Its A Numbers Game

Let me set the scene for you.

It’s a radio call in program where you call in and vote for one of two songs that are up against each other in the battle of “the peoples choice”

Then some guy calls in :

D.J. “Hello who do you vote for…”

Caller “ Uh, Yeah, I’d Like to vote”

D.J. “Ok is it Yellow Card or (I forgot the other song)”

Caller: “Two votes please, one for each from me and my girlfriend.”

D.J. “OK… splitting them up.”

And on to the next call….

OK here is the deal… When you are have two songs, up against each other and you vote for each song… YOUR VOTES CANCEL EACH OTHER OUT. That’s right genius, you just waited on the line for who knows how long, to let everyone know that you DEFINATLY DID NOT major in math.

Perhaps you were confused, that’s OK that cell phone is so shiny and those beepy noises it makes is so distracting I am just glad you remembered why you called at all.

Take heart my non-number crunching friend; at least you were not the girl that called in later for the wrong contest.

The Office

Ah Sunday. Today I got to fly, for a minute.

I looked over my shoulder and there was the office.

I took this quick picture.

Newest PSP Software Now Supports RSS

Slipped in almost under the radar, the newest PSP software has some improvements including support for RSS.

This is actually pretty cool, I played with this today and I have to admit that it worked well.

For those of you that don’t know what RSS it stands for Real Simple Syndication. It’s basically that Podcasting all those kids are talking about. Really it’s the ability to download content, like a radio program (and now even video and more) for using at your leisure.

What’s cool is the PSP uses its wireless interface to link to whatever RSS feed you want to show the current content for your enjoyment anytime you want.

Breathing some more life into the PSP here is the best news: This is a free update and since most RSS feeds are free… well you get the idea.

Clouds and Sun

The other day on the way back to my house I snapped this picture.

It has been really weird weather around here lately.

I guess that’s what you get with Michigan in the spring.

Drawing Is Hard- but XP Tablet Helps.

Drawing is hard. Lots of variables to consider.

You would think Id be better at it.

The tablet computer lets me draw with an amazing degree of accuracy. Even shading like a pro.

I have to admit- XP tablet edition plus Alias Sketchbook Pro is a great combo.

Hidden Swamp

Hidden swamp.

Today I went off the beaten path and 5 yards from where I usually walk I found this swamp just sitting there. I could not believe that I walk by it often and never even knew it was there.

Happy Day

It’s amazing what leaving work early will do for your attitude.

I have not even left yet and I am in a better mood than I have been all week..

More posts this afternoon while I’m off..

South Park In The News Again

Speaking of TV, did you see this? Right from CNN/Reuters.

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Actor Tom Cruise threatened to boycott promotion of his upcoming Paramount Pictures film unless a sister cable TV network pulled a "South Park" rerun lampooning the Church of Scientology, industry sources said on Friday…

…Representatives for Paramount and Cruise, a prominent Scientologist, denied he made any such threats or had anything to do with the Comedy Central network canceling plans to air a repeat of the "South Park" episode titled "Trapped in the Closet," on Wednesday.

1) If its true, and my sources do say that the re-run was tanked, then Tom is even more weasely than I thought. My god man if you did this admit it.

2) I have a feeling that, in one of the funniest episodes ever, Tom was a little more offended by the “trapped in the closet” reference, again man say what you are really mad about.

3) If this is true, and I have little doubt it is… the Scientology thing has gotten way out of hand.

Tom: we are not saying you are gay or that we really even care it you are gay or what kind of religion you adhere to. What we do say is those under the celebrity micro-scope should not say one thing, then appear to do another. This make you look shifty at best, if your gay be gay, if you are straight be straight, hell if you play for both teams, go for it. Just be honest and try not to look so smarmy while you do it.

The Sopranos

I hate getting to TV series, so I usually avoid them at all cost.

The Sopranos is an exception that I can not shake.

I am telling you as far as series go, this one has it all. Sex, violence, sex, violence, oh and sex and violence. Not to mention a complicated plot, and a look into the seedy world of the mob.

The best part is the sur-real nature, and the absurd use of imagery. I have no other way to put it, but this season episode I, I thought was the shit. But episode II…better in bizarre northern-exposure meets scar face kind of way.

Time for Tech

Has anyone seen the new time magazine cover? Apparently kids are spending too much time with technology and not enough on traditional forms of activities like sports and what not.

This also just in: horseless carriages predicted to be the wave of the future.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Due to my annual no drinking for Lent deal, another St Patrick’s Day will pass a little dry for me.

But to all my friends out there, have a pint for me!

Cool Gear - Bombardier Embrio Mono Cycle

This weird looking proto type:

Would “self balance” on one wheel, Segway style.

Run on a hydrogen fuel cell emitting no green house gasses.

Would look hella-sweet (BTW who says “hella” anymore)

Apparently the small wheels in front are for slow speeds and parking. Could this be the future of motorcycles? Personally I don’t think its to big of a stretch. I just hope this one does not turn out to be Vaporgear.

Creepiest Robot Ever

This huge, mostly autonomous robot called the “Big Dog” it supposed to help troops carry gear into, and out of the battle field.

Here is what Popular Science has to say:

Developed by Boston Dynamics with funding from the U.S. military, the BigDog prototype is arguably the world’s most ambitious legged robot. Its stability and awareness of its own orientation make it the first robot that can handle the unknown challenges of the battlefield. The Great Dane–size ’bot can trot more than three miles an hour, climb inclines of up to 45 degrees, and carry up to 120 pounds—even in rough terrain impenetrable to wheeled or tracked vehicles. But this one is just a puppy; Boston Dynamics expects the next iteration, ready this summer, to be at least twice as fast and carry more than twice as much.

Here what I have to say, when you see this thing move on its own is one of the creepiest things ever.

http://www.bostondynamics.com/dist/BigDog_Feb-26-2006.wmv

Spring

Wicked warm temperatures today are bringing wicked bad weather tonight. Ahhh… Spring.

Tanner celebrated by climbing to the top of Gabriel’s play structure.

Last Night at The Carlyle.

Twig said it, and she was right. The calamari at the new place the “Carlyle“ was awesome. Friday night it ways almost an hour wait. But Saturday night Barb G & I were able to get a table in the bar right away.

Stripped Down Bike

I’m not saying times are tough but when they start stripping down bikes to the center hub, well you know things are getting bad.

I found this puppy in the parking lot just east of the parrot.

Mina

Joe and Mina stopped by to say hello today, took this quick picture.

For those of you who dont know, Mina is my 5 mo old Niece.

So Much Tech So Little Time… CeBIT

I have to admit that I am more than a little jealous of some others who get to play with tech stuff all day like its their JOB or something. Both Engadget and Gizmodo are there and a score of others to see all the sparkly new tech goodnest at th CeBit show in Germany today.

So much tech goodness, what are the big things:

Origami in all its glory… a computer as we said with some new funky touch screen thumb board interface… interesting.

A gazillion phones, most of we will never see State Side, including this 10 MP camera phone (pictured) yes 10 friggen MP.

And much much more…

I wish I had time to post on each and every one, later I will post some interesting things I run across…

Look Who Was Up This Morning

In a sure sign that spring is fully on its way, today these little shoots came up in my front yard this morning…

Yea Spring.

Pissst... Origamai Is A Computer.

It never ceases to amaze me the stuff I will buy and ultimately never use.

Now that Origami turns out to me a Ultra Mobile Personal Computer, it seems already to me that that’s what I have a laptop for. Maybe now I can get a sub-phone for my phone. Oh wait that’s what a Bluetooth headset is… ok well maybe I can get a sub-set of keys for my house, incase I am too far away from the real set of keys, oh wait I already have that too, a detachable key ring.

What is wrong with us, why to we need to be so portable? Are we nomads? I will still probably get one, I hope it has instant on an I hope it powerful, has long battery life and most of all does not break the bank.

More Useless Stuff

In the spirit of more useless stuff I decided to look around and post some things that I have purchased, that ultimately have been useless.

Number one item, this LED flashlight.

This was an impulse purchase at a local mega-outdoor store. An early LED light it boasts:

1) A week kind of blue light.
2) An awkward unwieldy shape for difficulty of use
3) Expensive non standard replacement batteries
4) An intermittent on and off switch that seems to have a mind of its own.
5) An highly scratchable plexiglass top that has fiber-optic like strands in it that is supposed to help this act as some kind of lantern wand but really just diffuses the light to an unusable level.

I don’t remember how much I paid, but considering I could count the number of times I have used this on one hand, I have to say this one qualifies as today’s:

Useless Purchase of Something I Thought Would be Cool but Later Never used.

Its Monday & Already The Speculation Begins...

Everyone has this picture, no one knows if its real. OK I am NOT in the mood for such chicanery this early in the freakin week people.

Just wake me up when the real thing rolls out…

PS big props to whomever pulled of this what I am betting to be a fake photo. Nice job, now go get a life will you.

Mmoooooommm…. Why Does Europe Get All the Cool Phones?

I am not going to bore you with all the details but

(according to Engadget)

2 mp camera w/video

8 gb internal storage

SD expansion slot

Windows mobile 5.0

TV out

Much more, just don’t look for it anytime in the States soon…

Am I Too Old To Still Rock?

Eddie Van Halen looking his age at 14th Annual Elton John Academy Awards Viewing Dinner and After-Party.

No Eddie you are no too old to rock… now go inside, Elton is going to pre-chew your food for you.

(Sorry Eddie... I am hoping this is just a bad picture, Sill a fan.)

Morning snack

This morning at the Parrot, looking over and down and the goodies.

Origami Smoragami…

OK is it just me or are you tired of the waiting game and the stupidest marketing campaign ever for the newest of the new and the much touted Origami?

By know we all know that its some portable device…

You can see the leaked video here.

http://www.creativecoremedia.com/mso.swf

A beefed up Nokia 770?

http://www.nokiausa.com/770/1,7841,feat:1,00.html

I hope so, I hope it’s the always on, bad ass mo fo shiz nit super po table device to itch that tech scratch that been just out of reach for so long.

But I'm not holding my breath.

Ice Ice, Baby.

Ice Ice, baby.

When Windows Freezes Up

Here you have some water vapors crystallized on my garage door windows with a reflection of my yard.

Microsoft Origami Announcement

Another day another Announcement.

OK we have been stung on this before and so I am trying not to get my hopes up.

On the other hand, Apple lobbed Bill an easy one, hell he could roll out fold-out box with Windows Vista pamphlets and I would not be surprised.

What could it be…

All evidence shows some kind of hand-held wireless device. There has been video of concepts surfacing. I am still waiting for the super device … can it happen tomorrow?