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August 31, 2006

According to the Latest Polls...

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August 31, 2006

From Hurricane Harry... Well written political satire "lite" that's worth a read.

How To Negotiate With Terrorists

A peacemaker walks up to the left side of a line. A terrorist walks up to the right side of the line. The peacemaker introduces himself. The terrorist kills him.

A peacemaker walks up to the left side of the line. A terrorist walks up to the right side of the line. The peacemaker asks, "why did you kill my friend?" The terrorist kills him and rapes his wife.

A peacemaker walks up to the left side of the line. A terrorist walks up to the right side of the line. The peacemaker says, "Stop that!" The terrorist kills him, rapes his daughter and kills his wife.

A peacemaker walks up to the left side of the line. A terrorist walks up to the right side of the line. The peacemaker says, "I'll pay you $1000 if you stop attacking us." The terrorist agrees to the deal, takes the $1000, and kills him.

A peacemaker walks up to the left side of the line. A terrorist walks up to the right side of the line. The peacemaker appeals to the United Nations. The United Nations says the peacemaker is at fault. The terrorist kills him.

A peacemaker walks up to the left side of the line. A terrorist walks up to the right side of the line. The peacemaker now has a gun, and threatens to use it. Other peacemakers start chanting the old 60's whine, "Can't we all just get along?" The peacemaker hesitates. The terrorist kills him.

A peacemaker walks up to the left side of the line. A terrorist walks up to the right side of the line. The peacemaker tries to convince his peacemaker friends that the terrorists aren't going to respond to negotiations, but they insist that if he kills the terrorist it'll just make the other terrorists mad. The peacemaker reluctantly agrees to try negotiating again. The terrorist kills him., his entire family, and his neighbor's family.

A heated debate now ensues between the peacemakers who want to be nice to the terrorists and the peacemakers who believe that there can never be peace until the terrorists are all dead. While they are debating, the terrorists kill 15 more peacemakers.

A peacemaker walks up to the left side of the line. A terrorist walks up to the right side of the line. The peacemaker asks himself, "Which is more important: being liked by everyone, or protecting my family?" The terrorist pulls a knife to kill the peacemaker, but the peacemaker pulls a gun and kills the terrorist first. The United Nations condemns the peacemaker's use of unproportional force. Many of his peacemaker friends turn against him.

A peacemaker walks up to the left side of the line. A terrorist walks up to the right side of the line. The peacemaker apologizes for whathis friend did to the other terrorist. The terrorist kills him, his entire family and his neighbors, and threatens to destroy the city as soon as they develop a bigger weapon.

A peacemaker refuses to meet at the line because every time a peacemaker goes to the line the terrorist kills him. A terrorist walks up to the right side of the line and fires rockets into the peacemaker's town. The United Nations condemns the way the peacemaker provoked the terrorist by refusing to come to the line and meet with him.

Generations pass and not much changes until one day when the son of a peacemaker decides that the old strategy simply won't work. He walks up to the left side of the line a little early. As the terrorist approaches the right side of the line the peacemaker shoots him. Another terrorist approaches to replace the first, and the peacemaker shoots him too. This scene plays out several more times. Then a terrorist approaches carrying a white flag, but he also has weapons. The peacemaker shoots him. A terrorist next approaches with a ceasefire resolution from the U.N. The peacemaker shoots him also. A large group of terrorists approach and the peacemaker shoots them all and drops a nuclear bomb on the city they came from. The peacemaker continues killing the terrorists until the terrorists are all dead.

There is finally peace on earth and the United Nations takes the credit.

(No peacemakers or terrorists were harmed during the writing of this blog.) 

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August 30, 2006

Creative Commons

What is Creative Commons, you ask? Well, simply put, Creative Commons consists of a U.S. charitable corporation and a not-for-profit company in the United Kingdom that believes that all-out copyright has failed to help many artists and entrepreneurs gain the exposure and widespread distribution they desire. As a result, a significant number of them are increasingly open to "innovative business models" that ensure a return on their creative investment.

This is where Creative Commons comes into play, by offering a set of licenses on its Web site, free of charge.

In an article published today on cNet, Eric J. Sinrod explains that the debate over creative control has tended toward the extremes. At one end of the spectrum lies a total control paradigm that Creative Commons describes as a world in which every last use of a work is regulated and where "all rights reserved" notices (and then some) have become the norm. At the other end of the spectrum is an anarchical world in which creators enjoy a wide range of freedom but are vulnerable to exploitation.

Creative Commons seeks to offer creators methods to protect their works while also encouraging certain uses of them. It wants to improve a system marked by increasingly restrictive default rules with "a layer of reasonable, flexible copyright."

Will it work? Well, it's already gaining use. You may have seen it associated with photographic images shared on the Internet. And it does appear that Creative Commons is offering the flexible copyright options it envisioned at the outset. As always, time will tell whether it will inspire a true movement that gains even more momentum.

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August 30, 2006

Last Days on Earth

For thousands of years, different religions have warned Earth about Armageddon and the final days. We are now living in an age where scientists are adding their voices and their evidence in support of end-of-the-world possibilities.

The world's top scientists, including Stephen Hawking, considered the foremost living theoretical physicist, describe seven riveting scenarios detailing the deadliest threats to humanity in "Last Days on Earth," a special high definition 2-hour edition of "20/20" airing tonight. Using state-of-the-art visual effects, it will take viewers on a journey that is both breathtaking and terrifying, from the outer reaches of the universe to the inner world of DNA, with an around-the-globe tour in between.

Find out what would happen if a black hole entered the universe. How devastating would it be for a supervolcano to erupt? What would it look like if an asteroid were to collide with earth? The special provides answers from a scientific point of view.

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August 29, 2006

Your Emblem

Here's a way to personalize your car, motorcycle or boat that's as unique as your personality. YourEMBLEM makes plastic initials or words you attach that say, well, whatever you want. Like the model identifiers you see on most cars today -- S55, AMG, LX, etc. -- your chariot can reflect your own individuality. A fun idea.

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August 29, 2006

Steppenwolf - Memorable?

Wow! Did I hit a nerve or what? Honestly folks, when I asked Friday if Steppenwolf had recorded anything "memorable" besides Magic Carpet Ride, I was just checking to see how many remembered the band and the times. Turns out a lot of you remember not only John Kay and Steppenwolf, but feel very attached to the whole psychedelic era of rock.

In answer to my question, though, almost everyone tagged Born to be Wild as Steppenwolf's most memorable, followed by Magic Carpet Ride. But that's where the great divide begins. While most of you could only remember those two, some pointed to cuts that were their "favorites" (Sookie Sookie, a Don Covay cover; The Pusher, a Hoyt Axton cover; Don't Step on the Grass, Sam; a couple of you mentioned Rock Me... But there's a distinction between "memorable" and "stuff I enjoyed" or "If I had to pick the best cuts from Steppenwolf albums, these would be on my list."

The fact is, Steppenwolf never made it as a "great" band, partly because they didn't exactly know what kind of band they wanted to be. They experimented with a lot of things hoping something would stick. They were a little late for psychedelic, they did covers pretty well, they were inconsistent rockers and they dabbled with ballads. Good, but not great. In the end, they were a pretty good band best remembered for their biker following, the result of the movie, "Easy Rider" which put them on the map.

We tend to associate music with the times, especially our "growing up" years, and if we enjoyed either, our association is usually positive. I think that's the case here. Many of us grew up in the sixties and felt a part of the cultural (and music) revolution, and so we remember the bands that were a part of the times. But how many of the songs would most of us call "memorable" today? In the case of Steppenwolf, certainly Born to be Wild and Magic Carpet Ride... We still hear them in soundtracks and commercials today, for Pete's sake! But if this extremely unscientific pole is any indication, that's pretty much it.

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August 28, 2006

Jiffy Lube

Do you use Jiffy Lube for your auto service? You may want to watch this hidden camera exposé from Michael.

(Starts slow. Be patient.)

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August 28, 2006

I Do Dog Tricks

This is clever. Type in commands and the dog does them.

Thanks Barb!

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August 28, 2006

Minimum Wage

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August 25, 2006

Friday Fly-by

Today's fly-by is video from the cockpit of an F/A-18 as it launches from the aircraft carrier, performs aerobatics and lands back at the aircraft carrier to Steppenwolf''s "Magic Carpet Ride!" Makes you want to be a Navy jet jockey, doesn't it? Notice the rapid acceleration of the launch and the rapid deceleration of the deck landing.

I was just wondering: Did Steppenwolf ever record anything else that was memorable?

Have a great weekend all!

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August 25, 2006

Russian solves historic math problem

According to an article Wednesday in CNN, a reclusive 40-year-old Russian scholar has won the math world’s version of the Nobel Prize for cracking a conundrum called the Poincare conjecture -- a breakthrough experts say might help determine the shape of the universe. But perhaps even more interesting is that Grigory Perelman has shunned the Fields Medal and the associated monetary rewards (including a separate $1 million prize offered by the Clay Mathematics Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts) apparently because he is disillusioned with academia.

For those of you who don't travel in these circles, the Poincare conjecture is key to the field of topology, which studies shapes. It basically says that in three dimensions you cannot transform a doughnut shape into a sphere without ripping it, although any shape without a hole can be stretched or shrunk into a sphere.

I disagree. I also worked tirelessly to solve the Poincare conjecture myself and long ago concluded that you can transform a doughnut into a sphere by applying adequate hand pressure on all sides. It's a bit messy, but it can certainly be done...

Wish I'd known about the $1 million.

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August 25, 2006

Greenland's glaciers have been shrinking for 100 years

Greenland's glaciers have been shrinking for the past century, according to a Danish study, suggesting that the ice melt is not a recent phenomenon caused by global warming.

Danish researchers from Aarhus University studied glaciers on Disko island, in western Greenland in the Atlantic, from the end of the 19th century until the present day, concluding that "70 percent of the glaciers have been shrinking regularly since the end of the 1880s at a rate of around eight meters per year." The study, which covers 247 of 350 glaciers on Disko, is the most comprehensive ever conducted on the movements of Greenland's glaciers.

The study also showed new results on galloping glaciers, the name given to glaciers that surge very quickly for a few years, up to 50 meters a day, before advancing more slowly at a rate of 20 meters per year... Article

The controversy continues. Stay tuned for Al Gore's rebuttal.

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August 25, 2006

The Sony battery bug bites Apple

Less than two weeks after a battery recall affected more than 4 million Dell laptops, Apple Computer told customers Thursday to return 1.8 million Sony lithium-ion batteries used in Mac laptops because they could cause the computers to overheat and ignite. The recall affects only laptops that run PowerPC chips built by IBM and Freescale Semiconductor. It does not affect Apple's Intel-based models, including the MacBook and MacBook Pro.

Apple's recall covers 1.1 million batteries in the 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4 laptops sold in the United States from October 2003 through August 2006. The recall also covers an additional 700,000 batteries in laptops sold abroad, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Apple asked customers to consult their Support Web site or call a toll-free hot line, 1.800.275.2273, to determine whether they have a battery that is covered by the recall. A free replacement will be shipped to affected customers.

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August 25, 2006

Shannon's Birthday - A Big One!

It's almost impossible to grasp, and yet my third child is all grown up with a family of her own. Where did all the years go? I grabbed a few random photos from a CD archive of family photos that Steve and I compiled last year -- there are so many more -- and I was amazed at how the little girl standing on the table at Farrel's Ice Cream Parlor on Freeport Boulevard grew into a woman who served her country, pursued a career at Federal Express, married, and is now raising a family of her own. It's all happened much too fast...

Happy Birthday, Princess

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August 24, 2006

Remember Twenty Questions?

It was a popular parlor game that became a radio game show in 1946 and later a TV quiz show in the 1950s and 1960s. In the TV version, a panel got to ask twenty questions in order to identify a mystery object. You may remember "Is it animal, vegetable or mineral?" and "Is it bigger than a breadbox?" My parents and I used to watch the show regularly and try to outguess the panel.

Well, Michael turned me onto a Web-based version of the game called 20Q. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify an object known only to you based on your answers to questions. Its originators claim that, while it isn't correct all the time, it's right 80% of the time - 98% of the time if you let it ask 25 questions. It "won" four times in a row in 16 questions or fewer with my objects: a black cat, a watermelon, a sailboat and a watch. Give it a try!

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August 24, 2006

Star Trek Inspirational Posters...

...based on those delightful inspirational posters which have become a fixture of dentist's offices everywhere.

This new site, launched just last month, seeks to spin off "where no man has gone before." Some are pretty funny. Check out the whole series.

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August 23, 2006

The stitches are out!

I'm pleased to report that my stitches were removed yesterday and I couldn't be happier!

It all began innocently enough. What had appeared to be a small irritation near the bottom of my eyebrow turned out to be a skin cancer and the doc advised removing it using Mohs Micrographic Surgery. I spent most of a day having a slice taken, frozen and reviewed for pathology, then another, and so forth until the good doctor felt assured that he'd gotten all the cancerous cells. He opened quite a gaping flap - I was surprised!

After the stitching (he used dissolving stitches beneath the surface and then one continuous stitch on the skin surface rather than several separate stitches) he bandaged me up, gave me some post-surgery instructions and told me he'd see me in eight days for stitch removal. The pressure bandage made it look like there was a baseball taped to the side of my head for three days following the procedure! The pre-op instructions had dictated I arrange for someone to drive me home (I'm sure I could have driven myself!) so I called Dawn to chauffeur me.

The hardest part? For me, it was keeping the wound perfectly dry except for daily applications of Vaseline and fresh bandages, and avoiding bending over at all costs (essentially no physical activity.) Oh, and no alcohol, not even wine! Nada. Zip. I managed fairly well, but not being able to wash my face or hair for a week was, well, challenging. Wifey did the heavy lifting but, let's face it, it's all but impossible not to bend over. And you don't realize you're doing it until you're down and, at that point, you have no choice but to stand back up...

Anyway, the stitches are out. The wound still aches and is a little red, probably a reaction to the stitch removal, and will apparently be tender for some time. I'm to smear Vaseline on it 2-3 times a day to aid healing. The really good news? I was able to take a regular, completely-under-the-showerhead shower this morning and wash my hair and face! I feel human again!

Too much information? Then I'll leave you with this completely unrelated cautionary observation...

• In 1981, Prince Charles got married, Liverpool was crowned soccer champions of Europe, Australia lost the Ashes Tournament, and the Pope died.

• In 2005, Prince Charles got married, Liverpool was crowned soccer champions of Europe, Australia lost the Ashes Tournament, and the Pope died.

• In the future, should Prince Charles decide to remarry, somebody warn the Pope.

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August 22, 2006

Rafting the American River

I came across this photo the other day of Dawn and me rafting the Middle Fork of the American River, a white water adventure that included both Class III and Class IV rapids. What a blast! That's us in the front of the raft (Dawn had just gotten drenched as we buried the bow, but no one fell out and she held onto her paddle!) The Middle Fork offers wildlife, pristine beaches, challenging rapids and unsurpassed beauty. For those interested, the Middle Fork will flow this year through September.

We're very fortunate to live in an area where there are so many outdoor activities right in our backyard. The photo reminded me that we haven't been rafting in a few years and should perhaps plan another trip next spring...

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August 22, 2006

This is kinda funny...

Microsoft Security website shows Apple Mac and says ‘you’re clean’

Mac fans recently enjoyed a good laugh at Microsoft's expense thanks to MacDailyNews. Seems MS used a stock image on their security page that turned out to show a Mac laptop (bottom right) and MDN called it to everyone's attention.

All kidding aside, though, many companies use stock photo agencies for their ad graphics as MS apparently did in this case (top image). The image at bottom left shows the original image from stock agency Fotosearch. And many, if not most, agency photographers use Mac laptops in their shoots because they're easier to photograph (and look cool, too.) MS has since replaced the embarrassing graphic with one of a mother and child checking their laptop. (Hmmm... Still looks like a MacBook, but with the white Apple logo removed.)

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August 21, 2006

Postcards from the California State Fair

Dawn and I look forward to the State Fair each year and usually go two or three times in order to take in the full experience -- the kids with their livestock exhibits, the craft displays, the product demonstrations, the rodeo, the horse races -- and we always ride the giant ferris wheel and the tram at least once. Both give us a bird's eye view of the fairgrounds and, let's face it, ferris wheels can be pretty romantic at night. We take a pocket camera to record the fair "atmosphere" -- I'll try to post some of images later in the week.

Meanwhile, I thought you might enjoy a slide show compiled by one of the Sacramento Bee's premiere staff photographers. During the past three years, Manny Cristostomo spent his summers taking pictures at the California State Fair for a series called "Postcards From the State Fair." Hundreds of "postcards" were published in the newspaper and on-line at sacbee.com. Here are some of his favorites.

This is streaming from the Bee's server, so it may require broadband. Also, it may require a free "subscription" to the web site. Enjoy the slide show and "See ya' at the Fair!"

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August 21, 2006

Timeline of Computer History

Established in 1996, the Computer History Museum is a public benefit organization dedicated to the preservation and celebration of computing history. It is home to one of the largest collections of computing artifacts in the world, a collection comprising over 13,000 objects, 20,000 images, 5,000 moving images, 4,000 linear feet of cataloged documentation and 5,000 titles or several hundred gigabytes of software.

Explore the site and learn (or be reminded of) the interesting history of computers. Among numerous interesting pages is the Timeline of Computer History, a brief pictorial of how computers began and how they evolved into a ubiquitous part of our culture. Very interesting.

The site made me recall our own company's computer history. We first dipped our toes in the water with an NCR 399, a magnetic stripe accounting machine that we quickly outgrew it. We migrated to an IBM System/3, a batch processing workhorse.

Neither possessed the speed and capacity necessary to keep pace with our growth (and batch processing was awkward for our workflow), so when IBM introduced the System/38, we ordered the first or second in Sacramento.

The System/38 was, by today's standards, a huge hunk of hardware that, once we'd added its maximum capacity for drives and memory, required its own large computer room and heavy duty air conditioning system. Fortunately, IBM eventually provided a migratory path to the AS/400 family within which we happily reside today with their iSeries.

Out of necessity we also installed PCs, originally IBM's and later a variety of generics. With the iSeries, we currently utilize a melding of both the iSeries and IBM PCs.

I also remember giving my youngest son, Jamie, an Atari 800, his first of many personal computers. At eight or nine years old, he showed a keen interest in personal computers that continues today and manifests itself in the computer geek we know today as "James." 

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August 21, 2006

A Moment on Earth

On August 5th, 2004 at 12:00 noon GMT, and again exactly 12 hours later, 60 filmmakers around the world set out to capture a single moment on earth. With participants in over 40 countries and on all 7 continents, the events and heroes that they captured span a spectrum of emotions and speak to what it is to be human and alive on Earth today. The moments form the first two pieces of Satellite Films' original series, A Moment on Earth™.

This mosaic was created using thousands of images from the different moments that were captured for the first film in the A Moment on Earthª series. The larger picture it creates shows images from the first moments in Iraq and the Pacific Ocean. You can 'fly' your mouse over the moment and click to see larger images, read about the individual moments and, in time, leave comments on what you see.

Click on the image to access

At its heart, the ‘Moment on Earth’ series attempts to take an unfathomable concept – the diversity of events taking place all around our planet in a single moment – and capture them, trapping the moment in such a way as to make it tangible and visual.

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August 18, 2006

Littlewalks

Have you ever stopped to think about how the world looks from the little tykes point of view, always looking up, often from within the constraints of a baby stroller? Well, Alison Brown, a mother of two preschoolers living in New York City, decided to film a summertime walk in New York from a stroller's vantage point, taking time to look at all the things youngsters love, like boats, trucks, animals and more. Her idea is that her video, and I assume she'll be making more, allows you and your toddler to take a virtual stroller ride through some of the most exciting places in the world -- anytime and whatever the weather. And she's offering the video (VHS or DVD) for sale.

I think the concept sounds promising, although I suspect that some lazy parents may prop Junior up in front of the TV and flip on the DVD in lieu of taking him for a real walk. But that aside, I'd like to see what a toddler thinks of it. Take a look and see what you think. If you decide to give it a try, let me know how your kidlets enjoy it.

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August 18, 2006

On Orienteering

Dawn and I are always looking for interesting activities we can pursue outdoors. Hiking, kayaking and biking are high on our list, as is discovering, exploring and photographing new places. We both possess a keen sense of adventure and love of nature, so when we learned of a sport called orienteering, we wanted to give it a try.

Orienteering is a competitive form of land navigation on foot. The object is to locate control points by using a map and compass to navigate through the woods. Think of it as speed hiking or off-road running with the added suspense and excitement of a treasure hunt. The courses may be as long as 6 miles and, fortunately for us, the sport is suitable for all ages and degrees of fitness and skill.

Our introduction to the sport came April 23rd. Dawn had read that the Gold Country Orienteers were staging their first 2006 meet at Sacramento Bar and thought we should give it a go. So with little knowledge (but a willingness to learn) we dove head first into orienteering. It was a lot of fun!

I should point out that, it being our first effort, we didn't actually "compete." We didn't even run. We decided that our goal was simply to finish and to learn a bit about using the furnished map and our borrowed compass. Competition, we reasoned, could come later after we'd gotten a handle on following the designated course, interpreting mapped contour lines, avoiding poison oak and locating control points in proper order.

Needless to say, we didn't win. But, even with my old knees, we managed to finish the White Course in the 7th best time, 80:55, 19:48 behind the winner and 53:37 ahead of last place who must have gotten lost. We learned a little and enjoyed ourselves immensely in the process. We now have a handle on what skills we need to hone if we want to compete, but perhaps more importantly, we know that we don't need to worry about winning as long as we're having fun. And we certainly did!  Wiki  I  Related story

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August 18, 2006

Friday Fly-by

Another great demonstration of low level flying in an F-16. Makes you want to be a fighter pilot, doesn't it? Notice the rain on the tarmac getting sucked into the intake? Cool!

Have a great weekend!

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August 17, 2006

Thanks!

This Web site gives you an opportunity to send a free printed postcard to U.S. soldiers stationed overseas showing your support and appreciation for their service to our country.

The mission of Let's Say Thanks is to provide a way for individuals across the country to recognize U.S. troops stationed overseas. By submitting a message through this site, you will send a free personalized postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women.

The postcards, depicting patriotic scenes and hometown images, were selected from a pool of entries from children across the country.

All you have to do is click on your favorite design (there are several) and either select the message that best expresses your sentiment or draft a personal note. The postcards are then printed on the Xerox iGen3® Digital Production Press and mailed in care packages by military support organization Give2TheTroops®.

Thanks Jeff. I agree, it's a good thing.

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August 17, 2006

Headphones with a Purpose: Best Headphones for All Your Audio Needs

While there's no one perfect, Holy Grail of headphones out there, here's a great roundup of headphones suitable for users with specific audio needs from productdose.

The E500 PTH from Shure seems just right for my iPod and the Grado Series: GS 1000 would serve nicely with my stereo equipment (if I ever get it working right) but, really, isn't $1500 over the top for a couple headphones? But I'll leave it to you to make your own "wish list."

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August 17, 2006

Why We Think the Way We Do

Do men and women think alike? Well, that's a no-brainer: Of course not. Although 99 percent of our genes are the same, that 1 percent makes all the difference, as neurologist Louann Brizendine explains in her new book, The Female Brain (Morgan Road). A few nuggets adapted from the book by Lucy Silberman:

• Although male brains are larger by about by about 9 percent, women have the same number of brain cells packed more densely into a smaller skull.

• A baby girl's skills in eye contact and face studying improve more than 400 percent during the first three months of life. Making eye contact is "at the bottom of (the boy baby's) list of interesting things to do."

• Men use about 7000 words a day, women about 20,000.

• "Connecting through talking activates the pleasure centers of a girl's brain...[providing] a major dopamine and oxytocin rush, which is the biggest, fattest neurological reward can get outside of an orgasm."

• "Oxytocin [the "love" hormone] is released in the brain after a 20-second hug from a partner--triggering the brain's trust circuits."

• "The sexual desire trigger for both genders is the androgen testosterone... men have on average ten to 100 times more testosterone than women."

• When she's under stress, a woman's desire for sex and physical touch shuts down, perhaps because "the stress hormone cortisol blocks oxytocin's action in the female brain."

• Men have two and a half times the brain space devoted to sexual drive as women do, as well as larger brain centers for action and aggression.

• "Rejection, it turns out, actually hurts like physical pain because it triggers the same circuits in the brain."

• Men notice subtle signs of sadness in a face only 40 percent of the time; women pick up on them 90 percent of the time.

So you see, it's not rocket science after all. Women work at understanding what makes them tic, while men are often simply dazed and confused. So it would do us all a lot of good to understand, not just our own controls and motivations, but those of our female partners. And this book might be a good start.

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August 17, 2006

Zune

Microsoft is rumored to be working on a media player called "Zune" in their Xbox line to compete with the iPod. Also rumored, they'll offer a music and video download store like the iTunes Music Store.

Supposedly, they'll even provide WMA copies of songs that "switchers" from iPods have purchased from the iTunes store. However, according to statistics, most iPods are filled with music copied from CDs and other sources, so the incentive lacks, well, incentive.

But given their size, all Microsoft has to do to be successful (read profitable) is have an "okay" offering. Many of their minions will buy the latest MS copy of someone else's innovation. In marketing, (user base) size matters.

But with the patchwork of rights on each song protected with WMA (some you can burn to CD, some you can't; some you can burn more times than others; some you can download to players, some you can't) and prices all over the map, I have to wonder about their potential lasting popularity.

Of course, this is all rumor and speculation. But news like this always brings a sizable, albeit temporary, jolt to Apple's stock, resting at 68.13 (+0.15) as I write, up from around $50 when news of Zune hit the street. A Microsoft copy of an iPod... What "innovation" will they bring to market? WiFi? Pre-loaded video? We'll see.

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August 16, 2006

OK Go (on treadmills)

Ever wonder how people dream up stuff like this?

A+ for originality. And it's fun! Snazzy dressers, too!

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August 16, 2006

"In Case of Free Bird*, use iScorch"

When your favorite band blows the roof off the joint, pay them tribute with iScorch!

Gone are the days of burnt fingers! Strained thumbs are banished to the land of wind and ghosts! Save the fuel in those lighters for the more important task of killing yourself by smoking!

The next concert you go to, you’ll be paying homage to the band not with a lighter but with iScorch and iPod.

Download iScorch for iPod Video, Nano or Photo and hold your iPods high! Be the first to usher in a new era of musical appreciation.
 
Come on baby.....Light.....My......Fire.........

*1973 Lynyrd Skynyrd classic for those of you too young to remember

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August 16, 2006

Says it all

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August 16, 2006

More on Dell's massive laptop battery recall

You're probably aware of Dell's problems with their laptops catching fire and the CPSC's order for what will be the largest recall ever in the consumer electronics industry after an investigation led to the discovery of a problem in the battery cell manufacturing process. But you should be aware that other brands of laptops may be in danger of overheating and igniting as well. The batteries were manufactured by Sony between January 2004 and February 2006, and could be present in laptops from other companies and other portable electronic products.

The subject batteries were sold to Dell and other unnamed companies as well as being used in Sony's own Vaio laptops. Sony, however, isn't issuing a recall since, they say, the risk depends on the system configuration and factors such as whether the batteries are aligned in parallel or perpendicular order, and their proximity to heat sources like the processor and power supply. I suppose that means that the problem of some batteries overheating and igniting was caused by Dell's laptop configuration which exposed a flaw in the Sony batteries. That would account for Sony sharing the cost of the huge battery recall with Dell.

Dell customers can find out more about the recall by visiting the company’s Web site or by calling toll-free to 1-866-342-0011, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. U.S. Central Daylight Time.

As for other manufacturer's laptops and electronic devises that may utilize the subject Sony batteries, I haven't found an inclusive list. Sony won't divulge the names of other customers who purchased the batteries citing confidentiality agreements. And since no other company to my knowledge has issued a similar recall, I suppose we'll need to do our own homework to see if we're affected. But terms like "proximity to heat sources" and "parallel vs. perpendicular alignment" don't give us much to go on. Whatever Dell did was apparently wrong, but we're left in the dark, at least for now, as to what specifically that was.

Upon hearing of the recall, Apple Computer at least issued a statement that they're investigating whether they're affected. We'll see. More info here and here.

David Attenborough: The Lyrebird

In April 2006, to celebrate naturalist David Attenborough's 80th birthday, the public were asked to vote on their favorite of his television moments. This clip of the lyrebird was voted number one. A Lyrebird is either of two species of ground-dwelling Australian birds, most notable for their extraordinary ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds from their environment.

If you have difficulty viewing the clip on the host site above, it can also be viewed here.

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August 15, 2006

Album Art

Type the name of a CD/DVD or artist in the search field ... and Albumart.org will find lots of high quality CD and DVD covers within seconds!

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August 15, 2006

An Insider's Guide to Food Labels

Few people know that the food coloring listed as cochineal extract comes from female beetles. Food activists want to spread the word

When you dig into a strawberry Yoplait yogurt, take a moment to contemplate where the beautiful pink color comes from. Strawberries?Think again. It comes from crushed bugs. Specifically, from the female cochineal beetles and their eggs. And it's not just yogurt. The bugs are also used to give red coloring to Hershey (HSY) Good & Plenty candies, Tropicana grapefruit juice, and other common foods.

You won't find "crushed bugs" on the list of ingredients for any of these foods, however. Companies have a bit of latitude in describing exactly what they put in our food. Many larger companies, such as General Mills (GIS), the manufacturer of Yoplait, and Pepsi (PEP), the maker of Tropicana, identify the dye in their products as either carmine or cochineal extract. Still, many companies simply list "artificial color" on their ingredients list without giving any details. ... Continue reading

This article gives you the inside scoop on what's in the foods we eat. Be sure to watch the slide show...

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August 15, 2006

Starbucks Offer

If you're out and about tomorrow, drop into your neighborhood Starbucks for a complimentary Iced Café con Leche (That's an Iced Coffee with Milk for you non-bilinguists.) They're apparently offering them between 1-3 P.M.

That should help you beat the heat...

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August 14, 2006

Heart Attack Grill - Home of the Double Bypass Burger

Frank sends this invitation to a "real man's" burger joint that's sliced out a unique niche in the marketplace. Hmmmm. I think we have a client in Tempe, Arizona I really should visit...

Click on the image to learn more. Seriously.

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August 14, 2006

Tesla Motors

Now here's something I could get into for the sake of ecology...

Click on the image for more information.

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August 14, 2006

2006 Concours d'Elegance

Car aficionados from around the country will drive their classic cars from Kirkland, Washington to Monterey, California in the second annual Pebble Beach Motoring Classic, August 8-16. More than 20 of the world’s most exotic vehicles — ranging from two rare '20s Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts and a pair of late '50s Ferrari California Spyders, to a Ghia Chrysler and a seldom-seen Bugatti — will make the 1,500-mile trek to participate in events surrounding the August 20 Pebble Beach Concours. Some of the vehicles are past entrants; others will participate in the Concours for the first time.

This year’s tour adds an overnight stop at the Kenwood Inn, located in California’s wine country, along with a visit to a private collection in Petaluma.

Pebble Beach Road Racing Cars to be Featured at 2006 Concours

ong before today’s road racers were born, sports cars roared along the roads of Monterey’s serene Del Monte Forest during the Pebble Beach Road Races, from 1950 to 1956. Nearly unnoticed during that time was a car show that debuted in 1950 as an adjunct to the main racing attraction.

To celebrate this unique period of Central California automobile history, the former car show, which this year celebrates its 56th anniversary as the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, will honor the Road Race participants and showcase some of their vehicles.

The Road Races, which annually attracted as many as 40,000 spectators, ran through the tree-lined roads of the Del Monte Forest featuring future driving legends like Phil Hill (1961 World Driving Champ) and Carroll Shelby (inventor of the Shelby Cobra and winner of the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans). Hill captured the first feature race in 1950 as well as the '53 and '55 events, and Shelby took the checkered flag in the final forest event in 1956. Other winners during the event’s seven-year run included Bill Pollack in 1951 and '52 and race-organizer Sterling Edwards in '54.

The 1.8 mile 1950 course was lengthened to 2.1 miles of partially paved streets in 1951. The death of driver Ernie McAfee in 1956 caused officials to move the event off the road course in Pebble Beach. As a result, a nearby race track was built --- the facility that is now known as Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

The Concours features some of the most exotic automobiles in the world

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August 11, 2006

Friday Fly-by

Today's fly-by is a video clip showing stall testing of an F-22 Raptor. The first sequence shows the test pilot's view and includes both sides of communication with ground control. The second sequence shows the same stall and recovery from outside the cockpit with communication from ground control only. It's an awesome aircraft and great footage.

Have a great weekend!

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August 11, 2006

GM To Show Off First Drivable Hydrogen Car

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- General Motors Corp. has achieved a milestone in its quest to bring a hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle to market, announcing that it now has a drivable version of its Sequel concept car.

The Sequel, which looks like a shrunken minivan and has a range of 300 miles, will be shown to reporters next month in California, GM Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner said Thursday during a speech at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City.

But production and sale of the Sequel is a long way off. Wagoner wouldn't give a time estimate for when the public could buy one. "That's rocket science when you get in that car," he said. "This is the most sophisticated product, technologically advanced product I think we've ever made in the history of GM."

Nearly all automakers are testing hydrogen-powered vehicles across the country, with many in use by government workers. The testing has received support from a 5-year, $1.2 billion hydrogen initiative first announced by President George W. Bush in his 2003 State of the Union address. ...

The pollution-free technology holds the potential of zero emissions and a sustainable source of energy produced when hydrogen and oxygen are mixed. Experts say they could begin arriving in showrooms by 2020, or perhaps earlier.

But many obstacles exist including the high cost, relatively small range and a lack of fueling stations. ...

I still say that no viable replacement for fossil fuel will emerge from all this research until the oil companies can monopolize its distribution.

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August 11, 2006

This could be a major breakthrough...

Scientists Make Discovery in Alzheimer's

Scientists have discovered molecular janitors that clear away a sticky gunk blamed for Alzheimer's disease _ until they get old and quit sweeping up. The finding helps explain why Alzheimer's is a disease of aging. More importantly, it suggests a new weapon: drugs that give nature's cleanup crews a boost.

"It's a whole new way of thinking in the Alzheimer's field," said Dr. Andrew Dillin, a biologist at California's Salk Institute for Biological Studies who led the new research.

The discovery, published Thursday by the journal Science, was made in a tiny roundworm called C. elegans.

What do worms have to do with people? They're commonly used in age-related genetics research, and the new work involves a collection of genes that people harbor, too. Dillin's team from Salk and the neighboring Scripps Research Institute already is on the trail of potential drug candidates.

About 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's, a toll expected to more than triple by 2050 as the population grays. The creeping brain disease gradually robs sufferers of their memories and ability to care for themselves, eventually killing them. There is no known cure; today's drugs only temporarily alleviate symptoms. ... More

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August 11, 2006

"It's a heat wave..."

Sorry, don't remember who sent this, but thanks! It was 100+ yesterday, but forecasts call for a "cooling down" to the mid-90s for the next few days...

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August 11, 2006

California State Fair opens today

This year's theme is "Superstars and Superheroes," a tribute to the caped crusaders and matinee idols that have permeated popular culture. The Hall Of Heroes exhibit in the Expo Center will feature costumed characters, autograph-signings, and original comic book paraphernalia.

Concerts will include a wide variety of music from Kenny Loggins, the Village People, Ted Nugent and Ciara, among others.

New this year is the Pop Rocks show, a nightly tribute to popular musical superstars from Elvis to Dolly Parton to Tina Turner and even Usher. Starting with a parade and ending with a fireworks display, the show will take place on a specially constructed stage perched over the lagoon.

The 2006 California State Fair officially opens on today and runs through September 4.  Mondays are closed, open Labor Day. Info here and here.

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August 10, 2006

Cox & Forkum

More details here and here.

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August 10, 2006

If you have indoor cats, this is for you

We do, and they refuse to share one litter box (can't say I blame them) so this goes on our list of possible solutions if the "teach your cat to use the toilet" project doesn't pan out. Of course, we'd need a room addition to accommodate two of these things...

Watch the demo to see how it works. (via Gizmoto)

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August 10, 2006

What X-Men character are you?

Take the short quiz to discover your inner mutant.

I love this series, although the last installment didn't measure up to the first two (The second was, by far, the best.) If you never read the comic and somehow missed the movies, you probably won't get as much from this exercise. But try it anyway, then go rent the movies. (Shouldn't it be "Which?") Via Sacramento Bee.

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August 10, 2006

Water as fuel?

Michael sent this a couple months ago and I'd misplaced it...

This is amazing if it works as reported in this clip. Imagine replacing gasoline in our cars with... water? Of course, the water must be ionized and then distributed, and the oil companies have a lock on current distribution channels, so I'd expect them to control the price of the processed water. I can almost read the headlines now: "It didn't rain last week, so expect a rise in the price of water at the pumps this summer..."

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August 9, 2006

It's here...

In his keynote address at WWDC on Monday, Steve Jobs unveiled the new Mac Pro, a quad Xeon, 64-bit desktop workstation featuring two new Dual-Core Intel Xeon processors running up to 3.0GHz and a new system architecture that delivers up to twice the performance of the Power Mac G5 Quad. The redesigned Mac Pro enclosure accommodates up to four drives and 2TB of storage, offers 8 DIMM slots to fill with up to 16GB of RAM, provides up to two SuperDrives, four PCI Express slots, more I/O ports including two additional ports up front, and three graphics card options. With build-to-order options available for processors, graphic cards, memory, hard drives, optical drives, and other features and components, the über-configurable Mac Pro offers more than 4 million possible configurations. The new work station, shipping now, completes Apple's full line conversion to Intel processors in just 120 days.

Jobs also previewed Mac OS X version 10.5 Leopard, the sixth major version of Mac OS X, to its third party developers. Leopard, scheduled to ship in spring 2007, extends Apple’s leadership in software innovation with groundbreaking new features, including Time Machine, a revolutionary new way to automatically back up and restore everything on your Mac, and Spaces, an entirely new way to instantly switch between groups of applications required for various tasks.

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August 9, 2006

Here we go again

Not looking good...

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August 9, 2006

Unusual Hotels of the World

Looking for something a little different on your next vacation? Scroll through the hotel "unusual types," select one, then check out the matching hotels. Rated by "wow factor," they range from relatively docile to outrageous. If you crave an escape from the mundane and are looking for a new travel experience, this site may bring you inspiration.

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August 8, 2006

Cyclist

Arnold sends this great workup he created using Photoshop...

"It is a collage of three images joined with Photoshop. Two of the images are studio shots combined and placed into the outdoor environment. (That is me [sort of] 'riding' the bike. I exposed them using the self-timer with the camera on a tripod.) All the movement depicted in the image was achieved using blurring functions in Photoshop.

It was a very time intensive process to erase me from the shot and leave only the clothing riding the bike. Believe it or not, though, the hardest part is 'grounding' the bicycle to the road so it does not appear to be floating above it. I am still not completely happy with that aspect of the image."

Really nice work, Arnold!

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August 8, 2006

Cox & Forkum

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August 8, 2006

Baby Got Book

I'm not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, I know it's become quite popular with Christian teens, and I know that Dan "Southpaw" Smith intended it to attract young people to church. On the other hand, I'm conflicted about using a parody of something like "Baby Got Back" to connect with young, impressionable minds. I've heard it said that anything to get kids to church is okay, but...  Here's the video clip. Yes, it's catchy and yes, it's a funny parody, but... Let me know what you think.

The lyrics for this and some of Dan's other pieces are on his site in case you want to, uh, rap along.

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August 7, 2006

Rinspeed Splash sets Channel record

Swiss concept-builder Rinspeed has set a record for the fastest crossing of the English Channel by a hydrofoil car. The Splash was piloted by Rinspeed CEO Frank M. Rinderknecht.

The cross-channel trip took place on July 26th from the British port of Dover to the French town of Sangatte and required 193 min 47 sec, a long way outside Sealeg’s world record for an amphibious vehicle set last year at 43 minutes and 12 seconds. To be fair, the Sealegs weighs in heavily on the water-going side of the amphibious vehicle equation, and the best by an amphibious car is still owned by Sir Richard Branson in the Gibbs Aquada at one hour, 40 minutes and six seconds.

The outright record attempt by Rinspeed was effectively scuttled in the first third of the journey when a massive wave caused a problem which considerably slowed the top speed for the rest of the passage. Although the outright amphibious vehicle record remained intact, and the amphibious car record also remained unscathed, there’s a new record for hydrofoil amphibians which has been set by Rinspeed and its outrageous Splash concept car.

Unlike many amphibious cars, the Splash has extendable hydrofoil wings, which were modified to cope with the high waves of the Channel. It is powered by a two-cylinder, 750cc Weber engine, which delivers 140bhp and 110lb/ft of torque, and is capable of up to 50mph on water.

View more photos here and watch a video chronicling the record-setting crossing here.

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August 7, 2006

"Must see TV" ... Think we're getting the straight news from our MSM? Watch this...

Welcome to Pallywood

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August 7, 2006

Ah, sweet justice...

Waitress gets own ID when carding patron

WESTLAKE, Ohio - A bar waitress checking to see if a woman was legally old enough to drink was handed her own stolen driver's license, which was reported missing weeks earlier, police said.

"The odds of this waitress recovering her own license defy calculation," police Capt. Guy Turner said Monday.

Maria Bergan, 23, of Lakewood, was charged Sunday night with identity theft and receiving stolen property. She was arrested at her home in suburban Cleveland and was jailed in Westlake to await a court appearance.

The 22-year-old waitress, whose name was not released, called police last week and said she had been handed her own stolen driver's license by a woman trying to prove she was 21. The woman, who became suspicious of the delay as the waitress went to call police, fled the Moosehead Saloon, but her companion provided her name.

The waitress said she had lost her wallet July 9 at a bar in Lakewood.

The victim also had a credit card stolen. The stolen card has been used to make $1,000 in purchases, Turner said.

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August 4, 2006

Friday Fly-by

Rather than a video clip, today's fly-by is an image from 'JJ' of an F-16 Fighting Falcon demonstrating "sudden takeoff." Awesome shot!

Have a photo you'd like to share? Send it to me here.

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August 4, 2006

yoyo@263.net

Lindu is one of the pioneers among Flash artists. He submitted his early works in late August 2001, a month after Xiao Xiao published his world famous stick figure fights series. His shorts were immediate hits on the internet. Unlike Xiao Xiao, his work was not well-known outside of China because it is story oriented. Nevertheless, he currently serves as a story board artist for several animation clients and studios. Lindu was born in 1979, attended college but never graduated, and is currently a free lance artist. This is a sweet example of his work. Love the French song. More of Lindu's work here.

Click image to view. Requires Flash.

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August 4, 2006

Still too early to say I told you so in my July 13 post, but...

Castro's illness sparks speculation, rumors

MIAMI, Florida (AP) -- Celebration in the streets of Little Havana gave way Tuesday to speculation about the state of Fidel Castro's health and what would happen in Cuba if he were to die, while county officials activated a rumor control hot line.

Castro remained out of sight Tuesday after undergoing intestinal surgery and temporarily turning over power to his brother Raul. Some in Florida speculated that the leader who has defied the United States for nearly half a century already could be dead.

"When a man has been in power for so long, they don't tell people at first. I am afraid that when people begin to realize that he is dead, the real fight for power will begin..."

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August 4, 2006

Mel Gibson Media Frenzy

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August 3, 2006

World's Smallest Political Quiz

Dolores sent this some time ago and I'm just getting around to posting it...

This test is fun and takes less than a minute!

You'll be asked 10 questions and be told instantly where you stand politically. It shows your position as a red dot on a "political map" so you'll see exactly where you score.

The most interesting thing about the quiz is that it goes beyond Democrat, Republican or Independent. The quiz has gotten a lot of praise. The Washington Post said it has "gained respect as a valid measure of a person's political leanings." The Fraser Institute said it's "a fast, fun, and accurate assessment of a person's overall political views." Suite University said it is the "most concise and accurate political quiz out there."

Ready? Begin.

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August 3, 2006

Some Words about Words

• "Typewriter" is the longest word that can be made using the letters on only one row of the keyboard.

• "Go" is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.

• No word in the English language rhymes with "orange," "silver," "purple," or "month."

• "Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand.

• The sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter in the alphabet.

• The only 15-letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is "uncopyrightable."

•  "Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in "mt."

• Only 4 words in the English language end in "douse": "tremendous," "horrendous," "stupendous," and "hazardous."

• The letters of the alphabet in order of frequency of use are:  E T A I S O N H R D L U C M F W Y P G V B K J Q X Z

• Five words begin with "dw": dwarf, dwell, dwelling, dwindle, dwy.

• The 3 longest words without using a vowel are: "crwth" (pronounced krooth), which is a type of stringed instrument, "llwchwr," a city district in Wales, and "rhythms."

• The longest one-syllable word in the English language is "screeched."

There. Now don't you feel smarter?

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August 2, 2006

Death by Caffeine

Hmmmm... Looks like I'd better cut back. Thanks Barb!

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August 2, 2006

Canadian Seal Hunt

The Atlantic Canadian seal hunt has long been the center of controversy between animal rights advocates and the people that say it is their livelihood. Whatever your position in the matter, you should know that Canada's annual seal hunt is the largest slaughter of marine mammals on the planet. This year the Canadian government allowed fishermen to club and shoot more than 330,000 baby seals in the North Atlantic... Last year, 98.5% of the seals killed were two months of age or younger.

I can't imagine a legitimate reason for killing thousands of baby seals -- If anyone believes there is one, I'd like to hear it.

You should also know that these seals do not belong to Canada. They are migratory and as such belong to the world. Sealers are paid for each seal killed, and the activity is condoned by the Canadian government which reaps an economic benefit. Without an economic counter incentive, nothing will change, so HSUS is hoping to provide one. As an individual, you can help protect seals by joining HSUS's Canadian seafood boycott.

Don't think you have a dog in this fight? Watch the slide show below, check out HSUS's web site, especially the video, then decide for yourselves. This is just wrong.

Thanks Eleonore!

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August 1, 2006

WWII planes get a model tribute in Davis

The Davis/Woodland Aeromodelers hosted their 12th annual Wings of Victory air show this past weekend at Mavis Henson Field in Davis. The 200-member club allows only WWII warbirds, all radio-controlled, some with wing spans of 10 feet, their builders striving for museum quality. Story with photos (May require free subscription.)

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August 1, 2006

F14 Tomcat RC

Another in the series of "Big Boy's Toys" from James...

I never got into radio controlled airplanes when I was a kid, but if these had been around then, I think I might have!