Weekend Work

Off to my weekend job.
No posts this weekend.

Action Comics #1

What I wouldn't give to have this comic. The one that introduced Superman to the world in June 1938. Estimated at $126,000 it is a little out of my price range, I think my wife would kill me. I might be in luck, bidding starts at $1 ...

"It's the Holy Grail of comic books," comic expert Stephen Fishler, who created the 10-point grading scale used to evaluate comic books, told Reuters.

"This is the one that started it all. There was no such thing as a super hero before it. No flying man. Comics weren't even that popular. It's the single most important event in comic book history," he said.

UPDATE:

10 minutes =$20,000

Kindle 3?

With the E-Ink not even dry on the release of the Kindle 2. There are rumors already beginning about a Kindle 3 that may still release this year.

From Endgadget
Now that the Kindle 2 is out, it's time to get back onto the Kindle rumor mill. You might recall that in addition to the early leaks of the device that become the Kindle 2, a bigger screened Kindle mimicking an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of paper for students was rumored. According to DigiTimes' sources apparently within Prime View International (PVI), the makers of the Kindle's electrophoretic display (EPD), Amazon's next Kindle will launch by the end of this year and will be "larger in size and equipped with touch functions." Of course, that's no big stretch to the imagination -- Plastic Logic has been kicking around its 8.5 x 11-inch touchscreen eBook reader ('Shopped with a Kindle logo above) for months now with a plan to launch in 2010. Let's just see if Amazon can get this out in time for the back to school selling season.

Buzz today

The assault weapons ban is trying to make a comeback. They don't offer any details right now or a timeframe, but I think we all saw this coming with a democratic Congress and President.

We can only hope on the Supreme Court (laughable), although I praise the Heller decision, and the more centrist Dems I suppose.

I also read this was suppose to help the violence in Mexico ....? Really, we need to stretch it that much to justify it...?

The Obama administration will seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 during the Bush administration, Attorney General Eric Holder said today.

“As President Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons,” Holder told reporters…

Just a few ... wow

Too bad Pelosi doesn't see things the same way ... apparently she was left out of the loop.

Attorney General Eric Holder raised the prospect Wednesday that the administration would push to bring back the ban. But Pelosi (D-Calif.) indicated on Thursday that he never talked to her. The Speaker gave a flat “no” when asked if she had talked to administration officials about the ban.

“On that score, I think we need to enforce the laws we have right now,” Pelosi said at her weekly news conference. “I think it’s clear the Bush administration didn’t do that.”

PSP 2 ? Maybe

The picture is a concept but the blogosphere has been a buzz now for a while in regards to the PSP2. Currently no such thing exists, but lately there has been some new light on the subject. If there is such a thing that would be great! I have had my PSP for a couple years now and of all my little gizmos that I have around this on gets used.

The new Playstation Portable won't feature a UMD disc drive, according to Acclaim developer David Perry.

"I hear Sony FINALLY has the PSP 2. And thank goodness, they've removed the stupid battery-sucking UMD disc drive. I'm excited!" Perry wrote on both his Twitter and Facebook accounts.

It is unclear if he has seen the rumored new Playstation Portable himself or is just hearing rumors through the development community.

Rumors are a buzz. The best steps forward for a future PSP would be flash memory, ditch the UMD and another joystick.

Dilbert

You have to love the pen Scott Adams wields.

Taxpayers Clearinghouse Prizes

This is hilarious. The best part is when the winner gets the check.

One guy even gets arrested.

Enjoy

Sorry MacGyver

Leave it to Hawaii to impose this useless law. SB126

Relating to Dangerous Weapons.

What is that in your hand???!! I'm sorry, that is a misdemeanor.

Now really??!!! I suppose this should not surprise me coming from Hawaii.

How Time Flys

Cruising the Internet I managed to find a comparison of where we were, and where we are. The image to the left is of 1GB in 1998, to the right is a 1GB flash drive from 2008. I would say that we are making some progress in 20 years.

Mardi Gras

Also known as "fat Tuesday," this pre-Lenten festival is celebrated in Roman Catholic countries and communities. In a strict sense, Mardi Gras, or Shrove Tuesday, is celebrated by the French as the last of the three days of Shrovetide and is a time of preparation immediately before Ash Wednesday and the start of the fast of Lent. Mardi Gras is thus the last opportunity for merrymaking and indulgence in food and drink. In practice, the festival is generally celebrated for one full week before Lent. Mardi Gras is marked by spectacular parades featuring floats, pageants, elaborate costumes, masked balls, and people dancing in the streets.

Mardi Gras originated as one of the series of carnival days held in all Roman Catholic countries between Twelfth Night, or Epiphany, and Ash Wednesday; these carnivals had their origin in pre-Christian spring fertility rites. The most famous modern Mardi Gras festivities are those held in New Orleans, La.; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Nice, France; and Cologne, Germany.

Happy Fat Tuesday everyone!

Ugh!

It is Monday already....

MIT 6th Sense

The film Minority Report featured a user interface in which Tom Cruise's character controlled computer screens and information using gestures, while wearing special gloves.

None of this is new, most of these technologies have been worked on since the 90's from numerous companies. That is where they got the idea for Minority Report.
Recently MIT has taken this technology even farther with the development of 6th Sense.



Who needs a Surface or an iPhone when the very idea of being able to access information by turning any flat surface into a touch-screen display sounds far more appealing? No surface available? Simply project a screen onto your hand, and voila. Shades of Minority Report?
Minority Report

In Minority Report, Tom Cruise draws information from a glove-controlled interactive wall.
(Credit: 20th Century Fox)

The folks at MIT have christened their wearable prototype Wear Ur World (WUW), a device cobbled together using everyday gizmos like a mobile projector, Webcam, and mobile phone. Hopefully, when the final product does ship, it'll reveal a sleeker, less clunky rendition without the colored finger bands, and one that has a discreet mode for when you need to access information privately.

As a demonstration of its capabilities, the wearer can draw a circle on his wrist, prompting the gadget to project a digital clock face, especially great for the myopic.

In the near future, WUW could become an indispensable digital wrist companion to enhance your lifestyle. It could provide product and price comparison information when shopping, retrieve flight information to let the wearer know about delays, automatically pull up related information from the Web when requested, and even snap pictures when you frame a subject with your fingers.

This one closely mimics The Minority Reports User Interface.

g-speak overview 1828121108
The future is now.

Happy Birthday Mr. President

Screw the "love me" awards on TV.

On April 30, 1789, George Washington, standing on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York, took his oath of office as the first President of the United States. "As the first of every thing, in our situation will serve to establish a Precedent," he wrote James Madison, "it is devoutly wished on my part, that these precedents may be fixed on true principles."

Born in 1732 into a Virginia planter family, he learned the morals, manners, and body of knowledge requisite for an 18th century Virginia gentleman.

He pursued two intertwined interests: military arts and western expansion. At 16 he helped survey Shenandoah lands for Thomas, Lord Fairfax. Commissioned a lieutenant colonel in 1754, he fought the first skirmishes of what grew into the French and Indian War. The next year, as an aide to Gen. Edward Braddock, he escaped injury although four bullets ripped his coat and two horses were shot from under him.

From 1759 to the outbreak of the American Revolution, Washington managed his lands around Mount Vernon and served in the Virginia House of Burgesses. Married to a widow, Martha Dandridge Custis, he devoted himself to a busy and happy life. But like his fellow planters, Washington felt himself exploited by British merchants and hampered by British regulations. As the quarrel with the mother country grew acute, he moderately but firmly voiced his resistance to the restrictions.

When the Second Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia in May 1775, Washington, one of the Virginia delegates, was elected Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. On July 3, 1775, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, he took command of his ill-trained troops and embarked upon a war that was to last six grueling years.

He realized early that the best strategy was to harass the British. He reported to Congress, "we should on all Occasions avoid a general Action, or put anything to the Risque, unless compelled by a necessity, into which we ought never to be drawn." Ensuing battles saw him fall back slowly, then strike unexpectedly. Finally in 1781 with the aid of French allies--he forced the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown.

Washington longed to retire to his fields at Mount Vernon. But he soon realized that the Nation under its Articles of Confederation was not functioning well, so he became a prime mover in the steps leading to the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. When the new Constitution was ratified, the Electoral College unanimously elected Washington President.

He did not infringe upon the policy making powers that he felt the Constitution gave Congress. But the determination of foreign policy became preponderantly a Presidential concern. When the French Revolution led to a major war between France and England, Washington refused to accept entirely the recommendations of either his Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, who was pro-French, or his Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, who was pro-British. Rather, he insisted upon a neutral course until the United States could grow stronger.

To his disappointment, two parties were developing by the end of his first term. Wearied of politics, feeling old, he retired at the end of his second. In his Farewell Address, he urged his countrymen to forswear excessive party spirit and geographical distinctions. In foreign affairs, he warned against long-term alliances.

Washington enjoyed less than three years of retirement at Mount Vernon, for he died of a throat infection December 14, 1799. For months the Nation mourned him.

The USAF Warthog

I grew up at tons of Air Bases and the one that had this plane was probably the best. The things I remember the most are the sounds from this plane. The engines don't sound like a normal jet, more like a really large powerful fan. The second most distinctive sound has to be the nose mounted 30MM Gatling gun. Firing at 3,900 rounds per minute, this thing is just relentless.

This plane is just nearly indestructible. Triple redundancy flight controls, self-sealing fuel tanks, gear that hangs below the plane even when folded up to help with belly landings, 900 lbs of titanium armor for the cockpit and flight controls, and a double redundant hydraulic system allow for the pilot to fly with loss of hydrolic power or the wing.

Not the easiest on the eye but this is a great example of some serious fire power that gets the job done. They just don't make them like this anymore.

Star Trek

I haven't followed much of the Star Trek shows since TNG. Tonight the boy and I are watching IV, yes the one with the Whales. All this is doing is making me want to see the new movie even more.

If Only

The Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 is a very cool phone. It really lets you customize what it looks like. Unfortunately no U.S. carrier offers the X1 so it's not available stateside yet. It is amazing what these phones can do anymore, and I would think this would be more considered a computer. And this is one phone I just like looking at. For $600 that is good enough for me.

Batwoman

Okay, so now Batwoman is coming back to the DC Batman series.

...I thought it was bad enough that they are bringing back this character but why make it about her "lesbian socialite by night and a crime-fighter by later in the night."

I mean really, get real if we are going to start this mess when is Robin going to come out of the closet!

War Zone

I cannot believe this! The Air Force, in all its infinite wisdom, has managed to sink to the lowest of the low. Right now people in the Air Force that have been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and all the other Asscrackistans, will not have these deployments shown on their records. The people that are putting every aspect of their lives on the line are not going to get a promotion out of their time in the sand box. WOW!! I just can not believe what I am hearing these days.

Imagine leading perilous convoys across Iraq's deadly streets for nearly a year and learning it won't mean squat when it comes time to compete for the senior master sergeant promotion board.

Or how about providing vital close-air support in Afghanistan and discovering it won't be included when a board decides whether to promote you to lieutenant colonel.

Plumbing

So now that my weekend project is complete, I have a new found respect for plumbing. I started off with a few tools, thought that would be enough, and ended up with a few extra. This was going to be something as simple as fixing the sink drain basket and turned into many hours of cussing like a sailor and cut and bruised knuckles.
The most important tools ended up being the Hammer, a large screw driver and WD - 40 (thank you dear). This proves that anything in the house can be fixed, at some level, by beating the crap out of it with a hammer. The larger the hammer, the quicker the results.


My new sink drainer basket

Movie that almost wasn't

The Watchmen almost did not happen. I am glad that it is coming March 11

Earth to Joaquin

Even if the publicity joke is on us, there is something not right. I'll let you be the judge.

St. Valentine

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
A picture of Cupid.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

Happy Valentine's Day

TREASON!!!

Something kept out of the public eye for very good reasons has been exposed thanks to Dianne Feinstein.

A senior U.S. lawmaker said Thursday that unmanned CIA Predator aircraft operating in Pakistan are flown from an airbase inside that country, a revelation likely to embarrass the Pakistani government and complicate its counterterrorism collaboration with the United States.

The disclosure by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, marked the first time a U.S. official had publicly commented on where the Predator aircraft patrolling Pakistan take off and land.

Thanks for nothing! Why don't we risk some more Classified information, maybe something that will get some more of our people killed!

Thank You!

It is good to see some people that have smarts in Washington D.C. This man just made one of the best moves because of what he believed in, not what was popular. So Senator Judd Gregg I thank you!

A day after dropping out of cabinet contention, New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg says he will vote against the $787 billion stimulus package.

Gregg said Friday the package contains a great deal of money that isn’t well spent. He said he can support a robust stimulus package that focuses more on shoring up the real estate market and keeping people in their homes. He said it also should have focused more aggressively on small business tax breaks.

Second Ammendment, Score!

Having a home alarm system provided this home owner of a home invasion. He had a chance to arm himself and take care of these four thugs when they tried to break in.

Safety Glasses

One of the most important things to have on the range are Safety Glasses.

I'm glad there are people out there that can be used as an example as to why.

Dumb Dumb Dumb

Okay, so this suprises me that no one in the world... or at least late night TV has cought this yet.

In this interview, The Pelosi, tells reporters that we will lose 500 million jobs a month.... A MONTH!!! If my count is right that is more than 200 million people that are in the US. Wow we really do have an illegal alien problem.

It sure is a good thing that Hope and Change is moving the Census under the Oval Office. Then maybe we will get a good count!

Oregon Trail

I saw this and just could not resist the post. If anyone was a kid sitting there playing the old Oregon Trail on the AppleIIGS, then this link is for you. I give you:

Oregon Trail

Good 'ole Colorado

Someone seriously has their priorities a skew. All this girl did was try to be a leader and this is what it gets her.

From Aurora Colorado's 9News:


Marie Morrow, a 17-year-old senior at Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora, is serving a 10-day suspension. Her punishment could be extended at an expulsion hearing later this month.

Morrow is a student leader in the Douglas County Young Marines, a group dedicated to teaching leadership and life skills.

Cherry Creek Schools suspended Morrow after other students reported seeing guns inside her SUV, which was parked outside school while she was in class.

The school also called police, who seized the three drill team guns made of wood, plastic and duct tape. Police told Morrow to claim them in time for her after-school drill practice off-campus.

School administrators, however, were less understanding. The guns were declared "authentic representations of genuine weapons," triggering a mandatory expulsion statute in state law.


Someone is just trying to make a point here.

New House

Anyone who recognizes this picture knows how I feel right now about my house. My wife and I are new home buyers, and it seems that I just keep dumping money into this mess. I have already had to replace a roof and as of today, I get to fix my ceiling in my kitchen.

We had issues with a pipe that leaked, and I mean leaked water all over the pipes and HVAC in the ceiling. In turn the water pooled and leaked along all the seams of the drywall on the ceiling. ...Joy!

Tax Man Cometh

Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.

Fortunately I am starting early. I have had so many events happen in 2008 I am now wrestling with the question, do I continue on my own or hire someone to do it for me? When you have a bunch of jobs, have a kid, buy a house, the forms become a little more complex than previous years. And I have ALWAYS done my own.

Drobo - The Data Robot

If I had the money I would buy one tomorrow. When the Drobo first came out I bought two of them for use at my last employer and just loved them.

Now, I have never run into capacity issues with my personal computers until I really have started copying video off. Now that I am making more and more pictures and video, I am eating up the Gigs like they were M&M's. This will be one of my next toys this year I think.

TGIF

It is a good thing it is Friday, I don't think I could take much more.

I know where I'm going ...

I found this funny.


How To Wax Your Floors Without Slipping And Severing Your Spine

Old TV

Great news for everyone still rocking the TV's that look like furniture. They now have until June to catch up. Apparently the millions of dollars and ads over the past year just weren't enough of a warning. Thank you Hope and Change, we are making great strides for change!

FAA rules

Well now that the FAA has changed there rules for flying, I may just rush right out and get me one of these $139,000 planes from Icon. I have always thought it would be fun to fly, but honestly, if I was going to do it I would not want the restrictions. Still, this is better than nothing at all.



An Sport Pilot License takes roughly 1/2 the time of a general aviation license and also about 1/3rd the cost. What about safety? Well a SPL plane isn’t allowed to go above 138mph, can only carry 2 passengers and can only be flown in good weather, during the day and not near a busy airport like Los Angeles International.

Electric Cars

I'm going to start this off by saying two words. "Tesla Roadster"



Versus GM's EV1 prototype, from the mid 90's. Complete FAIL!

Local Story

This is a great story that happened not to far from me. It is a story about a home invasion.

OMAHA, Neb. -- An Omaha man is telling the story of how he defended his home from would-be burglars and helped police arrest one of them.

Mark Farrel said he awakened to the sound of someone breaking into his home through a back door on Saturday night. He said he called 911 but also decided to take matters into his own hands.

Well, how could he have possibly taken matters into his own hands?

He said the men were in front of his house, attempting to get into a car. When he yelled at them to stop, the men took off.

He said he decided to chase one of the intruders, a 16-year-old boy. He fired a warning shot and caught up to him, scuffled with him and fired a second warning shot. He said he was able to subdue the teen until police arrived. The other two intruders remain at large.

"I'm glad it's over and, you know, nobody was hurt bad and somebody was caught, finally," he said.

2nd Amendment in action!

Commercials

The Superbowl commercials this year left much to be desired. With a cost of $3 million for 30 seconds. Some of these hit it right, get in, get out, get remembered.

In the order of my favorites



Of course the Beer commercials like Bud Light



Finally the movies... two that I will be seeing

Motivational Speech

This is the best motivational speech I have ever heard! (A warning for the language!)

Starbucks

Set to cut 6,700 jobs and 300 stores. Now this is just news that really ... who cares. The only reason I decided to post on this is because Starbucks are everywhere. I live in a smaller city and we have Starbucks right across the street from Starbucks. (photo above is from some other city.) In fact every city I have been in, has another Starbucks just around the corner. I'm sorry, but I think this is a company that can afford to sell off some stores.

The Day the Music Died

February 3, 1959 is the the day that Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson died in a plane crash near Clear Lake Iowa. In response Don McLean popularized "The Day the Music Died" through the song American Pie in 1971.

Movie with no Award

Gran Torino was one of the greatest movies of 2008 hands down and managed to go completely unnoticed with the Academy Awards. This movie cost $33 million to make, and now has hit $110 million at the box office. I would still say this movie ranks up there with another of Clint Eastwood's bests, Unforgiven.

This is just a movie that Hollywood did not understand. I would like to thank Mr. Eastwood for breaking from that group of Love Me awards, and creating a film that doesn't play into the Hollywood crowd.

Great News

According to Punxsutawney Phil, we now have 6 more weeks of this fun winter!

What is it a war on?

If we are no longer calling it a war on terror what is it? War on Arab extremists.. or does that not sound PC?