error Log shows: I [07/Oct/2007:11:22:55 -0400] Job 1868 queued on 'Stylus_Photo_R1800__FW_' by '[userid removed prior to posting]'. I [07/Oct/2007:11:22:55 -0400] Started filter /System/Library/Printers/Libraries/PrintJobMgr/Contents/MacOS/PrintJobMgr (PID 348) for job 1868.
When using the Manual Print option from within the EZ CD program - the printer power light flashes, the CD moves in and out slightly then ejects. The process moves the CD through the printer like it wants to print the label - but never actually prints anything.
The latter is kind of a biggie for me as my hand-writing is atrocious and I have had some pretty bad experiences with printing to labels and sticking them on CD/DVDs.
...Less than a year after having the printer Apple OS upgraded and Epson Upgraded their drives and since then I haven't been able to reliably print to CDs or DVDs. Each company points at the other and of course Epson continually tells me to download the latest drivers (not updated in a year now), connect directly to the computer bla bla bla.
...Oh - and the EZ CD Print software won't even recognize the ability to print to CD if you connect via USB.
...Insert CD into printer according to instructions (i.e. remove paper, open CD slot, put CD on sleeve, push CD Load button) 2.
...CUPS Error Log shows: I [07/Oct/2007:11:22:55 -0400] Job 1868 queued on 'Stylus_Photo_R1800__FW_' by '[userid removed prior to posting]'. I [07/Oct/2007:11:22:55 -0400] Started filter /System/Library/Printers/Libraries/PrintJobMgr/Contents/MacOS/PrintJobMgr (PID 348) for job 1868.
When using the Manual Print option from within the EZ CD program - the printer power light flashes, the CD moves in and out slightly then ejects. The process moves the CD through the printer like it wants to print the label - but never actually prints anything.
| Read More |
Eponymous Computer Laws - Required Knowledge for Every Computer
Professional
Over the years I have really enjoyed some of
these, so I share them with you - what I call the Eponymous Computer Laws -
Required Knowledge for Every Computer Professional.
| Read More |
And all this time, I thought usury was illegal in the U.S.
For years I thought that usury had been illegal
in the United States. However, while recently watching a television program one
night I came across one of those advertisements with very small print. Luckily
I had TiVo and I paused the unit to read the small print. What I read shocked
me so much that I grabbed my little pocket camera and took this
picture.
...Listen, back in the 80's when my bank was returning 8% on savings and credit cards were charging me 18% on loans I figured that was ok. I mean, the bank is taking a risk on you, and they are letting you use their money. Now today I must admit that I am more than a bit miffed when the average savings return is well below that 8% and yet the average credit card rates are upwards of 30%.
...Listen, back in the 80's when my bank was returning 8% on savings and credit cards were charging me 18% on loans I figured that was ok. I mean, the bank is taking a risk on you, and they are letting you use their money. Now today I must admit that I am more than a bit miffed when the average savings return is well below that 8% and yet the average credit card rates are upwards of 30%.
| Read More |
Insanity + Stupidity = 30 killed students
Today we see again why our government gave it's
citizenry the right to keep and bare arms. Yet, somehow this tragedy will be
turned around by those who wish to ban guns. While well meaning, these people
are completely misguided to the point of causing multiple needless deaths on a
growing and unprecedented scale.
| Read More |
Out with a crunch
Those of you who read my blog know that no good
holiday goes un-punished.
...The morning arrived without children at our home - so that is to say that it arrived without any expectation or excitement. That is until a few moments after we had let our dogs out.... I looked out the window to see her running frantically towards the house and our middle Husky (Sam) crawling on the ground using only his two front legs.
As the basement door opened I heard her scream that she needed me outside now!
...I lifted him as carefully as possible and we rushed him the 40 miles to the local emergency vet. Despite the obvious great amount of pain he was in, he never became tempermental. The only sounds he made were the occasional whimper and bark he always lets out when on the way to the vet. They informed us they would have to keep him overnight. They showed us some x-rays and said that he had a compression in his spine. They wouldn't know the extent of the problem until they got him to a neurosurgeon for a consult and that couldn't happen until at least the 26th.
The next morning we went and picked him up and took him another 40 miles to the neurosurgeon.
...On the 27th they informed us that they were going to operate.
...Four times a day he can come out of his crate for 10 minutes.
...The morning arrived without children at our home - so that is to say that it arrived without any expectation or excitement. That is until a few moments after we had let our dogs out.... I looked out the window to see her running frantically towards the house and our middle Husky (Sam) crawling on the ground using only his two front legs.
As the basement door opened I heard her scream that she needed me outside now!
...I lifted him as carefully as possible and we rushed him the 40 miles to the local emergency vet. Despite the obvious great amount of pain he was in, he never became tempermental. The only sounds he made were the occasional whimper and bark he always lets out when on the way to the vet. They informed us they would have to keep him overnight. They showed us some x-rays and said that he had a compression in his spine. They wouldn't know the extent of the problem until they got him to a neurosurgeon for a consult and that couldn't happen until at least the 26th.
The next morning we went and picked him up and took him another 40 miles to the neurosurgeon.
...On the 27th they informed us that they were going to operate.
...Four times a day he can come out of his crate for 10 minutes.
| Read More |
Hate Mail
Many local news outlets picked up on this story
of an inflammatory racist e-mail circulating around Maryland government offices,
but to date only one has printed the whole story. I guess Maryland is not as
in-tolerant as they claim to be when it comes to racism.
| Read More |
Debate over the First and Second Ammendments
One of the most heated arguments in modern society
is that over the First and Second Amendment rights. These two Constitutional
Amendments deal with a number of concerns including that of free speech, freedom
of Religion, and the gun control
question.
The Declaration of Independence says what we believe to be wrong with England and states why we are forming our own nation. The Bill of Rights state what we are going to do different from England in our new country and specifically state what the rights of the citizens of America will be.
Don't cheat - read at least the Declaration and the first ten Amendments, and try to understand them before entering into this discussion.
The Declaration of Independence says what we believe to be wrong with England and states why we are forming our own nation. The Bill of Rights state what we are going to do different from England in our new country and specifically state what the rights of the citizens of America will be.
Don't cheat - read at least the Declaration and the first ten Amendments, and try to understand them before entering into this discussion.
| Read More |
My New Categorization
During the airing of NBC's Today Show on Tuesday
15 August 2006, I noticed that NBC has re-classified me from White, to Non
hispanic Speaking White.
| Read More |
Another Slam Against Men Airs on NBC's Today Show
In yet another recent example of how the only
valid target in today's media is white males (for reference material on the
topic read any book by Bernard Goldberg - former news producer) NBC's Today Show
recently ran an expose entitled "Slackers Without
Shame".
The target of this news article was men, who stayed home, while their wives worked. The folks over at NBC found this idea appalling, calling such men as the title informed us "Slackers Without Shame".
The target of this news article was men, who stayed home, while their wives worked. The folks over at NBC found this idea appalling, calling such men as the title informed us "Slackers Without Shame".
| Read More |
The collective mind of the party is eternal Winston
If you haven't read 1984 - you
should.
| Read More |
We are just watching out for our bottom line
Again - I find myself in the small, hardly
noticeable, percentage of corporate errors.
| Read More |
The Things a Class Action Are Made Of
Well, came the response, you can still use it and
use the QUICKEN BILL PAY feature - just export your MAC data to the WINDOWS
machine and use that version of QUICKEN to post your payments.
| Read More |
The Joys of Medical Benefits
I understand that, companies these days deal with
a great number of people, and in doing so a small percentage of errors will
occur. But do I always have to be the person who falls within that small
percentage?
| Read More |
DAPO
Maryland Senate Bill 983 was sponsored by Senator
Stone. It passed the Senate with a vote of 45-0. It was then sent to the House
of Delegates - where it was killed by one single person.
| Read More |
If we didn't laugh - we'd have to cry
Anyway - it's good to see that he hasn't lost his
sense of humor. If he wasn't able to make us laugh from time to time, we'd
probably be in tears of sorrow.
| Read More |
What am I thinking?
Today I have taken a day off from work in order
to get involved in my local State politics.... Doesn't everyone know there are
a couple of rules that go hand in hand with politics?
| Read More |
You have to ask why people take Ambien?
Ambien you see is a sleeping aid and it warns the
user that when taken - you must be careful to dedicate a full 8 hours to
rest.
| Read More |
Rosa Bonheur Update
These rules are posted on the Gimpy Dogs website
but will be cited here as well.
| Read More |
'Tis the Season - But not for Rosa Bonheur Memorial Pet Cemetery
A news article airs on the local news station
(WBAL in Ball-tee-more) about a local pet cemetery. Being the owners of four
Siberian Huskies, the news article catches my wifes attention.
| Read More |
I WIN!
These past couple of weeks have been pretty
horrible. I don't know if it's the holiday depression, the annual mung that is
floating around the offices of both my wife and myself that have kept us on the
edge of eternal sickness, the heart-break over the discovery of a local pet
cemetery (gimpydogs.com or gilsstills.com ) that has fallen into ruin, or just
coming to grips with the fact that we are living on borrowed time with our
oldest dog.
| Read More |
Another case of the pot calling the kettle black
While Judge Alito had a brief inactive membership
with the Concerned Alumni of Princeton for which he was quite literally raked
over the coals - Senator Kennedy has had a 50 year active contributing
membership in the Owl club.
| Read More |
Battles with mod_rewrite
This block checks the entire request for the
string "echo" and then returns a FORBIDDEN (ERROR 303) page to the requesting
host.
| Read More |
Computer Books are worthless
This week I almost reached the end - you know
that breaking point we all have were you stop trying to solve your problem and
you begin to look for a long barreled weapon and a tall building?
| Read More |
For everything else - there's the DOJ
The latest volley of U.S. Government censorship
places an undue economic burden on adult content providers. What exactly is the
cost?
1) $500,000 (half a million US Dollars) per year to store the information required by the new regulation
2) Total loss of any anonymity for all performers
3) Total inability to ever lock your doors and leave the facility
And that's if you adhere to the law! What if you don't?
One second of video could cost you 6,740 years in prison and $300,000 in fines. ONE SECOND!
1) $500,000 (half a million US Dollars) per year to store the information required by the new regulation
2) Total loss of any anonymity for all performers
3) Total inability to ever lock your doors and leave the facility
And that's if you adhere to the law! What if you don't?
One second of video could cost you 6,740 years in prison and $300,000 in fines. ONE SECOND!
| Read More |
Stand Alone TiVo Series II and DirecTV
I was quite elated when I heard that DirecTV (my
programming provider) and TiVo were going to work together. Over the years,
this relationship has soured. Unless they get their acts together - I am but
one customer who will have to choose between them.
| Read More |
These are driving me nuts
I don't mind when people use common vernacular in
their speech or writing, but for God's sake - use it correctly.
| Read More |
Today's Childish Prank May Be Tomorrows Multi-Billion Dollar Virus
Students Charged with Computer Trespass.
According to CNN, the students and their families are outraged, but school officials rebut that they students were only turned over to police after other school levied punishments failed to dissuade the students from their activities.
According to CNN, the students and their families are outraged, but school officials rebut that they students were only turned over to police after other school levied punishments failed to dissuade the students from their activities.
| Read More |
Digital College Books?
But, if someone were to offer me a copy of that
same novel at a 33% discount and tell me it is only available in electronic
format, which I cannot print, and which expires after 180 days - I would tell
them to hug a root.
| Read More |
Jackson Jurrors Now Say He's Guilty
If you violate that oath, for example by voting
one way and then some time later going against that vote - then you should be
brought up on charges for violation of the public trust.
| Read More |
Once again the question of Japan, Vicitm or Foe?
August 6, 2005 - The Age ran one such article
entitled All too easy to call Truman a war criminal (registration or
"bug-me-not" required) in which they waxed poetic on the "prose" which will
certainly arise during the anniversary and which will make the claim that such
an act was, and is, a war crime "forever attaching shame to those who ordered
them".
| Read More |
Snack - or Meal?
After fifteen years of marriage - my wife still
gets confused on my 'rules for meals'.
| Read More |
Battlestar Galactica - Season One - UK Version
This was a well spent $50 - but don't expect any
extras.
| Read More |
In Texas It's ok to kill animals - as long as you didn't mean to be
cruel
Another story about government run amuck and
refusing to yield to the citizenry.
| Read More |
Racial profiling of arabs is wrong
When was the last time you turned on the
Television and tuned in to Univision for a good ole comedy about four white
middle-class un-employed youngsters who, although cannot keep jobs, appear to be
able to keep their Greenwich Village apartments?
| Read More |
There aren't enough taxes
Arkansas Democrat Senator Blanche Lincoln has
proposed the Internet Safety and Child Act of
2005.
I am for it for a number of reasons including:
- all tax money always goes where it was intended
- previous tax acts have worked so well
- there is nothing in our establishment to prevent it
I am for it for a number of reasons including:
- all tax money always goes where it was intended
- previous tax acts have worked so well
- there is nothing in our establishment to prevent it
| Read More |
Using our dead servicemen for political gain
From CNN comes a report of another politician without one single shred of dignity. Since the liberals are so fond of the phrase, I will repeat it here.
"You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency (sir), at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"
| Read More |
Ok - we have to throw the Bull$#!+ Flag On this one too
As our government is about to make an incredibly
important decision that has the ability to change the face of our nations laws
in the coming years, Robin Givhan of the Washington Post decides to write a very
incisive article with accompanying photo and tagline which reads "Even the
clothes are conservative".
| Read More |
She's Too Pretty To Be Sent To Jail for her Crimes
The story of Debra LaFave - a middle school
teacher in Florida who is accused of having had sex on multiple occasions with a
14 year old boy. Kids these days have NOTHING to complain about. Seems like
every time I turn on the news some young boy is getting laid by a hot female
teacher. And to think I went to school all those years simply to get an
education!
| Read More |
We've got to pass some laws - for the protection of our parents
When this song first came out I really liked it.
Little did I know the story behind the music.
| Read More |
Welcome to the Socialist Republic of America
This is a good law which has been twisted to
stifle your rights.
This is a law and interpretation that one WOULD expect to find in China, or the former Soviet Union, but not in the United States - especially when the US is trying to export freedom and democracy to Iraq.
But, perhaps thats the problem - perhaps we are sending so much freedom overseas, that there isn't any left for us at home.
This is a law and interpretation that one WOULD expect to find in China, or the former Soviet Union, but not in the United States - especially when the US is trying to export freedom and democracy to Iraq.
But, perhaps thats the problem - perhaps we are sending so much freedom overseas, that there isn't any left for us at home.
| Read More |
Where do I get that reporter?
"Michael Jackson didn't display the behavior
indicative of a child molester"
Well, neither do I, but I guarantee that if such charges had been brought up on me (not once, but multiple times) I would already be in jail.
Well, neither do I, but I guarantee that if such charges had been brought up on me (not once, but multiple times) I would already be in jail.
| Read More |
The Banshee
Well after the plumber left we got up on the
Lowes and Home Depot web sites - apparently everything is three handle
now.
| Read More |
16 Tons Part Duex (b)
Here are the pictures from this weekends dirt
fun-fest.
Unfortunately, my group image import doesn't place them in order - so consider them in no particular order.
Unfortunately, my group image import doesn't place them in order - so consider them in no particular order.
| Read More |
16 Tons Part Duex (a)
After our friends came over last week and helped
us move the first 10 cubic yards, here is what it looked like.
| Read More |
Arnold shouldn't be alone on this one
Desire, or greed for a lack of a better term,
gave us computers, the internet, cars, airplanes, trains, shipping, telephones,
cell phones, television, all manner industry including medical advances that
could not and would not have occurred in a communistic society where everyone
simply goes to work to do their job day in and day out without any hope of
raising their standard of living.
| Read More |
Ya dig 16 tons and whaddya get?
Now, one Short Ton (U.S. Ton) is 2000 pounds, so
10 cubic yards would be in the neighborhood of 12 Tons, give or take a couple of
tons.
| Read More |
Taking the good with the bad
Recently we got a new governor here in Maryland
and then we found out that the school districts were in trouble - quite a bit of
financial trouble - then our property value doubled.
| Read More |
Direct TV to over 13000 DirecTivo Customers "Bite Me"
In a sense, DirecTV has said to it's customer
base - "Hey, we listened to the options and features you said you wanted and,
instead of allowing your Tivo units to upgrade - we designed our own box that we
want you to pay a couple hundred bucks for - no need to thank us - we are just
doing our jobs and that's thanks enough, especially if we get to shaft you all
at the same time."
| Read More |
Junk Fax - Round 2: AKA The Best Senators Money Can Buy
Way back in 1776 we may have had taxation without
representation - but now we certainly have the best representation that money
can buy. Telemarketing money that is.
| Read More |
Fax Telemarketeers
"for Telephone Consumer Protection Act violations
such as:...........an unsolicited advertisement sent to your fax machine, .....,
you must provide the date and time of incident and for faxes, a copy of the
received, faxed document".
| Read More |
No More Deadbeats
The government wants all you deadbeats to pay
your bills. Mabey if taxes weren't so high you could.
| Read More |
Yet Another Site
My pages have moved, but they are still screwed
up by FrontPage remnants.
| Read More |
The Buck Stops .... Over There with My Employee
Dan isn't taking this sitting down. He isn't
taking it at all. After so many years of pointing out the flaws in others, it
seams that he is now taking his leave of CBS and at the same time allowing the
blame to be laid at the foot of one of his own employees.
| Read More |
First Ammendment Struggles
News-flash folks, there is no such thing as "the
separation of Church and State" - it's a myth, at least as most of you think of
it anyway.
| Read More |
F.U. Award: Symantec - for Techless Support and Forcing Needless OS
Upgrades
According to the crack staff at Symantec, I need
to upgrade my Windows NT Server to Windows 98 or
XP.
Did ya catch that? I needed to UPGRADE my Windows NT Server to Windows 98 or Windows XP.
Did ya catch that? I needed to UPGRADE my Windows NT Server to Windows 98 or Windows XP.
| Read More |
It's Your Fault I Gashed Your Tires
How long are we as netizens going to continue to
take these little malcontents who continue to release computer and data damaging
viruses onto the net? Isn't it time we find these sociopaths and castrate them?
(electronicallly speaking of course).
| Read More |
2004 - Maryland
Ok, so I figure that I better start writing these
stories or I will forget them. My wife accuses me of blocking them out anyway.
So, here are a few notes just as place holders for later
| Read More |
What I Want
I will try to keep this page - as well as the
individual vendors wish lists up to date.
| Read More |
2002 - Maryland (coming soon)
Ok, so I figure that I better start writing these
stories or I will forget them. My wife accuses me of blocking them out anyway.
So, here are a few notes just as place holders for later
| Read More |
Fri - August 10, 2007
Tue - July 17, 2007
Fri - March 16, 2007
An Inconvenient Truth
So inconvenient that Mr. Gore wants all of us to
change our ways - but apparently not inconvenient enough for Mr. Gore himself
to change his ways. Yet another story of politicians and politerati who want us
to do as they say, and not as they do.
Posted at 11:06 PM
| Read More |
Mon - October 9, 2006
I Can't take credit for this one
Sarbanes
309 Hart Senate Office
Building
Washington DC, 20510
Dear Senator
Sarbanes,
As a native Marylander and excellent customer of the
Internal Revenue
Service, I am writing to ask for your assistance. I have
contacted
the Immigration and Naturalization Service in an effort to
determine
the process for becoming an illegal alien and they referred me
to
you.
My reasons for wishing to change my status from U.S
. Citizen to
illegal alien stem from the bill which was recently passed
by the
Senate and for which you voted. If my understanding of this
bill's
provisions is accurate, as an illegal alien who has been in the
United States for five years, what I need to do to become a citizen
is to pay a $2,000 fine and income taxes for three of the last five
years.
I know a good deal when I see one and I am anxious to
get the process
started before everyone figures it out. Simply put, those
of us who
have been here legally have had to pay taxes every year so I'm
excited about the prospect of avoiding two of the last five years
taxes in return for paying a $2,000 fine.
Posted at 10:16 PM
| Read More |
Fri - July 21, 2006
No Good Deed
The author informed me that the number I was
dialing was on the do not registry list - and railed against this website for
it's mumbo-jumbo telemarketing pages, then continued that by asking for
donations I was placing myself in the same category as a
tele-marketer.
Posted at 01:20 AM
| Read More |
Fri - February 24, 2006
Sun - September 4, 2005
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Published On: Oct 28, 2007 05:51 PM
Published On: Oct 28, 2007 05:51 PM