Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Short Storyspreadsheet, Microsoft Excel


As someone who once co-wrote a story in a series of footers in excel, I lookforward to reading this.  Sent to you via Google Reader

Short Storyspreadsheet, a character study in Microsoft Excel

All the action, dialogue and each character's thoughts in separate columns.

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Sent from Newton 2.0 (iPod Touch)

nice girls don't talk about it?

Of all the topics in the world to be worried to talk about, sex seems to rank right up there, which is rather unfortunate as it is one of the most important and one of the most interesting to talk about. In San Jose there has been an on again off again attempt to filter the internet content at the local library all apparently based on the idea that we need to protect the young and innocent.

One of the best arguments I read AGAINST the limiting of information took the possition that "libraries ARE precisely controversial places. They're full of difficult and challenging ideas that are archived in books, articles and other kinds of media. And once you start filtering anything, you're opening the door to filtering everything. "

Which is why a website like healthguru.com is so important. I can not tell you how many wild rumours we heard growing up, even in a reasonable 'progressive' state like California - things like you can't get pregnant 'the first time'. I am sure there are even worse ones, some you may have heard yourself or even told friends yourself, believing they were true. Luckily, now there is a repository of information available to anyone with an internet connection.

Provided they are not being filtered out.

Monday, March 30, 2009

How to Improve the BSG Finale

[]

Hope everyone has seen the BSG finale by now, the week embargo of the streaming version expired last Friday, y'know.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

we are one

More and more these days, as the government, your bank or some e-commerce site wanting to get to know you better asks the demographic screening item, "What Race Are You?" and for more and more people in the United States, and to some extent, the world, that question is becoming more and more difficult to answer as national barriers become more flexible and people more tolerant.

If you are one of the people that never is quite sure what to put down in the box or what one bubble to fill in when faced with a question like this you might want to sign in and become a user of the first dedicated Interracial Chat site where Interracial people can have a unique place to meet and chat.

"Are there advantages to selecting one race over another when filling out forms?" "Are there funds, grants or scholarships you should know about?" Log in and chat up the other folks and find out!

Salute to the Past

Over at Davelandweb I am always learning new things about Disneyland, take today's history lesson about the Flags of the Nations, a set of Flags which on opening day were located in Tomorrowland near the TWA Moonliner in the heart of Tomorrowland. One year later, they were moved to the entrance of Tomorrowland to make way for the Flight Circle and Astro Jets.

Sadly, by the time of the “New” Tomorrowland of 1967, this tribute was a thing of the past.

Friday, March 27, 2009

camp town races

When you are a kid there often is no better time than the summer time, long days filled with nothing to do, everything to do or a mix of the two. I know there were some summers I felt like I learned more in those three months than I did for the entire nine months prior.

If you are looking for summer camps for your kids, you should think outside the usual and talk to them about a summer SKI camp. Hone those skills in the summer when you have the time and the patience to do it up right.

Ten day camps in the mountains of Oregon at the National Alpine Ski camp with gate drills, skill development and modern racing tactics and strategies on each run. Head for the hills with your skis an come home a champ.

missile command

In today's world you can never have enough training. You never know just how your industry or field will twist and turn and you have to be able to twist and turn with it if you want to stay competitive. A friends once heard one of their investors
use the analogy where you need to choose between being a city bus or a Stinger missile. The bus driver has a route, has a destination, and has an itinerary that he or she will stick to. In comparison, the heats seeking missile is engineered to adjust its target. Missiles get launched in a general direction but then change as it evaluates the landscape, always moving toward the thing that's hot, as it moves (and yes, it will move).

If you need to brush up with some MicroStation Classes then you have a few options. Stay current with 2D CAD Software the easy way and stay on target and keep pulling in that paycheck. Let others be the slack while you get the training an stay the super star.

garden groan

We inherited a lovely garden for the previous owners of our home and for that we are very grateful, the problem lies in the fact that often, some of the best lessons in life stem from your biggest failures. We came in with plants selected and drip irrigation system all in place so really all we had to do was occasionally mow the lawn, pick some roses or trim back a hedge or two.

When we were hit with bugs and snails we really did not know what to expect or for that matter, to do. We have some very tame feral cats living in the backyard so harsh chemicals were right out so for the most part we have subscribed to the pick and remove policy. This works fine for snails, although I have found they come right back – our poor zinnias will attest to that- but bugs?

Which why I was happy to hear about an amazing organic bug patrol kills over 40 insects, right on contact!

Safer® Brand Bug Patrol is a ready to use organic pest control concentrate that acts on all the lawn damaging insects you are likely to run into like as beetles, aphids, whiteflies, chinch bugs plus many others. It works on lawns, ornamentals, trees, shrubs and flowers Using natural pyrethrins (.024%) and postassium salts of fatty acids ((20%), you will see quick results on both hard and soft bodied insects – simply attach your garden hose and spray away.

Economical and convenient, plus OMRI Listed® and compliant for use in organic gardening. What have you got to lose except your pest problem while you gain the easy times in your yard this Spring and Summer.


Post?slot_id=34917&url=http%3a%2f%2fsocialspark

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Fwd: An Open Letter to the Hipster Dude on the Shuttle

> "I can understand the black nylon jacket and will give you a pass on
> the zebra print driver's cap, chunky glasses and designer facial hair,
> but a rhinestone skull and crossbone brooch? Seriously?"
>
> Regards,
> Your Fellow Traveler
>
> ---
> Sent from Newton 2.0 (iPod Touch)

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

To Catch a Thief

Man in front of me walking away from the train this evening, wearing
gloves and pulling a roller bag.

International jewel thief or was he just cold this morning? But if he
was cold then is he honestly still cold now - it's like 70F out now.

I like the idea of him being a safe-cracker despite the lack of safes
around here.

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Sent from Newton 2.0 (iPod Touch)

Where In the World

Just occured to me that I have not heard any Carmen San Diego updates
in a long time. Is she still at large? Is she behind bars?

Was she ... executed?

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Sent from Newton 2.0 (iPod Touch)

party comes to life

Have you made plans for an easter party yet? You are planning on having one, right? Egg dying, basket hiding, hot crossed buns, you know - all the trappings and traditions of the season.

I am guessing that everyone knows what a traditional Easter gathering normally looks like but have you given any thought that this will the year to start updating the day with some new traditions? Celebrations, a website for party planning ideas has posted their top ten ideas including, "The Great Easter Egg Hunt, "Cupcake Ideas," and "Novelty Easter Candy".

At our house we have caught the fancy cupcake making bug for the last year or so, we have even gone to the extent of having bough a few books with examples and patterns to use or adapt but with this website you can browse loads of fun new ideas all for free. Check it out and see if you don't agree with them, Easter can be done up right and done in a fun, fabulous and easy way. We have a new 4 year old niece in the family so this year should be extra fun, I hope her three year old cousin comes, too. There is nothing better than watching the holidays through the eyes of a child to bring you back to when you were that age and life was simpler and probably, more fun.

This has been a sponsored post.

Facebook All A'twitter

Never could put my finger on why t he change felt familiar but annoying and now I know why,

"...This change makes the new version of Facebook less informative. It also makes it more simple; more like Twitter"


And yes, one twitter is enough, thanks.

Monday, March 23, 2009

fun for all

Looking for a blog that has all the free kids fun ideas to help keep the kids entertained and learning at the same time? Well look no further because now, all in one place is the new destination for families of all kinds when you want to have a good time without having to go to great trouble or expense.

For example here in brief are their 8 great ideas for free fun, for all the details check out the full listing!

1. Take them to your local library.

2. Help them learn the fine art of cooking great cuisine.

3. (Look for) neighborhoods ... with free movie nights.

4. Play beauty shop.

5. Go on a fun treasure hunt.

6. Go on a picnic.

7. Put on a play.

8. Call your child’s school to see if they have any free fitness programs.

There's much more over at ModernFamily.com just waiting to be discovered, so turn off the TV, put down the Wii, and help your family get smart, stay fit and have fun together. Do you really want your kids memories of growing up to be of sitting in front of the television or watching their parents do only what interests them?

king of pop

The term 'Concert of a Lifetime' is a phrase that gets bandied about a lot but I think it is safe to say that seeing Michael Jackson in what is being billed as his final concerts would have to rank right up there with one of the great shows to go and see. But how are Americans going to get their Michael Jackson tickets at this point?

The easiest way is by heading over to: http://www.teamonetickets.com/michael-jackson-tickets.html or to save yourself some typing I have a handy link clickable link for you: Tickets to Michael Jackson.

You may never get another chance to see the 'king of pop,' live and in person. If you are like me you have seen the videos over and over but have never seen the man in person. Time is running out so if you are going to do it, the time to act is now.

Design a NYC Miniature Golf Course

Bonus points from me if you can work a dinosaur into your design.

Try your hand at designing a NYC mini golf course:

FIGMENT is building an 18-hole mini golf course on Governors Island and they are now accepting design proposals through March 31 from artists, designers, and other would-be mini Arnold Palmers. You should try your hand, I am. What have you got to lose?

The Challenge: Design and construct a single hole for this mini golf course, following the theme "City of Dreams." Designs will be judged and selected on creativity, structural integrity, playability, feasibility, adherence to theme and budget.

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Sent from Newton 2.0 (iPod Touch)

Sunday, March 22, 2009

cool breeze

Some times when you are looking to have some work done you want to go with the big names in the business but often, over time the big names start to forget about what made them so popular with their customers. Sometimes it almost seems like a law of nature: the big get too big and then the small take over.

If you are looking to have some work done in Texas and need help with your Austin HVAC Air Conditioner needs, then you need to talk to the people at Dayton Air Conditioning & Heating. They have been helping the people of the Austin area for almost twenty years so there is a good chance they have worked on your friends' or parents cooling system and are more than qualified to work on yours.

If you are like me you will like their commitment to building long personal relationships with customers and their well trained employees that have been with us them many years.

Customers and employees that have been around for a long time, a good sign in a business, don't you think? Call (512) 623-7047 and get the service you deserve and get a good night's sleep this summer.

Laser Blast – A Giant Cart


Laser Blast
Originally uploaded by Snaggs
Seriously, who wouldn't think this would look great on a couch? And I say this as an original Odyssey2 owner.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

always be calling

Are you searching for Loan Mod Leads – in this day and age they can be few and far between. So when you get them, it is in your best interest to make the most of them. Why not get the very best help from one of the leaders of Voice Broadcasting today and help turn calls into deals. Remember, Always Be Closing is not just a line from Glengary Glenn Ross, but a sound and time tested business reality.

Don't hesitate, get going and get in the game.

Friday, March 20, 2009

The Very Hungry Corporation

[, ]

Is this the first 'original artist' Google replacement logo? The info from the hover over claims this is by Eric Carle. Either way, very appropriate for the 'first day of spring'.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Video: Batman Logo Evolution

Not Lego, logo. Still, very cool. 

Sent to you via Drawn!

Video: Batman Logo Evolution


Ignore the lame music and check out this animated video of all the different Batman logos.


Bonus: move the slider back and forth and watch the bat kinda flap its wings.


More:

History of the Batman logo from 1939 to present by Todd Klein

The Daily Batman




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Sent from Newton 2.0 (iPod Touch)

say hello to cydcor

The best and most successful salespeople are those that know their customers, care about their product and who will still be there after the sale. The people at Cydcor know the best way to make friends is to help people who are less fortunate, work with and to give back to the community they are a part of.

Recently, as a part of showing their commitment to the community, a group of 70 Cydcor team member were given $50 to bring build-a-bears to the residents at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

See what they can do for you at their website.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

E Ticket

For one brief moment I forgot I was sitting in the upper balcony of
CalTrain and thought that I didn't remember the tracks being elevated.
Looking down on the houses they are building, it was almost like
being on the Monorail!

--

▓▒░ Please consider the environment before printing this ░▒▓

A Mormon Manhole Cover

Waiting for VTA and noticed the manhole cover says, "DO NOT DRINK." I almost resent the implication.

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Sent from Newton 2.0 (iPod Touch)

This was better than all the cats in Wales standing on the wall in a row.

this just in

Journalism and journalist are under fire more and more of late as the media landscape changes so quickly that sometimes it seems like people are getting hired and fired in the same day as long standing news papers with hundred year print runs go out of business in cities like Denver and Seattle and television stations in Chicago and other areas are put up for sale or shift their focus more toward entertainment and less toward real news.

Which is why it is so refreshing to read about Los Angeles' Channel 2CBS Anchor Laura Diaz. Starting with a BA degree in English from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Go Mustangs!) to her first on television job at KSBY-TV in San Luis to a reporter and anchor spot at Fresno's KFSN-TV she has always been on top of the news game.

Laura really made a name for herself as a reporter with KABC-TV covering the First Interstate Bank fire, the Northridge earthquake as well as the Los Angeles Riots – where she was briefly held at gunpoint. In 2002 Laura made the jump from KABC-TV to KCBS-TV to co-anchor both the 5 and 11 p.m. news broadcasts. She as been recognized by her peers numerous times, including eight Emmy Awards – in 2006 for Individual Achievement in Feature Reporting. Ms. Diaz also won back-to-back Golden Mike Awards in 2005 and 2006 for best feature reporting.

But anchoring the news is not all she does, Ms. Diaz also sits on the advisory board of trustees for The Joyful Child Foundation."

All in all, an amazing life and story, one that as they say on television is "one worth tuning in tomorrow for." This has been a sponsored post.

Large Old Nokia Phones

Today I have seen two people talking on what I would call antique
nokia mobiles. Cheap-skates or time travelers?

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Sent from Newton 2.0 (iPod Touch)

pin me

It may be to late to dress up your outfit for Saint Patrick's Day but there are many more holidays yet to come in 2009 so if you are looking for unique and attractive brooch pins or Novelty Lanyards, you need to look no further than Moonbaby.

I have two sets of picture IDs that I need for work and am constantly switching between them depending on what building or room I am heading into, so the idea of having a couple of Beaded Lanyards sounds like a very good idea plus has the added benefit of working on keeping me organized.

Don't just be part of the badge crowd, stand out a little with your own set of Designer Lanyards at prices that will not make you think twice about getting several - for different days of the week, for different outfits or for different holidays. They also have a selection of Awareness Jewelery where they work with your particular charity or nonprofit and design a custom solution that features your unique logo, colors or theme. Their beautiful beaded products are all 100% hand-made in America so the time from creation to delivery can be quite fast. Be sure to check out their ability to personalize any of their products with a huge selection of charms, too.

you, renewed

For those that have decided with the advice of their doctor or doctors that Breast Augmentation is necessary or desirable, the next step should be finding the right team to perform the work. This is not a matter to be taken lightly as many things are at stake: for example - your self-esteem and your long term health.

Which is why you should go to someone you feel comfortable with and has successfully performed the procedure many times over the last twenty years or more. Augmentation is not to entered in lightly, although many do just that, so take your time and travel the distance needed to find someone who is not only knowledgeable but passionate about cosmetic surgery - someone like John Ryan and the experienced and skilled surgeons gathered to form Make Yourself Amazing (MYA).

A note to parents: the linked site displays real images of before and after plastic surgery and may contain mature content.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Retro Fabulous

This morning walking to the train I noticed the guy in front of me was
sporting a Silicon Graphics messenger bag. I wanted to ask if he
worked there (are they still in mountain view?), used to work there
(didn't look that old), or was this a throwback bag?

People are again enamored by Pan-Am logo gear, why not hardware
companies? Note to self: see who controls Fairchild Semi logo and
trade dress.

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Sent from Newton 2.0 (iPod Touch)

hell fire

I have never experienced the well worn saga of ants ruining a picnic but I have had an invasion or four of ants in our house. Usually because some food, or more recently, some cat food has been left out. Sometimes I think it is simply because it is going to rain.

So I can only imagine how much worse a case of fire ant invasion must be. Fortunately there are various ways that their mounds can be eliminated if you read up on them.

Man can never truly tame nature but at least we can fight them to a holding action.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

writer's block

They used to say that starring at a blank sheet of paper was a sure way to induce the dreaded writer's block, but I guess now the current equivalent would be staring at a blank new document. I am guessing that blank fie is made only worse knowing that just a few clicks away and you could be checking your Facebook or MySpace account, downloading some new music or seeing who was saying what over on Twitter.

Well none of those things are going to help you get started on that term paper, in fact I am going to get they are the reason you are staring at a blank file as it gets ever closer to sunrise and time to hand that essay in.

Well, what if I told you there was a free and legal essay site that was designed to help college students with your term papers? All Free Essays has free term papers to get you started on your way to the grade you should be getting. You have done the reading, now get some free help witht the writing and make your parents proud.

paint the town

When I was in high school we were to cheap to pay for real paintball guns and ammo so we just made do with water balloons and squirt guns, figuring the game was all about the hunt and not the splatter but inevitably the discussion came up as to who hit who and what not.

I think if we were to do it all over again we would forgo the water and go to jt paintball – all the top brands: Tippmann, Spyder, and Smart Parts plus many more. Ultimate Paintball has the best prices and with free shipping, to boot.

anaheim tweet

More of a Tweet than a full post but thought it was worth the cross posting it here. Have I mentioned that we were trying to figure out when to travel to Southern California? I know the kingdom of the mouse is free on my birthday but I am not sure if the month of June is when to travel to Anaheim. Maybe October would be less crowded???

Friday, March 13, 2009

call to save

Are you looking to find coverage for your home? Live in the Greater Dallas, Texas area? Well then are you in luck! Now there is a single website that will fulfill all of your Dallas Home Insurance needs.

Finding a financially sound, reputable insurance company can be difficult but Marron's Dallas Home Insurance Agency has done the work for you, finding an entire hand-selected group for you so you can feel more comfortable that your needs are being met at a price you can live with. Use their local expertise to put your mind at ease and your property under a policy. If you bought coverage when you bought your home, perhaps today's the day to investigate if you can get a better deal by moving your policy. Call (214) 272-0477 for a FREE QUOTE and start saving.

Paper-Wasting 'Don't Waste Paper' Ad

Ad created for India's WildlifeSOS , check out how paper was used in this photo shoot, with each animal made up of many pieces. A pretty simple and effective visual metaphor for "don't trash the planet" except I thought the giraffe was a hand at first glance.

[via Animal (New York)]

shopping? bag!

I have a particular thing against backpacks for carrying work home, for some reason to me it just looks silly and unprofessional – here you have on a nice suit or dress and then you have what looks like your child's schoolbag tosses over your shoulders. Furthermore, I really don't want to advertise the brand of laptop I am carrying (nor the the fact that I may indeed have thousands of dollars of electronic gear with me as I sit at the bus stop or airport). So this all boils down to, for me anyway, that for the most part I am going to carry a briefcase or some sort of a messenger bag. Now the problem with many messenger bags is that they can give the wrong impression, just like I don't want people to think I am bring a child's books to them, I really don't want to look like I took some bicycle messenger's bag from them. Which is why I maay have better luck searching for executive accessories as a better entry point to my quest.

As of now I have one that is OK for the most part but lacks a few features that would really make it the Greatest Bag Ever, so while I am not in a rush to get something this weekend, I would like to have something new and reliable for the coming days ahead.

I haven't had enough stuff to bring home to warrant wheeled luggage just yet but we do have one at home for the one who does the term paper grading. She's more of a Luxury Luggage type, having already burned through one rolling bag already. Me, I think I like this one and should start saving my pennies for this Belting Leather LAWYER'S BRIEF....

First TRON and Now Electric Dreams?

Not sure how much of this can be taken as 'it's gonna happen,' but someone has optioned Electric Dreams (which is still unavailable on video).

Summary: An updated take on the 1984 film, "Electric Dreams", in which a guy's computer falls in love with the beautiful girl next door.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Fwd: Thanks for Speaking Up for Baby Seals

Your e-mail has been sent to the Olympic Committee. Thank you for making your voice heard and telling them that cruelty to animals is not acceptable. By taking this step, you join thousands of people who are outraged that Canada continues to support the violent and bloody seal massacre.

Thank you for helping animals!

Auto Response / Réponse automatique

Subject: Auto Response / Réponse automatique

Thank you for writing to the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General. We appreciate hearing your views and suggestions. Responses to specific inquiries can be expected within two to three weeks. Please note that many of the e-mails we receive are in the form of comments or opinions and do not receive a reply. Content that is of an offensive or commercial nature will not receive a response.

Due to the large quantity of incoming correspondence, we also cannot reply to e-mails inquiring about the status of a previous request. Thank you for your understanding.

Merci d'avoir écrit au Bureau du Secrétaire du Gouverneur général. Nous apprécions vos points de vue et vos suggestions. Il faut prévoir deux ou trois semaines pour une réponse à une demande précise. Veuillez noter que dans bon nombre de cas, les courriels reçus consistent en commentaires ou opinions qui ne nécessitent pas de réponse. Pour les courriels dont le contenu est de mauvais goût ou de nature commerciale, il n'y aura aucune réponse.

À cause du nombre élevé de la correspondance, nous ne pouvons répondre aux courriels s'enquérant de l'état d'une demande antécédente. Merci de votre compréhension.

band stand

When I am bored in a meeting I often take off my wedding ring and put it back on so the inscription is right side up. I used to obsessively do this each morning when I put it on but decided it was too hard to do in the dark. Actually, on our Honeymoon I never took the ring off for the whole week we were traveling, fearing I would forget it on the night stand or bathroom sink at the hotels.

I never thought about Wedding Rings until I was married and for us there was no choice but a simple gold band. But the more I hear about titanium wedding bands and the new tungsten rings I wonder if for a ten-year renewal that a backup ring might make for a nice change of pace.

If all your other jewelery is silver in colour wouldn't a ring that was not gold look great?

Money Ill Spent

The Sears Tower, is being renamed the Willis Tower in honor of a big new tenant - Willis Group Holdings, an insurance company.

While the Sears commissioned the building in 1970 and sold it in the 1990s they kept the naming rights. Those rights lapsed in 2003 but weren't sold to anyone else until now. The insurance company is swooping in, preparing to consolidate five local offices (almost 500 employees) into the 110-story building, and is grabbing naming rights, too.

Will the city take to the new name? My bet is, 'no.'

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

dressing up

Several women at work have been wearing their husband's oxford shirts lately and while you may think this is a fashion trend I think it has been more out of necessity. They all have mentioned how hard it is to find cute and trendy maternity clothes, even if they were wiling to spend a lot – in fact, both of them have said they'd rather save the money and spend it on the new baby.

Well, just in time for the new spring babies comes Kiki's Fashions – unique and trendy outfits and separates all at very low prices. They pride themselves on having a wide selection of unique maternity styles with prices mostly under $20, so why not take a break from the typical big, boxy maternity clothing out there and refuse to pay the maternity boutiques prices. Kiki's Fashions are often up to 75% lower, which is nice to have since the bills are no doubt already stacking up in other departments.

As an introductory offer, receive an exclusive 20% off when you use coupon code "blogfriends" during checkout to apply. They rotate their stock often, so there is always new and fresh maternity clothes to choose from, so why not start shopping?

big shoulders

I have never lived in Chicago for more than a few weeks at a time so really I guess I should call myself something between a resident and a tourist but I did learn a few things about the city when I did have a more active connection to the mid-west. One is that you better try that new restaurant quickly because either you will never get a table once it becomes popular and two, sometimes even the popular restaurants change names and styles faster that you can believe.

Because I was only a casual resident I never needed to find a Chicago workers compensation attorney but if you are a more permanent resident and find yourself in need, why not give the people at Ankin Law Offices LLC a call. It's free and you'll see how with law offices conveniently located in downtown Chicago and Peoria, they have been an aggressive advocate for clients' rights in the city as well as the greater Chicagoland area, providing legal counsel people need because they have the experience to see justice done.

Library of Congress Panoramas

Let's Order In




[]

I am thinking we should get take-out. Let's see what looks good....
Posted by Picasa

It Has All Been Done Before

In Lincoln's Watch, A Mystery Revealed: The First Micro-blog!

Jonathan Dillon
April 13-1861
Fort Sumpter [sic] was attacked
by the rebels on the above
date J Dillon
April 13-1861
Washington
thank God
we have a
government
Jonth Dillon

A point of fact, this is twenty-odd characters over maximum tweet length.

http://tinyurl.com/dhael7

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

contest time coders!

The XML challenge has begun and you can participate in a programming contest or five. The contests are targeted to students and professionals alike and each contest offers its own recognition and set of prizes and the range of skills encompasses those with a passing interest in XML and database technology all the way to those with the hardcore programming skills in DB2.

Before participating, you'll first need to take a Quick Quiz, a short questionnaire that requires no prior XML or database experience to complete. You only have to take the Quick Quiz once.

Register now for one of the following contests:

¶ Video Contest: Invent a creative use of XML, XQuery or DB2 then record yourself doing it.
¶ Gadget Contest: Develop a downloadable gadget or widget leveraging the power of DB2.
¶ Query Contest: Use XQuery to find five answers – the best queries win the best prizes!
¶ Ported App Contest Nº1: Port or develop a new app for DB2. Enter as an individual or assemble your team.
¶ XML2 Contest: Build useful, user-friendly XML apps from scratch. Enter as an individual or a team.

File Under: WHEN FUTURISTS FEEL OLD

[]

Over at William Gibson's blog he had this to say:

...this struck me, tonight, like some loose fragment of Mona Lisa Overdrive. Not part of the plot, but the sort of casual reference that slides by peripherally. Then I remembered that gay people aren't even allowed to legally marry, most places in the United States.
What was her referring to? The headline at The Huffington Post:


Iron Chef Cat Cora And Wife Both Pregnant


Both are expecting boys, the couple are already parents to older boys, Caje, 22 months and Zoran, age 5.

table the discussion

Right now we are using a mid-60s TV tray in our front hallway to hold mail, keys, purses and (previously) a gingerbread house. Ideally that is not our final selection when it comes to furniture, the problem has been trying to find a corner table that will fit the space as well as match the over all decor of the entrance hallway and living room.

More and more of the old stores have gone away, leaving the big department stores as the main source of places to buy furniture from a brick and mortar establishment. Of course, you can find a selection of furniture online, which may just be the way to go, given the niche product we seem to be on the hunt for.

For those redoing their whole house or maybe just an individual room or two, you can also find a selection of attractive and affordable groups of bedroom furniture and living room furniture.

If it were up to me, I'd be sure to leave room for this captains bed or maybe just the night stands....

Left Brain Right Brain: Dan Meth charts sitcom house floorplans

Dan Meth's chart of sitcom house floorplans

From the creator of the Trilogy Meter  comes a look at how various sitcom homes are laid out. I'd be curious to see these same graphs as a function if how many minutes were spent in each of the aformentioned rooms.


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Sent from Newton 2.0 (iPod Touch)

the hot seat

Once upon a time, my father thought it was time for his boy to have a car of his own. Maybe it was the too frequent fill-ups at the family diesel tank. Maybe it was the frequent dead batteries from leaving the dome light on. Or maybe he just wanted his pick-up back. For whatever reason I soon became the proud owner of a 1961 Mercedes. I thought it was quite the car, others, including the future wife were less enamored, citing the lack of shoulder belts and more importantly for the Sacramento valley summers and their frequent over 100oF days, no Air Conditioning.

I thought about adding an after-market unit but even the diesel parts store and their lowest price on a/c compressor, condenser, drier, air conditioning compressor couldn't help.

Luckily for her, and me, the new car is fully equipped and cool as a cucumber. But in case I ever need new parts, I know where to go. Because it really is true what they say, "The auto air conditioning compressor is an important part of the car and (they) have you covered."

Monday, March 09, 2009

cloud eight

When we bough a new Dell laptop to run a quantitative analysis program at home I was worried that we would be forced into Windows Vista. I have a Mac and have to use a PC at work so I figured I had a handle on XP, or at least in a limited, working knowledge sort of way.

I was happy to say that Vista was not the horror it seemed to be for others at work who upgraded to it, so I can almost be said to be looking forward to RackNine.com's new Windows Server 2008 with Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS7) software as the backbone of their Windows Web hosting product line.

RackNine has already seen a substantial increase in their server performance in initial testing of the new technology, meaning the addition of the new technology means there really is no better time to develop an online presence. It has never been faster or easier to get Web hosting services that are ideal for both individuals and small businesses.

With shared hosting packages featuring an unparalleled 24x7 Customer Support, world-class data centers and a 99.9 percent uptime guarantee, why wait?

Sunday, March 08, 2009

by extension

New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd claims, "Let’s face it: The only bracing symbol of American strength right now is the image of Michelle Obama’s sculpted biceps." I certain feel like I can agree withher after trying to install Windows 98 on an Apple MacBook via Bootcamp. After blocking off almost half my hard drive, I can't even write to that partition from the MacOS side and if I change the clock on the Windows side to the correct time the time is wrong when I reboot back into the MacOS.

Heaven knows how many useless files were installed, I keep finding .ctt files scattered here and there thanks to File Extension Library I now know that's a is associated with Microsoft Windows Live Messenger. To make matters more complicated Windows doesn't seem to think that there is a MODEM (another long story) attached to the USB port. I am thinking if I can scrub the Win partition without touching the rest of the contents that's what I'll be doing tomorrow night.

surfer's choice

There once was a time when American's lived in small towns and what you didn't know how to do yourself you cold always rely on the helpful advice of a neighbor. Well times are bit more complicated now and you can't always count on having a neighbor who knows how to say, program a DVR or defragment a hard drive.

Thankfully, today we have the internet to guide us – a few quick clicks and you can get tips on a range of information: say, taxidermy, Indian cooking or home insurance quotes. A website that provides unbiased information is sometimes not easy to find but when you do that's the sort of thing you bookmark. Let the helpful folks get you a quote for your home tonight.

Don't make your choices blindly, seek the opinion of the experts today.

A Helpful CalTrain Announcement

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"This is Sunnyvale. Please be careful stepping off the train, they look angry. It's Monday. This is [laughter] Sunnyvale."

The comedians of the rails - they never cease to amuse. Well, amuse me, anyway.

Saturday, March 07, 2009

deep in the heart

My old room mate moved from Boston to Texas in the late nineties for job purposes. Same pay level but the living was so much more affordable in the 'Lone Star State' that he was able to upgrade his lifestyle by a significant amount.

I am not sure if he still lives in Texas, if he owns his own home by now or even if has needed Fort Worth Home Insurance but if so, or if you do, I have a website for you to see. You know, as a rule your home is generally speaking your biggest and best investment, and as such can use the protection that comes with insurance. Plus, if you are anything like me, just the peace of mind that stems from knowing you are covered in case of accident or tragedy is worth it right there.

Sky Eye on Mouse Ears

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Davelandweb has done it again, this time with aerial views of Disneyland c1960, including a closeup of the Disneyland Hotel, pre-Towers.

Reading this blog has been a real eye-opener, Disneyland seems like it has changed so little but in many ways it really has evolved quite a bit over the years. In some ways it would have been interesting to go their before the attractions I always think of having been there 'forever,' arrived but these photos are the next best way.

need katrina help

From the few trips I have made down to the Gulf Coast I think I understand the comments people make when they say the party is always going and just getting started down there. In case you have done a little too much partying and are in the market for a couple of good Louisiana personal injury lawyers you should always ready to back you up.

The Gallagher Law Firm handles all of their Louisiana personal injury cases on a contingency basis. If they can not recover money for you, they will not get a fee. They are rightfully proud of the results they have obtained for their hundreds of Louisiana clients. The Firm's founder, Mr. Gallagher, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has experience in medical malpractice, car accident as well as nursing home abuse cases.

Call the Gallagher Law Firm and get help now. Or, for a quicker response, fill out the form on their website for a Free Case Review. Once you fill out the Free Case Review, one of their trained attorneys will contact you to discuss your case. The evaluation is free, what have you got to lose?

Friday, March 06, 2009

60 Seconds of Joy

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I hope I have not hit the high-point of the day with this clip:


A very short clip by London-based animator Michael Schlingmann and thanks to wanted to share it.

Fwd: From SF Chron & Leah Garchik

Yesterday's paper had this gem, "Denny's new octo-slam breakfast: 14 eggs, no sausage and somebody else pays."

Happy Friday, to one and all.

Thursday, March 05, 2009

indoor sun fun

We are past Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday and Easter is on the way but no matter what the calendar says, it still feels like Winter. If the cold, rain and snow are getting you down, why not try and warm up with something from the wolff tanning beds line?

You may have tried getting a tan at a salon or club but what could be easier than owning your own Home Tanning Bed? No waiting or wondering who's been using it before you and once you own it you can use it as much (but please, use it withing the limits of reason and good taste) or as little as you like.

Save gas and money by bringing the beach to you and get the look that says relaxed, until you feel relaxed.

The Futurists at AT&T


Enjoy the future from 1993 where discs arrive in the mail for your entertainment. Oh, and Tom Sellek is your life story narrator. 


[YouTube Video]


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Sent from Newton 2.0 (you will)

coverage cover charge

In many ways insurance gets a bad rap - everyone is sure they are paying too much and are worried that when it comes time to needing it you won't have enough. When I was in graduate school I was so used to not really having any coverage combined with really no time to actually be sick that I never even thought of going to see a doctor short of the one time I simply could not hear anything out of one ear.

After school my first job came with health insurance, I took the cheapest plan possible (there was no additional payroll deduction) and figured that would be fine seeing as I avoided the doctor like the proverbial plague. I actually had to be reminded by my boss that I had coverage when a cat bite started turning an odd color.

If you are just starting out in the career world or if you are a seasoned vet, or maybe you just want to know what you are paying for take a look at Kaiser Permanente California. See if Kaiser Health Insurance might not make the best financial sense in these challenging times. You almost certainly will have insurance with just about any career, see what Kaiser Permanente offers in comparison to the plan you already have, you may be in for a happy change!

For the Elderly Amongst Us

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Is there an age cutoff for appreciation of this song? I.E. how old does someone have to be in order to remember what a dot matrix printer sounds like? Man or Astro-Man - A Simple Text File

See also: Printer Jam by Mistabishi

cover me, dallas

Insurance is a funny thing, you never think you need it until you need it and then you are mighty glad you have it. When I bought my Honda in 1999 I thought long and hard about getting the extra coverage... I ended up doing it and years later when I had a major power train issue (not helped by the dealer leaving out the plug that keeps all the transmission fluid in) all was covered and I didn't owe an extra dime. Come to think of it the aforementioned roof that collapsed on me was also covered by insurance (even paid for a new mattress).

Gosh - writing all of this makes me think I am some sort of a disaster magnet! Perhaps people should pay me to stay away from them!

But seriously, for those who can live in the Dallas area and want to learn more about Dallas Home Insurance you should loo to the name that has been providing the Dallas-area residents with the best insurance coverage for over ten years - Marron's Dallas Home Insurance Agency. They have worked with the biggest and safest names in the business and will no doubt get you a great rate. Talk to them for a free quote and see if they can't start saving you money while adding to your peace of mind.

So Red The Nose

Red Nose Day is coming up and this year it looks like the US is going to have their own, conveniently on the same day as the UK (March 13, 2009). Looks like a good group, already!

What shenanigans? Well, in the style of the Red Nose Day celebration in Britain, the plan is to have a twenty-four hour period of whacked out fun on the Net coinciding with this year's Red Nose Day in the UK

Who's participating, so far: John Hodgman, Matt Berry, Jonathan Coulton, Mark Evanier, Rifftrax (Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy, Mike Nelson), Graham Linehan, Paul and Storm, Apelad, David Mitchell, Len Peralta, Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick (Astrobase Go!/Venture Bros.) … and more to come …

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Request Vibes For Kimball

Poor kitteh was missing for two rainy days, returned last night quite thin and uninterested in food.

Overnight at the kitty ER and a few x-rays later we find she has small and failing kidneys. Looks like another over-night for her tonight as they try and flush out the toxins.

damp nation

I probably already mentioned the collapsed roof in the condo I used to live in but I did mention the original leak and the resulting collapse was *right under my bed* ? Nothing like having a wet futon to make you think that right after the roofers were called the next call should be to someone who is an expert in Water Extraction?

When it comes to Charlotte water extraction the name to know for rapid relief is H2O Drying - the leaders in post-flood (or fire ) water extraction. With their new hot technique they'll leave you dry in just a day not the two to five that others will promise. "Rocket Fast" response time plus fast drying deliver the one two punch you need to get you life started again. Call and see why they are the leader in water damage, fire and flood cleanup via the water extraction skills.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

a bit off the old block

Ever since I saw some of the custom made toys available at the last Maker's Faire in San Francisco I have really been keen on getting back into wood working, particularly when I heard that my cousin got a router for Christmas two years back. The question is, without my old boss' shop to play around in and without his expertise, what is the best way to get back into the game? Sure I could just go to a big box hardware store and I bet eventually I would stumble on where they may hide their meager selection of router bits but with my luck I would go home with the wrong metal drill bits for what I had in mind - milling wooden alphabet blocks like the kind we had as kids but updated for the lives we now lead.

Does that fall under composite milling? You probably have as many questions as I do now, that's why I am glad to find the homepage of an American company that still makes things right here in the US. They invented the router in 1920 and their customers are the leaders in their field and since they need the consistent quality and performance, why shouldn't I have the same?

Too Much of a Good Thing

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Just noticed that WIRED has an article about how one of their writers may be giving up their netbook due to cramped fingers and blurry eyes. I work near someone who has a 9 inch ASUS and while it looks portable I will agree that the keyboard and screen look a little cramped.

On the other hand, wasn't 9" the size of the Mac Plus, Mac SE and the SE/30? Those were bearable back in the 80s and 90s. Maybe we just weren't online 24/7 like we are wont to be now?

shutter to think

The rain is continuing here and from the forecast it looks like it is not going to let up all week. Still, it could be worse, from what I have heard the East Coast is dealing with a MASSIVE winter storm that is just sweeping up the coast. I remember those from when I used to live in Boston. You knew they were coming and there really was not much you could do to prepare other than stock up on food and drinks and hope the windows would keep the chill out and the heat would stay on.

I rented one third of a brownstone butt he people I knew with a house were always big on putting up exterior shutters to avoid too much weather related suffering. If I still lived back in that part of the world I would be calling the Larson Shutter Company to talk with them about their selection of exterior shutters. With easy, safe and secure online shopping at www.LarsonShutter.com, their amazingly affordable exterior vinyl shutters, composite shutters and premium quality wood shutters are just a click away. As a bonus, they offer exterior shutter hardware which can make your wood and composite shutters fully functional. Free shipping now through the end of the year when you place your order online. This has been a sponsored post.

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Galactica Music – The Composer Speaks

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I completely missed this from last Friday's episode, I may have to rewatch this to see if I can really hear it, but how cool is this:

I knew exactly what I wanted “Nomion’s Third” to be. Stu Phillips, the composer for the classic Battlestar Galactica, composed a piece for that series called “Exploration” that I’ve always loved. Set apart from the bombastic march of the “Main Title,” “Exploration” is much more mysterious, ambiguous and harmonically rich.


Read all about how the music to Battlestar Galactica is created at Bear's Battlestar Blog.

how green does your garden grow

When we bought our home the previous owners were quite fond of roses and we 'inherited' quite a number of them in our front yard. We also go a lovely drip irrigation system that keeps things watered. What we didn't get was anything n the way of gardening tips to help keep the place looking like it did when we bought it. Every time I go out to work on the yard it does seem like one neighbor or another will comment about how the previous folks used to spend almost all their time working on the plants – something I just can't bring myself to do.

As a result, there has been a small decline around the edges, I know I need to prune back the roses and should get this organic rose care kit to bring them back to their full potential, because I will be honest and say I think they have “seen better days”, it just seems like every Sunday I think I will get to work, it rains or we have other plans.

I just hope the neighbors aren't talking about us yet! :)




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water water everywhere

Even with the rain we are having in California at the moment, local authorities are still talking about a drought this summer and calling for voluntary cutbacks by residential users before more drastic measures are required like rationing and changing the billing structure.

We have a couple of faucets that could stand to be looked at and one older toilet that really be swapped out for a newer, more efficient model. If I was in the market for a
dallas plumber I know who I would call – Princess Dallas Plumbing the Dallas plumber committed to fixing your plumbing problems and working with you on your remodeling projects. Check out their website for phone numbers and their internet special of 10% off if you act soon.

An emergency is not the time to start looking for a plumber, it's time to call one. Wouldn't it be nice to have a number handy?
idogcow. Get yours at bighugelabs.com/flickr

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