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Update: More on Brad Delp's passing...

2007-03-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

It was reveled this past Wednesday that Brad Delp took his own life by means of charcoal-burning suicide in the bathroom his home. He left a series of notes, one clipped to his collar that read "Mr. Brad Delp. J'ai une ame solitaire. I am a lonely soul.", another on the door to his home warning anyone that would enter that carbon monoxide was present in the home, and the last explaining that had carbon monoxide poising not worked that "Plan B was to asphyxiate [himself] in [his] car." where police found hosing from the dryer found attatched to the exhaust pipe.

It a truly sad story. He was one of the nicest guys in the business and it's a true loss for the fans and his family. Even his last written words were kind as he warned loved ones and authorities of the hazardous fumes.

The past week, I've been listening to tons of Botson, pulled out the old CD's, copying the one's I hadn't already ripped to my iPod. Thinking I might even looking into the songs and CD from his side projects.

I hope that Boston still tours this summer with Fran Cosmo, lead vocalist on the Walk On album. It'd be a great way for the fans and the band to remember Brad. I know I'd be there!!

'Boston' front man, Brad Delp, has died at age 55

2007-03-11T06:03:00.000-07:00

So sad...I was really looking forward to seeing him and the band once again on their 2007 Summer tour.

Boston lead singer found dead in his home
March 10, 2007
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Brad Delp, the lead singer of the 1970s and '80s rock band Boston was found dead at his home in southern New Hampshire on Friday, local police said.

Delp, 55, apparently was home alone and there was no indication of foul play, Atkinson, New Hampshire, police said.

With Delp's big, high-register voice, Boston scored hits with "More Than a Feeling," "Long Time," and "Peace of Mind."

The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, but it remained active off and on, producing its last album "Corporate America" in 2002.

Delp was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and bought his first guitar at age 13 after seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, according to his Web site. Since 1994, he spent his spare time working in a tribute band called Beatle Juice, the band's Web site said.

The band's Web site carried a statement, "We've just lost the nicest guy in rock and roll."

SOURCE:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/09/delp.dead.reut/index.html

Something I'm podering...

2007-03-07T19:16:00.000-08:00

So, I'm watching The King of Queens and the side story of Aurthur has him trying to become Customer of the Month of a 'Starbucks-like' coffee house. Then I see a few of the new commercials for McDonald's pushing their new cold coffee's and custom cup coffee, and something hit me:

I think McDonald's is taking on Starbucks. Not just a 'lets do what they do' type fashion, but I believe McDonald's is aspiring to be a serious competitor.

I see it like this: Both McDonald's and Starbucks are by far the leaders in their respective markets. Their closest leaders, Burger King and Tully's, are so far behind, the two company's have no one to complete with but themselves. I think McDonald's has realized this, and decided to make a bold move to take on Starbucks.

Here's what McDonald's has done thus far:
- They've re-modeled nearly every corporate owned restaurant and many of the franchises. These re-models have given McDonald's a more elegent, comfertable, 'Starbucks-like' feel that makes you want to stay. Isn't the point of a fast food restaurant turn-over? Why make attempts to keep people in their seats? Jack-in-the-Box has the right idea, their new stores have seats harder then rocks! The new re-models have re-vamped the image from a fun-loving kids magnet full of bright yellow and red colors into a quite, comfortable location for adults full of dark, relaxing, and warm browns and private walls separating tables.
- The new coffee offerings. First, they started with the new coffee options, where they add the sugar and cream for you, they way you want it.
- The attempt at creating a buzz about the new iced coffee. You all probably saw the billboards that read: Cold Is Coming. How many knew that was a McDonald's ad? Now their pushing it hard via commercials. These new coffees are available with different flavors. They are slowing inching their way into the Starbucks market.

The only other thing I can think of that McDonald's may be trying to do is, Starbucks, I believe, owns Seattle's Best Coffee, the coffee McDonald's brews. So could is also be possible that Starbucks is trying to penetrate the fast food industry? Or mabey trying to create a their own competition?

Just something I started thinking about! Kinda dumb, but interesting!

Introducing the Book

2007-02-13T18:52:00.000-08:00

What it might have been like during the upgrade from scrolls to books.
My grandfather showed me this today, it's very funny!

Introducing the Book

Apple+DRM: Steve Jobs sets the record straight

2007-02-06T14:52:00.000-08:00

In obvious light of recent issues with DRM and iTunes in some oversees markets, Jobs makes some key points in reference to why FairPlay must exist, and that without FairPlay, there would be no iTunes. Jobs points the fingers in the right direction: If there was no DRM, there would be no FairPlay. People must remember, DRM is forced upon us, and companies like Apple, by the record companies. And companies like Apple are forced to comply with the record industry when they want to sell their music.

Steve Jobs' "Thoughts on Music" - A Call To End DRM
2007-02-06

Today, Steve Jobs responded to calls for Apple to open up FairPlay, the digital rights management (DRM) technology the company created for use in the iTunes Store, by posting his thoughts on DRM, the industry, and Apple's future in music sales in a document entitled "Thoughts on Music" at Apple.com.

Within, Jobs explains, to those unaware, that the iPod and iTunes are quite capable of playing open, unprotected music and reveals that, in fact, only 3% of the music (on average) on each of the more than 90 million iPods out there is DRM protected.

Jobs goes on to describe what he sees as the three potential paths to Apple's future in the music arena:

1) "...to continue on the current course, with each manufacturer competing freely with their own 'top to bottom' proprietary systems for selling, playing and protecting music."''

2) "...for Apple to license its FairPlay DRM technology to current and future competitors with the goal of achieving interoperability between different company’s players and music stores." However, "the most serious problem is that licensing a DRM involves disclosing some of its secrets to many people in many companies, and history tells us that inevitably these secrets will leak. .... Apple has concluded that if it licenses FairPlay to others, it can no longer guarantee to protect the music it licenses from the big four music companies"

3) "...to abolish DRMs entirely...any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players...clearly the best alternative for consumers...Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat..." if the big-four labels would agree to DRM-free music.

The Apple CEO points out that while 2 billion DRM-protected songs were sold worldwide in online music stores, over 20 billion songs were sold completely devoid of DRM on CDs. Jobs questions the urgent need felt by the labels to so strongly protect just 10% of their music sales at the price of open flexibility for the listener. He calls out for those unhappy with the current situation to persuade the big lables to sell their music DRM-free.

SOURCE: iPodHACKS.com

Hide a plasma under your bed...

2007-02-03T15:30:00.000-08:00

....and speakers in the wall, projector screens in the ceiling, LCD's in pop-up cabinets.

Be sure to check out the videos too.
http://www.mk1studio.com/www.mk1studio.com/LIft%20pics.html

You can literally cruise the Vista

2007-01-30T13:18:00.000-08:00

"You can literally cruise the Vista!"
- Red Foreman, 'That 70s Show'

That right! Today is the day, Microsoft released Vista to the public. You can run out right now and grab yourself a copy of one of the many available versions. I will shortly be getting my copy of Vista Ultimate and Office 2007 Pro the good ol' fashion Seattlite way: through relatives that happen to be M$ employees! :-)
(I love living literally 10 minuets from the Redmond campus M$ Company store!)

I'm looking most forward to using Office 2007. I never was able to get a beta copy. (even though I paid my $3!! Never got an e-mail with the download link or key. ;( Oh well!) But I'm very excited to play with the the new ribbon feature.

I have been running Vista on this laptop for about 4 months, and on my desktop for maybe 8 months. (Although about a month ago I switched back to XP on my desktop...Vista's demands are just far too high, and I fell victim to the Windows Update bug and couldn't connect to Windows Update. The 'nag' screens bugged me.)

But I still look forward to Vista RTM. And I'm really looking forward to see what Ultimate Extras has in store!

Great PC Desktop Idea

2007-01-27T10:42:00.000-08:00

Where I see the PC desktop going someday. (Linux (Gnome, KDE)?)

It's a demo for a thesis. Very cool indeed!

(Sorry it's YouTube, might take forever to get going. Side note: What happened to YouTube these past few months!? It's ungodly slow these days!)

Business Model: Let the cutsomers pick the price, if any!

2007-01-23T23:52:00.000-08:00

There is two new coffee shops in Downtown Kirkland: Kirkland's 5th (6th? 7th? 10th?) Starbucks, and Terra Bite. Both just a short block away.

Terra Bite has a very strange, business model. Either they're 'incredibly smart, or incredibly stupid!' Read on...

Terra Bite takes on Starbucks
Terra Bite is a new coffee house (and non-profit organization) that recently opened in Kirkland with an interesting twist for a business model (more on this below). Is this the beginning of the end for Starbucks? OK, stay with me now as I try to explain...

Like most coffee houses, Terra Bite offers espresso, blended drinks, baked goods, sandwiches, and desserts. They also provide a cool setting where you can hang-out, play your favorite XBox/PS3 games on huge flat panel TVs(for free!), or just pop-in and pop-out with your hot drink in hand. Can you play your favorite video game at Starbucks on a huge flat panel? No!

So what is so different about the business model that might have Starbucks on the run? Well, Terra Bite is operating based on a "voluntary-payment" basis. Confused yet? Well I was when I first heard of the idea. Basically they have no cash registers, no fancy way to swipe a debit card, no signs with pricing, and no tip jar either. What you will find is an unassuming gray box, similar to a large square piggy bank, at the end of the counter. After you order your triple tall nonfat latte, and grab a sandwich--it's up to you on how much you pay, when you pay, and even if you choose to pay. I wonder if our resident homeless guy, Paul, has been to the Terra Bite yet?

Sounds crazy, right? I learned more after talking to the founders during their private grand opening party in late 2006. The Terra Bite was opened/founded by Ervin Peretz and Susie Allsup. Ervin (a Google developer in Kirkland, WA) hatched the idea while slightly intoxicated during a trip to Vietnam. Ervin describes the the voluntary payment system as "a convenience measure for the mainstream: a regular patron can just drop in $20 once a week, or even pay on-line. There are no punch-cards, or any other complexity; it's all based on trust. For those in need, it is a source of free food that is healthier, more available, and (most importantly) more dignified than the alternatives."

Ervin indicated they are looking at more locations for expansion. Many at the grand opening party were skeptical to say the least. Can it really work? Why nonprofit? Will they get enough traffic? Will people really be honest? I don't get it? Why in downtown Kirkland? All good questions. I guess we will have to wait and see how the Terra Bites does in the coming months and hopefully years!

BTW, it hasn't slowed down Starbucks just yet. They just opened another new Starbucks in downtown Kirkland (where the old Seattle Best/Reality Coffee site was). Can Ervin take on Starbucks? Only time will tell.

So if you are by the corner of Kirkland Avenue and State Street please check out the Terra Bite--it doesn't have to cost you a thing! Seriously though...good luck to Ervin and Susie! As usual, comments encouraged...Steve

SOURCE:
http://kirklandweblog.typepad.com/kirkland_weblog/2007/01/terra_bite_take.html

iPhone Unlocked? No, no, and NO!

2007-01-12T08:28:00.000-08:00

David Pogue, a well known Mac critic for the New York Times, has answered everyone's, including my own, number one question: Will the iPhone be 'Unlocked'?
--

The Ultimate iPhone Frequently Asked Questions

Wow. Predictably, the torrent — and I do mean torrent — of iPhone commentary from the citizens of the Web is practically outflooding spam this week. Most of it comes from people whose shirt fronts are practically drenched in drool. Plenty is negative and bitter.

Another huge category is iPhone questions. Never mind that many of these questions either (a) have been answered by Apple, either on its elaborate, interactive Web site or the free video of Steve Jobs’s speech, or (b) come from people who fantasize about fitting the iPhone into their own particular wish lists.

(My favorite sarcastic comment, which was a response to these responses, which were in response to my last blog entry: “Yeah, yeah, yeah, but can you use it underwater? And can you recharge it using solar power? And does it have an optical scanner that detects your eyeball movements so that you merely have to look at a name in your contacts list and blink in order to choose and call him? Apple, you have a long way to go…”)

Anyway, here it is: the ultimate iPhone Frequently Asked Questions list, complete with answers.

ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR QUESTIONS:

Can it be used with anything but Cingular? –No.

Is it an “unlocked” phone, so I can use it with a carrier other than Cingular? –No.

Will there be a non-Cingular version? –Not within the first two years.

Can I put my T-Mobile SIM card in it instead of Cingular? –No.

But what if I keep asking? Then will it be available beyond Cingular? –No.
--
SOURCE:
http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/11/the-ultimate-iphone-frequently-asked-questions/
--
Be sure to check out the rest of the list on his blog, PoguePicks.

It looks like I won't be getting my iPhone for at least 2 years, if at all! Or until someone figures out how to unlock it, or if my company switches from T-Mobile to Cingular :-P (which I really hope they don't do, the years I spent as a Cingular customer left me with some bad tastes)
And do I really want the iPhone after reading this frightening list of this it can't do? I may want to wait 2 years before I spend $499 on a phone that can't do much of anything. For $499, it should have GPS, Voice Dialing, Flash support, Outlook/Exchange support, and the ability to add your own software. Until these key features are added, I'm sticking with my MPx220 Windows Mobile 2003 Smartphone, Palm T|X, and iPod w/Video. :)

2007-01-10T10:37:00.000-08:00

iPhone + June 2007
First and foremost, it's beautiful. And I think it has the chance to do to communication as the iPod did to music. And I think it'll do it in less time (less then 2 years).
I have one question: will it shipped locked to Cingular? I'm assuming it will be. Which means, I can't buy one. Unless someone finds an easy unlock work around, which could be instantly, or take years, like my Moto MPX220 Smartphone I've had for almost 2 years (which I was finally able to unlock last week).
I see this iPhone to be more aimed at the business world. The ability to browse the internet, and use all it's great features like push IMAP from Yahoo! (which is awesome!) just seems like a lot of extra bills for the average consumer. I predict that by this time next year, Apple will at least announce an iPhone 'Nano' - an iPhone for the rest of us. And it will be unlocked.

But, I still want an iPhone! :-)

I love my Egg McMuffin!

2007-01-05T05:42:00.000-08:00

Egg McMuffin = Love!
Is there anything better then an Egg McMuffin breakfast?

:)

Gerald Ford died today...1996 SNL Skit

2007-01-03T12:23:00.000-08:00

To pay tribute to the passing of the great ex-president Ford, here it is. The great and funny Dana Carvy SNL skit from 1996 in which Carvy impersonates Tom Brokaw as he prepares for vacation, and for the any possible incidents that may occur in his absence:

This skit has been replaying in my head all week!

Rest in Peace Mr Ford.

Office Space - A New Drama

2006-12-26T11:29:00.000-08:00

|______________Click Below To Start Video______________|

|_________________________________________________|
Click the white space above to start video.

Very well done drama-like trailer for Office Space.

Titanic Two - Jack's Back!

2006-12-25T23:43:00.000-08:00

Thought I posted this a while back, turns out I didn't.
A very well done trailer spoof! And very funny!!

Titanic: Two The Surface

Kirkland, Fully Illuminated At Last!

2006-12-19T12:08:00.000-08:00

Looks like overnight, PSE was finally able to connect all the dots required to bring Kirkland fully up and energized! I was so excited that I went to McDonald's for an Egg McMuffin! But, to my dismay, there was a sign on the door stating they won't open until tomorrow. :( I've never had many good experiences with that particular Mikey D's, the management there is horrible. If Carrilon Point's Starbucks can get up and running over night, they should too! But oh, well! I'm sure there's a good reason. I was able to get my grande reduced-fat eggnog latte! :-) (gotta be reduced to delude the nog a tad. I love the nog, but but it's quite overwhelming at full strength! lol)

Anyway, some how or another, I was in the lucky bunch in Moss Bay that got power back after only 12 hours. So I can't fully comment on just how terrible it must have been for the homes that were without power since Thursday night and Friday morning. But I did read this blog post from a local Kirkland blogger:

It feels SO good to be WARM again!
We've been in the dark since Thursday night just like much of the million other people around the Seattle area. It makes me realize how much we take for granted. It took me two days of flicking on light switches before I remembered they weren't going to work. For the first day and a half it was kind of fun- roughing it- sharing meals (ie emptying the rotting food from the fridge) with neighbors that we never get to spend enough time with normally. By the third night we couldn't take the flashlights and shivering anymore and sacked out at my sister's toasty condo in Totem Lake, which oddly/luckily had power restored.

I know there are many people out there that still don't have power. Our friends in Woodinville aren't expecting service until at least Thursday! But then I think-- how must the Katrina victims have felt when their desperately needed help didn't arrive? Huh. Reality.

Other fleeing thoughts: How come when it was so cold I could sleep so much? I wonder if this is some type of bear hibernation phenomenon or just the fact that there wasn't much else to do. Speaking of not much to do- here's an up-side: our neighbor's teenage son had a bunch of friends over that were all playing the board game "Risk" at their kitchen table. His mom told me there was quite a bit of dust on that game before the power (and Xbox) went out last week. Oh, and why was MY mom calling me 6 times a day with her survival techniques? "Remember when you were a Girl Scout..." UGH.

Then there is the grocery store- we had to throw out everything from our fridge and freezer which was a much needed exercise. There were bags of vegetables from 2005 in there, and under the bottom-most drawer was a delightful surprise of 12 french fries and 3 Otter Pops that my kids have been asking for since July. The re-entry to the world of power is quick, though. Once it's back- wham!- we're all racing again in our scurried little lives. Sent Steve to QFC on Sunday to re-stock the fridge for my 3 little Hoovers. He was feeling guilty as his heeping cart filled with brown sugar and marshmallows for holiday baking later in the week was in front of a woman in line with batteries and fresh (finally!) milk and some beef jerky.

And this brings me back to Kirkland. Look at all of our retail businesses that were shut for days the week before Christmas! This is their busiest time of year, so the timing couldn't be worse for them to be losing sales. The Nordstroms of the world will survive this, but losing 3 days of pre-holiday shoppers has a big impact on the small shops of Kirkland. So, if you're behind on your shopping like I am, be sure to stay close to home and support your local businesses. We want to make sure they're here next Christmas!

And for those of you still waiting for the power to come on- hang in there and accept the warmth and generosity of others that seems to abound in situations like these. And whatever you do, don't bring your generator or gas grill inside. And if you need any other tips, you can call my mom. ~Janis

SOURCE:
http://kirklandweblog.typepad.com/kirkland_weblog/2006/12/it_feels_so_goo.html

Four die in storm; one million without power

2006-12-15T12:00:00.000-08:00

We never lost power here at the office, but my grandparents (where I stayed last night in case 520 were to close, and it did!) lost power at 10:45p last night. And, from what I understand, most if not all of Kirkland is in darkness as well. 1 Million WA state residents without power! 700,000 of those effected are customers of PSE. And power could be out for days, even up to a week in some areas. The worst power outage I've seen since 1995, when living in South Everett, we were out of power and no school for almost a week.

Four die in storm; one million without power
11:20 AM PST on Friday, December 15, 2006

SEATTLE - A deadly wind storm blasting Western Washington has claimed four lives, closed major bridges and knocked out power to 1 million homes and businesses. At 5 a.m. Puget Sound Energy was reporting power out to some 700,000 people. At 6:30 a.m. Seattle City Light said it now has 171,000 customers without power -- that's over half its customers. And half their feeder lines are down. "If it's not the largest outage (in our history), it's close to it," said spokeswoman Suzanne Hartman.

Winds gusted to 74 mph at the Hood Canal floating bridge, which links the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas, 63 mph at the Evergreen Point floating bridge, one of two linking Seattle with the suburbs east of Lake Washington, 70 mph at Westport on the coast and more than 50 mph in downtown Seattle.

SOURCE:
http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_121506WABfri_stormDS.f96a826.html

Last night: Death Cab @ the Key

2006-12-10T11:18:00.000-08:00

Awesome concert last night from Death Cab for Cutie at the Key Arena last night! I finally got to see my favorite band live in action! Can't wait till they come back again! And now that the tour is over and they'll be home, I'm sure they'll start hitting up the smaller venues again.

Here's a clip I took of the first song Ben played:

Death Cab for Cutie - 405

Andy from The Office on 'The Daily Show'

2006-12-07T16:57:00.000-08:00

Ed Helms, who plays Andy, the new 50%-Dwight-like/50%-Michale-like character on The Office, made his return to 'The Daily Show' as Senior Correspondent the other night...Gave a humorous nod to The Office at the start of the clip, and got a nice crowd reaction!

The wrong Epinions about SACD

2006-12-06T11:17:00.000-08:00

I'm sure many people who read my blog could care less about SACD and other audiophile formats or topics, but it's a big part of my life! :-) So here we go:

Came across this Epinions.com article back from 2002 about the downfalls to the consumer of SACD. Most makes sense, yes, from the angle of the author. But, the author is simply coming from the wrong angle.

Don't Believe the SACD Hype
http://www99.epinions.com/content_2514985092

----
Believe the SACD Hype!
SACD is an audiophile format. It's not designed for the consumer level. Lets say you, like myself, are an avid audiophile. You have collected have all this great equipment for home theater and music. You have a decent CD player, music sounds beautiful and clean. But due to the scale of your equipment, you begin to notice the imperfections of CDs. Such as the lack of warmth in your music, and the harsh highs and lacking bass. You wish you could drive your system to the max. Enter SACD. SACD brings back the warmth and frequency spectrum lost in CD compression. Think of it as vinyl records in disk form. Vinyl, if played on a decent turntable, blows away CD.

SACD was developed by accident, really. Sony developed DSD (Direct Stream Digital), the technology behind SACD, to losslessly preserve master tapes.

Why is it so expensive? Easy: it's become a niche market. DVD's were expensive before the public jumped on them. So were CD's. Unfortunately, the public isn't jumping on to SACD. Why? Consumers favor connivance over quality. You can't put an SACD on an iPod. You can't download SACDs for free.

The author made one other point that doesn't make sense. The fact that SACD players don't have digital outputs. There's a very good reason why, and it's not because of copy protection, though it happens to help. A digital output would mean an extra DAC step on the SACD player and on the receiver. This means on-the-fly compression and decompression. Defeats the purpose of SACD. And cables aren't $250 for a full set. I got my full set of Monster Cables for about 25 bucks.

Seinfield: The Lost Episode

2006-12-02T12:04:00.000-08:00

107.7 The End cans Dick Rossette

2006-12-01T19:05:00.003-08:00

So, since early November, I've wondered what happened to Dick and Sarah's show on my drives home from work. For awhile, while he was covering, Jim Keller said Rossette was on vacation. But today, I turned on the radio and found some dink called Lazlo and his show "The Church of Lazlo" in his place. (Which sucks horribly BTW...impossible to listen to, kinda like trying to listen to Ricker on KISW :P)

So I decided to research. Found Dickie Dickie Pie's MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/dickrossette). It turns out, The End fired him back on Nov 11th!! What the hell 'The End'?? You tried this last year when you canned No Name and Jennifer White, got horribly yelled at by his fans (including me) and you were forced to bring him back (Jennifer is now on a radio show in Cali). Now, They've canned Mr. Dick Rossette? Is The End freaking nuts?! What's next, fire Harms? You're killing The End!! No Name, Dick & Harms is The End! Now we gotta wait until 107.7 comes to their senses and re-hires Dick. Either that, or hopefully Dick will find a new home on a different station.

They're in for just as much, if not more so, hate mail from the fans. Dick and Sarah were the best on the radio and the afternoon show was in it's prime.

The End is getting close to it's own end.

Thanks Kevin Smith!!

2006-11-30T23:00:00.000-08:00

You spelled my name wrong, but still...Thanks!!

Yeah...they spelled it "Jrremy Chandler"...Oh well!

The back-story: The Clerks II DVD came out on Tuesday, I got on NetFlix yesterday, watched it today. Somehow, I happended to let the credits roll and at the end of the credits, this 12 min long video runs through 10,000 names, names of people that added the 'Clerks II' profile as a friend on their MySpace account, which I did. I'm forever immortalized on a Kevin Smith DVD! :-) Thanks Kevin!

A new low in the American publishing industry

2006-11-19T17:14:00.000-08:00

Revolting at FOX
by John C. Dvorak

The decision to publish the OJ Simpson book, If I did it, was a decision that brings Rupert Murdoch and his operations into a new light in terms of exploiting the public, but to then produce a two hour long infomercial for the book in the form of an interview with OJ on FOX makes us wonder exactly what has gone wrong with the Murdoch empire. This repulsive action does nothing more than line Simpson’s pockets with additional book sales beyond the $3.5 million he has already been paid for this ersatz confession. Crime does pay apparently.

Ladies and gentlemen, the American publishing industry has reached a new low-point in its history.

The fact is, titans of industry must show that they deserve the public trust to be allowed to exist carefree in these positions. They are not supposed to sicken us with what is nothing more than moral depravity. Does Murdoch not know this?

Perhaps there is an element of naiveté in all this. At least I hope so, because if this is all an orchestrated publicity stunt to increase book sales so OJ and his slimy publisher Judith Regan (who should be shunned if ever seen in public) can make even more money from a gullible public, then the level of revulsion amongst normal thinking people will top the charts. I know that I’m sickened by this bullcrap. What normal person isn’t?

Even people like Bill O’Reilly, who makes millions from FOX, is distancing himself from this carnival. Many FOX affiliates are not going to air the interview. But the damage has been done. By damage I mean free publicity for the book.

Perhaps people will not buy this piece of shit from this jerk Simpson. If you have to read it, then go to the library. Borrow a copy. As much as I find boycotts offensive something needs to be done to send the creeps who made all these decisions a message. O’Reilly came up with an interesting proposal. See who advertises during the interview and never buy any of their products ever, for the rest of your life. Show your revulsion at this sort of slime ball corporate irresponsibility.

Show your personal disgust with anyone who buys this book!

We collectively, as a nation, put up with too much of this. It’s getting old.

SOURCE:
http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8061

Resizing a window in Vista pegs CPU

2006-11-18T09:41:00.000-08:00

Got Vista? Try this:

That's right, CPU goes from 2% to 100% when simply resizing a window! Even with Glass/Areo turned off!

PC used: (Note: same happens on my x64 bit version on my Beefy desktop at home)
IBM Thinkpad Z60m
Vista RC2 5766 (x86)
1.73 GHz Intel Centrino M
1.27GB RAM

Crazy!!

Crane Tragady in Downtown Bellevue

2006-11-17T08:47:00.000-08:00

Just to the left of where this crane fell (last night at 7:45pm), when I worked for The Sheraton Belllevue, I would park the shuttle to drop off or wait for guests dinning at Seastar. Typically between the hours of 7:00pm and 10:00pm, almost every night.

3 Bellevue buildings damaged in crane collapse; at least one killed
A giant tower construction crane in downtown Bellevue tipped over Thursday night and smashed into an apartment building, killing at least one person in an apartment.

The 210-foot-tall crane toppled from a construction site about 7:45 p.m. It fell across 108th Avenue Northeast, a major downtown north-south thoroughfare.

At least three downtown buildings had severe structural damage: the Plaza 305 office building, the Civica Office Commons and the Pinnacle BellCentre, a mixture of stores on the ground level and luxury apartments above.

Also damaged was an adjacent restaurant, the Melting Pot.

Dozens of residents, diners and others were evacuated. Firefighters were going through the buildings late Thursday looking for other victims.

The crane operator, who was not identified, was trapped in the control cab of the yellow crane nearly 30 feet off the ground. Firefighters used a ladder to reach him, and he walked from the scene, according to fire officials. Bellevue Fire Department spokesman Lt. Bruce Kroon said the operator "rode the crane down" nearly 200 feet.

The operator suffered minor injuries and was taken to nearby Overlake Hospital for evaluation.
Fire officials said they were "red tagging" the buildings, meaning they were not safe to be occupied. The crane was left suspended over the street pending the arrival of investigators from the state Department of Labor and Industries.

Kroon said early today that searchers had not been able to access a collapsed portion of the Plaza 305 building because it was so dangerous. He said two smaller cranes were on their way to the scene to stabilize the fallen tower and wreckage before the search could be completed.

The crane was located at the site of Tower 333, a 20-story office building under construction at the corner of Northeast Fourth Street and 108th Avenue Northeast. The crane was anchored in a pit about five stories deep.

Complete Story:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003434979_crane17m.html

Black Friday

2006-11-16T10:50:00.000-08:00

I've never celebrated Black Friday in the past, but this year it looks like I'm gonna have to endure the pain and agony that is Black Friday. There are some sales just way too good to pass up!
http://www.blackfriday.info/

A few key sales (for the techies):

Staples:
- Playo 60 Pack DVD+R or DVD-R: $2.95
- Maxtor 200GB HDD: $19.99!!! (That's insane!)

Circuit City:
- Proview 19" Widescreen Monitor: $129.99
- Panasonic 52" LCD Projection HDTV: $999.99 (Wish I had an extra $1K!)
- EMachines Desktop PC w/Intel Celeron D Processor 352 + 17" CRT: FREE!
(That's right, the PC is FREE! But you only if you sign up with Vonage. Yes yes, sounds like a catch. But, FYI, I have Vonage and it's great! Even my grandparents made the switch. It's only $19.99 a month with free long distance. And you can transfer your current phone number. AND...there's no contract! So, cancel after the first month if you want! This is an INSANE deal people!)

So it looks like I'll probably be camping out in front of the Redmond Staples waiting to pick up as many of those DVD-R's I can. I mean, it's 200 disks for like 12 bucks! Can't beat that.

Happy Birthday Xbox!

2006-11-15T10:38:00.000-08:00

Xbox is now 5 years old! On this day, November 15th, 2001, the Xbox went on sale and the modding community went nuts!
I didn't get mine until the year after it released, on my birthday Nov 30, 2002. And you know what the first thing I did the night I got it? Opened it! Then got some green mini cold cathode tubes and stuck them next the vents on either side to have it glow green. Then...painted the thing blue and silver, swapped out the green LEDs on the front and the cold cathodes with blue counter parts.

And, 'jC!'s BLUE Box' was born!
Currently, what my original Xbox GUI looks like:

Vist http://www.XboxScene.com

Grand Cayon to get Glass Bridge

2006-11-15T10:17:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if this is under construction or not, or if it's going to meet it's deadline of 4th quoter 2006 (being that it is 4th quoter 2006). I can't seem to find any updated information about it. Still cool none-the-less. And if it is true, then I gotta go back to the Grand Canyon and check it out!

Grand Canyon Skywalk Glass Bridge
Presenting the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass, U-shaped walkway that extends 70 feet over the edge of the Grand Canyon. The glass bridge is suspended 4,000 feet above the Colorado River and will have a glass bottom and sides.

Now while we all wonder if this thing is really going to be able to hold up to our expectations, this might give you (a little?) more reassurance?

“On May 2005, the final test was conducted and the structure passed engineering requirements by 400 percent, enabling it to withstand the weight of 71 fully loaded Boeing 747 airplanes (more that 71 million pounds).

The bridge will be able to sustain winds in excess of 100 miles per hour from 8 different directions, as well as an 8.0 magnitude earthquake within 50 miles. More than one million pounds of steel will go into the construction of the Grand Canyon Skywalk.”

SOURCE:
http://www.ohgizmo.com/2005/10/31/grand-canyon-skywalk-glass-bridge/

71 Boeing 747s? I'll believe it when I see it!

Only 9 days left!

2006-11-10T09:47:00.000-08:00

Just 9 days left until the best of the next gen consoles hits store shelves! Now, I won't be buying one ON the 19th, probably in a month or so I'll go pick one up (or Christmas maybe!?! :P)

Three reasons this console will beat out Xbox360 and PS3: One, the controller. Innovative and fun! Two, Twilight Princess, nuff said. Three, Nintendo is doing something the others aren't, they've made a game console. That's right, no movies, no TV shows, nothing more then what it's suppose to do. Play games! And if there's something Nintendo knows how to do, it's that they can build great consoles and develop great game software!

Neil Patrick Harris is outta the closet?

2006-11-04T10:06:00.000-08:00

I'm a huge fan of How I Met Your Mother. So, based on his character Barny, this is very weird! Never woulda thought it!
Will this hurt the show at all?! I would hope not, but seems like just one of those things that could put a damper on a new sitcom.
--

Actor Neil Patrick Harris Says He Is Gay
By Associated Press

LOS ANGELES --
Neil Patrick Harris is gay and wants to quell any rumors to the contrary. "(I) am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest," Harris tells People magazine's Web site.

The 33-year-old actor said he was motivated to disclose his sexuality because of recent "speculation and interest in my private life and relationships."

Harris stars on the CBS comedy "How I Met Your Mother." He started on TV as a teen, playing the namesake doctor on the series "Doogie Howser, M.D."
--
SOURCE:
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/sns-ap-people-neil-patrick-harris,1,2077913.story

Gourmet Air - Spaceballs Joke, Now Reality!

2006-11-02T16:07:00.000-08:00

Everyone remembers PerriAir from Spaceballs right?! This company sure did, and 19 years after that great movie, they've brought air in a can to real life.
Pure oxygen can't be safe or healthy...
--

Big Ox - Mixed Case $150.00

In today's stress-ridden, high-energy environment, you've got to be at your peak performance. Because of increased pollution and the continued destruction of our forests, you might not always be getting the oxygen you need for your active lifestyle. Restoring higher oxygen levels in the blood can promote an increase in energy and alertness so you can work harder, play longer and perform better.

Food, water and oxygen are key to a healthy lifestyle. Today's on-the-go people enhance their diets with vitamins and all-natural food supplements. They drink pure water and energy drinks to improve their vitality. So why not enhance the fuel our bodies need most frequently? Enhancing your body's oxygen levels can help sustain your energy level and peak performance, and promote increased alertness and physical stamina.

So enjoy an experience with Big Ox today, and feel the power of OXYGEN.

10 Liters 93% Pure Oxygen (30 to 40 Breaths) - Mixed Case, 6 of each flavor
--
SOURCE:
http://www.montysgourmet.com/product_info.php?cPath=59&products_id=93&osCsid=990af062cceadbc6860365d6fba04fb1

Extra anus kills four-legged chick

2006-10-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

Poor little bugga!

The Te Uku-bred Barnevelder chick - hatched at Marlene Dickey’s property at the start of last month - has died.

But it wasn’t the extra legs that led to its death, more likely an extra anus, Mrs Dickey believes.

“He developed two bottoms and I think he got glugged up,” she said.

While she was surprised by Forzie’s death - he weighed a “good pound of butter” and was gaining feathers slowly - it was not totally unexpected, she said.

And it was fun while it lasted.

“He was a bit of a laugh.”

Looking ungainly on its extra legs but twice as cute, the bird was an exception to the rule that chickens with defects are not normally born alive.

He was found dead on Friday and is now in the Dickeys’ freezer waiting to be stuffed.

After he’s been to the taxidermist, the family plan to donate the bird to Auckland Museum.

SOURCE: http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=7748

Billy Talent - Nov 7th - Fenix Underground

2006-10-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

Just found out the band Billy Talent (with hits like Try Honesty and Devil In A Midnight Mass) will be playing the Fenix Underground in Seattle on Nov 7th. I've been a huge fan of Billy Talent since the first album releasled a few years ago. But sadly, I've never known anyone who is also a fan (or even has heard of) Billy Talent.

So! Anyone out there a fan that wants to go!? Only 23 bucks ATD to get in!

10 Useless Medical Myths

2006-10-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

Found these quite interesting. Most notable, the idea of overriding the pain of a toothache by icing your hand. I almost hope I get a toothache soon just to try it out!
And of course, a myth made famous by an episode of Friends, peeing on a Jellyfish sting....probably wont work.

Read the whole list at:
http://ririanproject.com/2006/10/25/10-useless-or-even-dangerous-first-aid-myths/
--
10 Useless Medical Myths

2. Peeing on a Jellyfish Sting

You’re far more likely to suffer a jellyfish sting than a shark bite, so here’s what you need to know:

First, don’t believe the rumors. Peeing on a stung bit of skin won’t do much to relieve suffering, and you’ll suffer some odd stares, too, doctors say.

“Urine has not been scientifically proven to help in jellyfish stings”, said Dr. Paul Auerbach, an emergency physician at Stanford University Hospital and an expert on jellyfish stings.

“Instead, vinegar is the best first treatment,” he said, when treating stings from North American jellyfish.

But the question still lingers, if no vinegar is in sight is urine better than nothing? While studies haven’t proven it, Auerbach admits he’s known a few people who said urine worked for them.

3. Drinking Booze to Ease a Toothache

“A shot of whiskey is not going to kill the pain of a toothache,” says Charles Wakefield, D.D.S., director of advanced education in general dentistry at Baylor University medical school. Instead of a whiskey on the rocks, just order the rocks: A Canadian study found that rubbing an ice cube on people’s hands killed tooth pain in 50 percent of them. Wrap the cube and rub it on the V-shaped soft spot of your hand, where the bones of your thumb and index finger meet. The cold, rubbing sensation travels on the same pathway to the brain as tooth pain, and by icing your hand, you override the signals from your mouth. When you’re finished, call a dentist. And pour yourself that whiskey.

Long Time..No Post...

2006-10-24T09:56:00.000-07:00

I can't begin to explain the how busy and stressfull last week was. My blog suffered the worst of it. :-) Hopefully this week will be a bit smoother.

What's new: I've been watching The Office (USA Version). Awesome show! Not as good as the UK version, but really? How could it be! It's the best a remake can be. Just started Season 2 which got some nice clean up work from the first season. The first season was good, but sometimes the charecter Michale was a bit over the top. They cleaned him up, made him more 'Boss-like.' And the writing got better and sharper. Everything a second season of any good show would do.

What else is new...Finnaly got to sit down and play some more Shenmue II on Xbox, the most underplayed game series of all time. I after playing about 80% of the game non-stop for a week-in-a-half last month, I loaded it up and found that I hadn't played in over a month! I don't know how that long went by. It's werid how life can get so busy that you literlly forget to do things that are fun. Anyway, go out and buy it right now and play it! Every GameStop has a copy for like 6 bucks. (My background on this blog is from the game.)

Oh, and Studio 60 is still the best new show this year! :)

What does Enron and HP have in common?

2006-10-13T07:27:00.000-07:00

I sure hope this isn't true. HP makes great laptops It seemed that over the last few years, HP has really stepped up their game and takin off as a good, high quality company.
It's just one beating after another this year for HP.

HP Stock Sales Raise Eyebrows
As if Hewlett-Packard didn't have enough problems with its botched boardroom media leaks investigation, CEO Mark Hurd made nearly $1.4 million in a stock options sale just a week before the scandal became public knowledge.

On Aug. 25, the same day Hurd was interviewed by outside HP attorneys about his role in the pretexting scandal, he exercised options priced at $21.73 a share and sold them for almost $35 a share.

Hurd's sale "was fully proper," according to HP spokesperson Emma Wischhusen, who noted Hurd exercised his stock options during the three-week window HP allows each quarter.

Wischhusen also said the sale gained HP internal approval.

Former HP Chairman Patricia Dunn, along with company attorneys Kevin Hunsaker and Ann Baskins have all left HP since the scandal broke in early September.

Dunn and Hunsaker also face four felony counts under California law for fraudulent wire communications, wrongful use of computer data, identify theft and conspiracy for their roles in the use of pretexting to obtain the personal call logs of HP (Quote) board members and journalists.

In addition, HP faces a shareholder suit charging Hurd, Dunn, other executives and HP's private investigators with breach of fiduciary duties, abuse of control, gross mismanagement and waste of corporate assets. The case is set for a Nov. 2 hearing.

William L. Lerach, an attorney representing Juliet Worsham, who filed the shareholders suit, could not be reached for comment on how the Hurd stock sell-off could impact the lawsuit.

SOURCE:
http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3637641

The best new show you should all be watching

2006-10-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Best new show this fall! Did you ever like SNL? Did you ever like West Wing? Did you ever like Sports Night? How about Friends? If you can answer Yes, or even just 'maybe,' to any of those questions, you'll love Studio 60! Do what you need to get catch up. There's 4 ep's out right now. Download the first 3 from iTunes. Watch Episode 1x04 for free here: http://www.nbc.com/Video/rewind/full_episodes/?show=studio60

I've been looking forward to this show all summer but had no idea what it was going to be other then Matthew Perry acting as a writer for a new show by the West Wing guy. It's very West Wing-ish. But with the one-liner, quick-wit of Perry. And amazing, fun to watch performances by Bradley Whitford. Monday nights, NBC, 10pm. Tune in, iTune-in, or DVR it!

Think I'm just to White & Nerdy

2006-10-08T23:05:00.000-07:00

I've been a huge Weird Al fan forever! I even got to see him in concert in 2004 with my dad. (Actually a great concert!! He really goes all out!).

So I'm stoked about this new CD (which I don't have yet) but I have been playing the crap outta the White & Nerdy video the last 2 weeks. I like "Rollin'." It's catchy and fun to turn up in the car with 2 10" subs :-). And parodies are much more fun when you know the original song.

Anyway...I snapped this pic off my TV (cause I was too lazy to do it a better way on a PC) from the music video of the Trivial Pursuit card made up for the video. It flashes on screen for a millisecond which made it hard to pause on...But it's really funny!

The video for anyone that hasn't seen it:

President Bush Sues Dixie Chicks over Hail to the Chief

2006-10-08T21:28:00.001-07:00

This was a few months ago, but still shocking. I'm not a fan of the Dixie Chicks, actually, they annoy the hell outta me. But this is just insane. They've done absolutely nothing wrong!

Military action if they continue to play 'Hail to the Chief' at their concert?! An amendment that forbids anyone to use a SONG unless the President is present?! The FBI spying on their fans cell phone conversations? What an ungodly waste of resources and a threat to American freedom.

"Because we have legitimate concerns that this practice might provide terrorists with a means of communicating with each other, we decided to monitor cell phone usage at a random selection of concerts."

I highly doubt terrorists are going to take in a Dixie Chicks concert!
--
President Bush Sues Dixie Chicks over Hail to the Chief
By Phil Maggitti
Jul 26, 2006, 09:00

Acting on information gained from cell phone surveillance, President Bush filed suit in a Washington, D.C., court yesterday to stop the Dixie Chicks from using "Hail to the Chief" to herald their arrival on stage during their present concert tour.

The president's lawyers argued in a 225-page brief that the Chicks' continued use of the song could "materially and significantly harm the image of the presidency, which harm, during a time of war such as this, could well constitute an act of treason as defined specifically but not exclusively in the Patriot Act."

The Dixie Chicks, whose lead singer Natalie Maines once told a British audience that the group was ashamed of the fact that the president came from Texas, could not be reached for comment. A source close to the group said its members were busy writing thank you notes to everyone "brave enough to attend their concerts in a country run by a two-bit, butthole dictator."

With his approval ratings in erectile dysfunction, President Bush has become increasingly sensitive to the national security implications of criticism from entertainers. He authorized the FBI to monitor cell phone usage by fans on the Dixie Chicks current tour, which began July 21 in Detroit. While reviewing cell phone transmissions from that show, the FBI discovered that the Dixie Chicks arrived on stage to the strains of "Hail to the Chief."

Presidential press secretary, Tony Snow, defended the government's right to spy on music fans at concerts.

"We are well aware that many people turn their cell phones on and hold them up during concerts," said Mr. Snow, a former television personality. "Because we have legitimate concerns that this practice might provide terrorists with a means of communicating with each other, we decided to monitor cell phone usage at a random selection of concerts. That the Dixie Chicks and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young were the first groups designated for surveillance is entirely coincidental. What's more, our surveillance of cell phone usage does not extend to the private calls of entertainers on tour, except as such calls might be monitored in other kinds of legitimate surveillance."

Mr. Snow warned that if the Dixie Chicks did not cease and desist immediately, the government could not rule out military action to force compliance. In addition, said Mr. Snow, "the president is seriously considering asking Congress to pass an amendment to the constitution forbidding the use of "Hail to the Chief" at any events at which the president is not physically present."

In related news, Israeli fighter pilots bombed the Tweeter Centre in Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday, killing 2,861 fans at a Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) concert. Using U.S.-supplied fighter planes, the pilots dropped six, five-hundred-pound, U.S.-supplied bombs on the centre just as Mr. Islam arrived on stage to the tune of "Hava Nagila."
--
SOURCE:
http://www.pugbus.net/artman/publish/07262006_11_dixiechicks.shtml

The Daily Show with John Stewart is as good as “real” News, study finds.

2006-10-05T22:00:00.000-07:00

My grandma and I love John. And it's true. He is a hero and focuses on the things mainstream media side-steps. So what if it is with humor? It's humor that the media and news is so cautious and focus on only the negative, rarely about the positive.

Thanks John for being real while making us laugh and feel good about ourselves and our country! (You too Colbert!)
--
IMNSHO, this man is a patriot and American Hero, and is the best journalist on the air today.

Which would you think has more substantive news coverage — traditional broadcast network newscasts or The Daily Show with Jon Stewart?

Would you believe the answer is neither?

Julia R. Fox, assistant professor of telecommunications at Indiana University isn’t joking when she says the popular “fake news” program, which last week featured Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf as a guest, is just as substantive as network coverage.

While much has been written in the media about The Daily Show’s impact, Fox’s study is the first scholarly effort to systematically examine how the comedy program compares to traditional television news as sources of political information.

The fact that a comedian is the best journalist in America is a sad testament to the quality of our news.
--
SOURCE: http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=7410
Bold/Italics: Devork Comment | Italic: Quoting Source

Slightly Immature Post / Podcast or Netcast?

2006-10-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

This made me laugh! Take a look at the security, anti-spam image I needed to type in order to make the post. :) lol I'm so immature sometimes :-P

I was making a comment to a news item on iLounge regarding Leo Leporte's effort to change the word Podcast to Netcast to better describe that Podcast is not limited to those who own an iPod or users of iTunes. For those of you who don't know who Leo Leporte is, he is probably the most popular Podcaster out there and hosts podcasts such as Inside The Net, This Week in Tech (TWiT), Security Now, MacBreak, The Daily GizWiz, and hosts the popular TV show 'Call For Help' on G4 (Canada).

Podcast or Netcast?
Many people, too many people, don't realize that a Podcast is typically just an MP3 that can be downloaded and listened to on anything that can play MP3's (computer, Zen's, Cell Phones, MP3 CD-Compatible Car Stereos, etc) Heck, even on the Internet! (my choice for my start page http://www.netvibes.com/ is a great example)

Leo is putting $30k behind the name change and has already begun officaly naming his network of podcasts 'Netcasts'.

I hope he pulls it off!

Male Restroom Etiquette

2006-09-30T22:16:00.000-07:00

Happy 50th Post To Me!! :-)

Male Restroom Etiquette
Why you never talk in a mens restroom

Housewarming Party! - Reminder

2006-09-24T22:38:00.000-07:00

Might be more of a 'Show-'n'-Tell'/Tour/Walkthrough kinda thing. But who knows! My family will probably turn it into a big blow out...I hope it's a least a little worth wild! Will at least get a chance to piss off the neighbors when I run through some Home Theater/Audiophile demos :-D

It happens just one week from today!

Sunday, Oct 1, 2006 - Noon-6pm

Hope to see everyone here!

That Strange Falling Sensation

2006-09-19T11:41:00.000-07:00

One of lifes weirdest little things! I haven't had this happen to me in a while. Typically, though, when it does happen, I'm 'dreaming' that I'm stepping off a street curb without judging the depth of the step, resulting in a over exertion, stepping down too hard. Then I 'JERK!' Then I have to try to fall asleep again.
I used to think that this was all in my mind and I never actully moved.
Interesting stuff! I love researching odd little things like these...
---
Do you ever wake up suddenly to a falling sensation and a strong muscle twitch just after you have fallen asleep?

This strange falling sensation and muscle twitch is known as a hypnagogic myoclonic twitch or “Hypnic jerk” If this has happened to you on more than one occasion, don’t worry, you are not alone. Close to 70 percent of all people experience this phenomenon just after nodding off, according to a recent study at the Mayo Clinic.

Most experts agree that this is a natural part of the sleeping process, much like slower breathing and a reduced heartbeat. The occurance is well known and has been well documented. However, experts are still not completely sure why the body does this.

The general consensus among researchers is that, as your muscles begin to slack and go into a restful state just as you are falling asleep; your brain senses these relaxation signals and misinterprets them, thinking you are falling down. The brain then sends signals to the muscles in your arms and legs in an attempt to jerk you back upright. This misinterpretation that takes place in your brain may also be responsible for the “falling” dreams that accompany the falling sensation. These “dreams” are not really normal dreams, as they are not produced from R.E.M sleep, but rather more like a daydream or hallucination in response to the body’s sensations.

SleepingWhile this phenomenon happens to most everyone, studies have recently begun to link occurrences of “Hypnic jerks” to sleep anxiety, fatigue, and discomfort. People who are having trouble sleeping or can’t get comfortable in bed appear to experience the sensation more often throughout the night. It is especially more common with people who are trying to fight falling asleep or have deprived themselves of sleep for more than 24 hours.

Researchers believe that the lack of sleep from sleep anxiety or sleep deprivation confuses the muscles and the brain. The muscles continually attempt to relax and shut down for rest, while your brain remains awake creating continued “misinterpretations” of falling or loss of balance.

Scientists and researchers continue to study sleep twitching and jerking in a small capacity, but state that the sensation is completely normal for our bodies and is “of little medical significance”. Our bodies go through several procedures of shutting down and preparing for an extended period of rest. “Hypnic jerking” is just one of them. It doesn’t appear to cause damage to body and poses no danger to our physical wellbeing. That may be true, but it could pose a significant danger to my bed when I mess my pants next time I wake up thinking I just fell off of a building.
---
SOURCE:
http://www.failedsuccess.com/index.php?/weblog/comments/falling_sleep_hypnic_jerk

It's - An - Awe - some - Spec- ta - cle!

2006-09-16T23:09:00.000-07:00

Home is where Heart is!

2006-09-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

Forgot my camera!!! :-( So sorry, no pics as of yet, but I did find some pics on Flickr from their concert at Thunder Bay. Same stage, close to the same clothes they were wearing too!

Excellent concert! Could have listened to Ann sing all night! She NAILED the song Alone! The theatre was going nuts cheering and standing ovations through out the show.

Glad I finally got to see them! :-)

Green tea shown to prolong life in Japanese study

2006-09-12T14:40:00.000-07:00

I love green tea! And white teas (similar to green tea, but 10x the antioxidants, more delicate, and sweeter tasting. Not to mention more expensive! Some cost up to $50, or more, an ounce!). Always nice to read about the benefits of tea, something you don't see in mainstream media too often.

Green tea shown to prolong life in Japanese study
September 12, 2006

A study of more than 40,000 men and women in Japan has found that those who drink a lot of green tea live longer, researchers said on Tuesday.

The investigation by Dr. Shinichi Kuriyama and colleagues at the Tohoku University School of Public Policy, Sendai, Japan, found the beverage was particularly effective in fighting heart disease but did not reduce the death rate due to cancer, as some earlier animal studies had suggested.

Polyphenols -- plant compounds known to be antioxidants -- found in green tea may explain the life prolonging benefit it confers, said the study published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association.

The 11-year study was conducted in northeastern Japan, a region where 80 percent of the population drinks green tea and more than half drink three or more cups daily.

Those involved in the study ranged in age from 40 to 79 and had no history of stroke, heart disease or cancer when the study began in 1994.

Those who drank five or more cups of green tea a day had a death rate overall and from heart disease in particular that was 16 percent lower than those who drank less than one cup daily, over the course of 11 years.

Over the first seven years of the study the death rate of the heavy tea drinkers was 26 percent lower.

Where heart disease was concerned the effect was stronger among women than men in the study, perhaps because men were more likely to be cigarette smokers, the authors reported.

Tea of all kinds is the most consumed beverage in the world aside from water, while heart disease and cancer are the two leading causes of death worldwide.

The authors said the apparent protective effect found was not likely to be the result of tea drinkers in the study somehow being more health conscious, since almost all Japanese consume green tea as one of their favorite beverages regardless of their other health habits.

The study was paid for by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
-----------------
SOURCE News:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060912/hl_nm/tea_dc&printer=1
SOURCE Image:
http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/EDL/7197_cat~Green-Tea-Posters.jpg

Singin' in the Rain!

2006-09-09T23:39:00.000-07:00

In honor of our lovely rain today...

VW has the best marketing team in the world!! (Well, maybe not, Apple is pretty durn good too!)

I've seen this video many times. It is one of the most entertaining commercials I've ever seen. The popping dancer, David Elsewhere, rocks!

Housewarming Party!

2006-09-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

I've set a time and date for my Housewarming Party!

It'll be Sunday, October 1 from Noon to 6pm.

Everyone's invited! Hope to see you there!

SimCity Classic Live! - Free and Online!

2006-09-05T18:07:00.000-07:00

Too cool! Anyone who had spent hours and hours on their old 386 and 486 procs can take a walk down memory lane!

http://simcity.ea.com/play/simcity_classic.php

Requires ActiveX. Sorry my fellow wise web surfers...only runs on IE :-(

Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, has Died

2006-09-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

So sad. This man had nothing but passion for life and what he did. A truly tragic loss...

Steve Irwin dead
September 04, 2006 01:56pm (Austrillia)

The Crocodile Man, Steve Irwin, is dead. He was killed in a freak accident in Cairns, police sources said. It appeared that he was killed by a sting-ray barb that went through his chest, Queensland Police Inspector Russell Rhodes said.

He was swimming off the Low Isles at Port Douglas where he had been filming an underwater documentary when it occurred.

Ambulance officers confirmed they attended a reef fatality this morning at Batt Reef off Port Douglas.

Mr Irwin, 44, was killed just after 11am, Eastern Australian time.

His American wife Terri learned for the tragedy from police in Tasmania, where she had been trekking in Cradle Mountain National Park.

His friend and manager John Stainton said Mr Irwin was filming some segment for daughter Bindi's show on the reef between sessions filiming the main documentary.

It is understood Mr Irwin was killed instantly.

A source said Mr Irwin was already dead when his body was brought onto the Isle.

A source said Mr Irwin's body was being airlifted to Cairns Hospital in North Queensland for formal identification.

An Emergency Services Response Management spokeswoman said they received a call about the tragedy at 11.11 am, Australian Eastern Standard Time.

The response unit left in a helicopter for the Batt Reef at 11.18am and arrived shortly after.

Mr Irwin was pronounced dead at the scene immediately, the spokeswoman said.

Steve Irwin's activities went far beyond his universally-known roles as an international TV star and owner of Australia Zoo, north of Brisbane.

They includes assisting Australian Quarantine Inspection service with advertising campaigns warning travellers not to bring foreign matter into the country, and he was becoming a vocal critic of the slaughter of Australian wildlife.

The federal government recently dropped plans to allow crocodile safaris for wealty tourists in the Northern Territority after Irwin intervened, taking Environment Minister Ian Campbell on a tour of croc infested Cape York.

At the time, Irwin told Australian TV program A Current Affair that: ``Killing one of our beautiful animals in the name of trophy hunting will have a very negative impact on tourism, which scares the living daylights out of me.''

The Prime Minister John Howard considered Irwin a friend, inviting him to a barbecue at The Lodge for US President George W. Bush in 2003.

Irwin was a devoted father to his two children Bindi, 8, and Bob, 3.

"Bindi is the reason I was put on this earth. All I want to do is be with her and all she wants to do is be with me. We have such a great time together and it's not just a father and daughter relationship, it's also like I'm a big brother and she's my little sister,'' he told New Idea magazine in 2005.

However the previous year Irwin had created a furore when he took 'Baby Bob' into Australia Zoo's crocodile enclosure while feeding a four-metre salt water crocodile.

Irwin burst onto the media scene with his documentary The Crocodile Hunter in 1992, and his over-the-top persona soon made him a star. In 2002 he burst on to the big screen on Crocodile Hunter: The Collision Course, soon achieving A-list fame.

His celebrity friends include Russell Crowe.

Despite his worldwide popularity, closer to home Irwin got bad press after he was controversially paid $175,000 for a quarantine ad.

Irwin was named Queenslander of the Year in 2003.

SOURCE:
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20349534-952,00.html

Gobble Gobble: A Great Bush Impersonation

2006-09-03T11:47:00.000-07:00

Hate him or like him, you gotta give some credit to this guy, he pulls off a Bush impersonation better then anyone! Very funny:

Zelda Wall Hanging

2006-09-01T20:39:00.000-07:00

There's a few readers out there that may appreciate this. Yes, it's the style from Wind Waker, a style widely unliked by Zelda fans. I for one, though, loved Wind Waker! Anyway....

Zelda wall hanging
Brian Easton commissioned his mom to make this beautiful Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker quilt. From his Free Play post about this textile masterpiece:

The quilt took several months to finish and uses several different techniques. On my end the hardest part of the process was creating a black and white image with simplified design elements. After that I created several different colour schemes (some with the intention of making the quilt "easier" to make) and eventually settled on one that was similar to the original design. The black and white outline was then transferred to an overhead transparency and enlarged. From there the pieces were made while I played the waiting game and received tantalizing email updates somewhat akin to a reverse ransom demand as I saw bits and pieces of Link come together rather than fall apart.

SOURCE:
http://www.boingboing.net/2006/09/01/zelda_wall_hanging.html

Keane singer Tom Chaplin goes into rehab

2006-08-22T09:15:00.000-07:00

Why is it, the best bands (Alice in Chains, Nirvana, The Beattles, etc) tend to have the most drug problems. I got to see Keane in concert in 2004, and despite what some critics might say about their 'Coldplay-wannabe' sound, I love there music. I have 2 copies of Hopes and Fears, the CD and the SACD. It's such a beautiful album.

Keane singer Tom Chaplin goes into rehab
Aug 22, 2006

LONDON - A planned U.S. tour by Keane has been postponed while singer Tom Chaplin is being treated for drug and alcohol addiction, the British band said Tuesday.

In a statement posted on the band's Web site, Chaplin, 27, said he was "having to deal with an increasing problem with drink and drugs, and the time has come to get the professional help I need to sort myself out."

The tour had been due to start in Chicago on Sept. 7.

"I feel desperately disappointed to be letting down our fans, but I want to get myself right now so that I can be back on the road for the rest of the year," Chaplin said.

Keane had already canceled several appearances, citing Chaplin's "exhaustion."

The trio released their melodic debut album, "Hopes and Fears," in 2004. Their second album, "Under the Iron Sea," entered the British album charts at No. 1 when it was released in June.

SOURCE: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060822/ap_en_mu/music_keane

The Curse of Willows Run

2006-08-19T12:26:00.000-07:00

Recently, I introduced a couple friends of mine to the beautiful Willows Run Heron Links 3-par Golf Course. I myself had never golfed the Heron Links 3-par before, but had seen it many time driving through the valley, and the few times I've gone mini-golfing at the equally beautiful, outdoor mini-golf, aka: putt-putt. Before introducing my friends to this new course they, and I, were playing at the crappy hole of a 3-par behind Crossroads "Mall."
I've played Willows Run 3 times in the last month, though my two friends go there about 3-4 times a week now. They've gotten a bit addicted to the game, and being that one is unemployed, he has allot of free time on his hands. Anyway, each of the 3 times I've been there, something odd, strange, out-of-the ordinary has happened.

- Our first time out, it was a beautiful day, partly cloudy, but the sun was still coming through. It was nice! Until we got the the 6th hole when it started down pouring! As I went for my fairway shot, I hit the ball beautifully, right near the hole! Though, my club also went for a sky-high ride, as it had slipped from my wet, rain drenched hands, and flew to the other side of the fairway. At the 7th hole, the rain let up and the sun came back. We played the rest of the game soaked in rain.

- My second time out, it was just Bob and I. We got there at just about 7pm. We had initially wanted to only hit a bucket of balls at the driving range, but decided, playing 9 would be more fun. It was! Though, to our misfortune, the two groups of kids who had the same late-night craving for golf that were playing ahead of us, sucked! We spent the first 5 holes waiting. And at about the 7th, it got dark, very dark. So dark that by the 9th hole, we teed off and immediately, lost our balls. We weren't able to finish out the 9.

- My third and most recent time out at Heron Links, we all met up at the course at 10:30am. It was a Sunday and for some odd reason became the busiest day the course had seen all season. It was hot, and got hot early in the day. This time we played 18 holes. As we waited, and waited, and waited to tee off for the second run, I noticed my neck started feeling a bit sizzilly! That evening, after we had finished up, we headed by to my place to hang out. It is then, while sitting on the couch I relized what I had feared, yes, sunburn. A sunburn which only now is starting to peal. Though, it's not pealing per-say, more of a flaky annoyance that once you feel you've brush it all away, more follows.

So now the question is, is this beautiful golf course worth another test? If I return, what possible strange occurrence may befall me? Do I fear ever going again? Or am I to be excited to see what may happen?

Or, should I just stick to putt-putt!?

'I see handcuffs': Osment charged in DUI

2006-08-18T14:26:00.000-07:00

Oh man! This is just tooo funny! Weird, odd, a little sad, but still made me laugh all the same! :-) The best part is where it states he was driving a 1995 Saturn. :-P

'I see handcuffs': Osment charged in DUI

GLENDALE, Calif. - Teen actor Haley Joel Osment, who suffered a broken rib last month when his car struck a mailbox, faces up to six months in jail on charges that he was driving drunk and possessing marijuana, authorities said.

Osment's blood-alcohol level after the July 20 crash was measured at .16 percent, twice the legal limit, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
The 18-year-old actor was charged Thursday with misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence, marijuana possession and driving under the influence with the special allegation of having a blood-alcohol content of .15 percent or higher. He also faces a vehicle code infraction of being under the age of 21 and driving with a blood-alcohol level of .05 percent or greater.

Osment was scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 19 in Glendale Superior Court.

His attorney will work with authorities to arrange a time for the star of such films as "The Sixth Sense" and "Pay it Forward" to surrender, Robison said. The district attorney plans to request that bail be set at $15,000.

DreamWorks spokesman and family friend Marvin Levy said Thursday the family would have "no comment at this time" on the charges. Levy said Wednesday that Osment has recovered from injuries that landed him in the hospital and is preparing to attend college in the fall.

The actor recently finished work on the film "Home of the Giants."

"He's fine. The injuries were slight, not serious," Levy said.

Authorities said Osment was driving home alone about 1 a.m. when his 1995 Saturn hit a mailbox and flipped over.

SOURCE: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060818/ap_en_ot/people_osment

Virtual Tour of my DTK Apartment

2006-08-13T22:18:00.000-07:00

Thought it might be cool to use the video feature on my Canon camera to make a quick virtual tour of my apartment.

NOTE: TURN DOWN THE AUDIO BEFORE PLAYING.

Sorry about the music playing in the background. I forgot the camera captured audio. The music is crap :-P just some random internet rock station that was playing a good song, then went to some weird oversees rock. Didn't think to change it for the video. Oh well.

Friends may return with special episodes

2006-08-08T22:32:00.000-07:00

How did I not know about this!?

Friends may return with special episodes
23 January 2006

Television sitcom 'Friends' is reportedly due to return for four one-hour specials, after its stars signed multi-million dollar deals to appear in the new shows.

According to Hollywood.com, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt Le Blanc and Matthew Perry have all agreed $5m deals with NBC bosses in Los Angeles.

Scriptwriters are reportedly already at work on the four double episodes of the series, which will be broadcast in 2007.

According to reports, insiders claimed that Aniston was reluctant to return to 'Friends' initially but has now agreed to reprise her Rachel Green character for the special episodes.

SOURCE: http://www.rte.ie/arts/2006/0123/friends.html

N'Sync is Gay! No...Really!

2006-07-26T15:11:00.000-07:00

Now, I have to admit, thanks to an old high school girlfriend who loved N'Sync, I too began to enjoy some of N'Sync's music. Possibly because she played the crap out of their CD's evertime we hung out, and when one is put through that much exposure of anything, you begin to find qualities you find likeable. But seeing this story made me laugh! This has got to be one of the most ironic things to ever happen to a boy band!

Lance Bass of 'N Sync reveals he's gay
Source: Yahoo! News

Lance Bass, band member of 'N Sync, says he's gay and in a "very stable" relationship with a reality show star. Bass, who formed 'N Sync with Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick, tells People magazine that he didn't earlier disclose his sexuality because he didn't want to affect the group's popularity.

"I knew that I was in this popular band and I had four other guys' careers in my hand, and I knew that if I ever acted on it or even said (that I was gay), it would overpower everything," he tells the magazine.

'N Sync is known for a string of hits including "Bye Bye Bye" and "It's Gonna Be Me." The band went on hiatus in 2002. Bass has also found headlines for undertaking astronaut training and failing to raise money for a trip into space.

Bass says he wondered if his coming out could prompt "the end of 'N Sync." He explains, "So I had that weight on me of like, `Wow, if I ever let anyone know, it's bad.' So I just never did."

The singer says he's in a "very stable" relationship with 32-year-old actor Reichen Lehmkuhl, winner of season four of CBS' "Amazing Race."

Bass and Fatone, 29, are developing a sitcom pilot inspired by the screwball comedy "The Odd Couple," in which his character will be gay.

"The thing is, I'm not ashamed Â that's the one thing I went to say," Bass says. "I don't think it's wrong, I'm not devastated going through this. I'm more liberated and happy than I've been my whole life. I'm just happy."

The Good and the Bad

2006-07-24T22:07:00.000-07:00

I've lived here now 3 weeks and settling in to the day-to-day life of being on my own and what accompanies it. I get a pretty nice view of the lake, my own free, on-site storage unit, a locker in the laundry room for detergent, awesome parking, and a quiet, rather peaceful location (as close as you could get living in an apartment) while being just blocks away from downtown. And the apartment is north facing, never any direct sunlight, though still heats up, it's never more then 3-5 degrees cooler then outside (until after dark when the heat just settles).
But there are a few drawbacks. For one, my window in the dining room faces the parking lot, which is great for keeping an eye on your car, but it also means if you want the blinds open, your neighbors can keep their eye on you. Not much of a problem during the day, but after 5 it gets pretty busy out there. One neighbor has introduced herself, though she seems rather snobby and I've gotten the feeling she is very possessive about the building.
But the most annoying thing about the building is my neighbor next door to me. Him and his girlfriend are always on their balcony! Why is this annoying? Because they are in my direct line-of-sight to the lake. So, for instance, tonight when I started sweating up a bit from the accumulated warmth that settles in the living room, I thought it would be nice to step out side. I had noticed them on their deck as I drove in from golfing at 8:30p, but it's now 10 and didn't think they'd be out there. But they were, by candlelight. Now, the guy and girl seem like very nice people, and I'm sure they are. And it's great they put so much time into using their deck. But why was this building designed in such a way that you feel like your disrupting some intimate conversation when you step out into your own deck!?! Why do I have to feel embarrassed and intrusive every time I want to sit outside enjoy the sunset over the lake and sip my Corona in the cool night air?!

And, I think that they might be able to hear my TV, which I always have on in the evening (gets lonly when it's silent). And being that I don't have cable ($60 a month to watch Jon Stewert and Senfield re-runs is insane!) I usually queue up the King of Queens, South Park, and mostly Friends epsiodes I've downloaded through my Xbox. So I'm sure they think I'm weird and crazy from hearing coutless episodes of Friends who's sound travels through the open windows. (Yes I like Friends, what can I say, it's a really good sitcom! And it's comferting to have on in the backround as I hang out around the apt.)

Having two tenants that actually enjoy using their decks living next to each other doesn't really work. And it's such a rare situation. Most people just see a deck as a place to store the crap from the living room when company comes over.

But all-in-all, this place rocks! :-)

Monopoly ditches cash, goes plastic

2006-07-24T20:49:00.000-07:00

Monopoly ditches cash, goes plastic

While Monopoly is the paragon of good 'ole fashioned board game fun, the "old fashioned" part had to go. Parker Brothers is phasing out the cash-based version's funmoney and replacing it with an "Electronic Banking" flavor that could leave Mr. Moneybags turning his pockets inside out as his stash is replaced by a magnetic strip. New kits are completely devoid of the famous multi-colored bills; instead, you'll find phoney Visa debit cards and a calculator / reader which keeps a running tabulation of your riches -- or lack thereof. A deal was struck with Visa to design the mock cards and readers, presumably after surveys showed that 70% of adults used cash less often now than they did a decade ago (no surprise there). When asked about the dramatic change, Parker said replacing cash with plastic "showed the game was moving with the times." For those anxious to get their swipe on, or if you've simply forgotten how to use bills, the new version will set you back £24.99, while the now "antiquated" cash version can be had for £12.99, but only while supplies last.

SOURCE: http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/24/monopoly-ditches-cash-goes-plastic/

I'm a PC

2006-07-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

John "Im a PC" Hodgman on The Daily Show
Very Funny! :-)

'Kimi ga' US DVD Release - Winter 2006

2006-07-19T22:30:00.000-07:00

Finally!
The anime 'Kimi go Nozomu Eien' is finally coming to the US on DVD after more then 2 years since it's Japanese release! It comes out this winter under the title 'Rumbling Hearts.' I know what I want for Christmas!

Not sure how many of you out there care at all about anime, but if you've ever been curious about these toons from the east, Kimi ga is worth watching! Amazing script, real emotions and situations, anime at it's best!

I think I'm falling back into my Anime 'FanBoy' status! :-P
I'll just fall out of it again, it won't last long. lol. I just love this anime!

http://www.rumblinghearts.com/

The Internet is for Porn

2006-07-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

I love this video! It's so funny! Even if you don't play WoW, it's still very amusing!

This has been out awhile now (I saw it a few months ago) but it seems to now be making it's rounds on the news sites. For those of you WoW players living under a tree who somehow haven't seen this yet, enjoy!

HOME: Kirkland

2006-07-04T19:59:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm here! In Kirkland! The landlord let me in a day early, for free! Nicest landlord you could ask for!

I got my PC in, and that's about it. Have to sleep on an air mattress tonight, all my Ikea gear is coming tomorrow.

Happy 4th Everyone! :-)

Zelda Turns 19

2006-07-03T07:57:00.000-07:00

I missed this by 2 days, but July 1st was the 19th anniversary of the release of Zelda, the worlds first RPG and highest rated NES game of all time. That's right 19 years!! I can't believe it's been almost 20 years since Zelda first dropped.
That's freaky!

Has anyone ever beat this game? Well, watch someone do it in 25 mins!

Happy RSS Day Washington State Folks!

2006-07-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

That's right! Today is officaly RSS Day here in Washington State. This weekend is also every geeks heaven as Gnomedex takes place down on Pier 66. Geek celbs unite!

So subscribe to an RSS Feed to celebrate July 1st, RSS Day!

M. Bison destory's SMB World1/Lv.1

2006-07-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

I'm in Awe!

It's Bloody Cold

2006-06-27T22:53:00.000-07:00

It's Bloody Cold - British Parady of James Blunt - You're Beautiful

I found this a few months ago...Alanna just mentioned watching the You're Beautiful music video, so I stuck this up for her. :-)

The Postal Service LP number 2 in the works!

2006-06-27T20:54:00.000-07:00

Ben Gibbard's Postal Service Prepping Next Delivery: Second LP
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1534893/06222006/postal_service.jhtml

From MTV.com:
"We're slowly starting. We're crawling right now, and whether that crawl turns into a walk remains to be seen," Gibbard said. "But we'll know more towards the end of the year. I've just been touring so much and trying to find time to make it happen and make our schedules line up.

"The good thing about working with [producer/musician] Jimmy [Tamborello] is it takes him sending me something for me to write lyrics for it. It's not like I'm sitting around going, 'Oh, that would be good for a Postal Service song.' "

Oh Yeah!!! I have a feeling this will be out even before the end of the year. But if it takes till next year...I'll wait! It'll be worth it!

This is the coolest form of advertising I've ever seen!

2006-06-26T23:03:00.000-07:00

So simple, so easy, just stick, ring, and run! :-)

I actually want one of these, just to play with it, and prank with it!

Vista Beta 2 Adventures

2006-06-25T20:12:00.000-07:00

First off, my main reason for trying out Vista is simply to get Media Center for free, run it in the bedroom and to modded Xbox's (XBMC). When I move I'll be w/o cable TV and will loose my Comcast DVR. So, as a temperory band-aid until I get buy my $40 copy of Vista when it launches from my M$ employed cousin, I thought "why not take this oppertunity to total my computer with a test install of Vista!"

Installation:
As a beta: SUCKS! Couldn't even do an install from the DVD. Vista's installer would hang just as the GUI portion of the install would start.
So, I had to do an Upgrade installation through WinXP, which, of course, made a mess. My plan was to repartition my 40GB drive XP was installed on into a full 40GB partition (it was in 2 20GB partitions...why I didn't that in the first place, who knows!
After the install....3hrs later.....Vista Beta 2 boots up. It's pretty! :-) It's fun! And the new Media Center looks Amazing!! And the HD video it demos for you actully ran with little hick-ups! Something I never got outta my machine using XP.
But there was a problem. No audio! Apperantly my Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 5.1 card needed drivers. So I got them, installed them, restarted, and...still....no sound. SO off the net I go in search of answers. Got nothing really. So, I decided to start fresh. I'm currently in the middle of re-installing XP on just 1 40gb partition, then will attempt to install Vista again.

Most who read my blog probabaly don't care too much about computer stuff, but I'm bored waiting for XP to finish installing and have only my Linux Server to Surf around on....so here I am ;-)

UPDATE:
Well, got audio working! Sorta. No multi-channel. Just stereo. But it'll downmix. It'll do for now. Can't get my capture card to work. It is old, but it was the first card to do real-time MPEG-4 decoding. It's like, 5 years old...or more. No support for it for about 3 years..then all of the sudden, Media Center dropped and drivers for the chipset popped up everywhere...It was weird.

Anyway...Doubt anyone really know, or cares for that matter, about this post. But I'm boared, and it's hot, really hot. 80 here, 90 upstairs, crazy!

Though...the new Media Center is AWESOME! Wow..it's cool. XBMC still kicks it's ass, but still, the new MC is rather impressive!

Guess what!?! More Videos!! :-) Time Attacks!

2006-06-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

These are awesome! And once you start watching, you'll wanna watch them all! Clear your schedule lol...

Super Mario 64: Start to Finish Time Attack (16:27 mins)

Super Mario 64: Start to Finish Time Attack (2) (21:00 min)

Super Mario Bros. 3: Start to Finish Time Attack (11 mins)

Super Mario Bros: Start to Finish Time Attack (05:26 min)

The Legend of Zelda: Start to Finish Time Attack (25:29 min)

The Legend of Zelda and Nintendo Entertainment System Promo
Funny to watch!

Whoops!

2006-06-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

Yea...he's fired!

This is just too funny!!

2006-06-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

Aaron Lewis of Staind rips into Pauly Shore in a special rendition of 'It's Been Awhile'
(Watch the whole thing! Trust me..uber funny!)

A pair of awesome songs

2006-06-17T08:32:00.000-07:00

My Chemical Romance - The Ghost of You (Awesome Song, Powerfull Video)
I never, said I'd lie and wait forever
If I did we'd be together now
I can't always just forget her
But she could try

At the end of the world
Or the last thing I see
You are
Never coming home
Never coming home
Could I?
Should I?
And all the things that you never ever told me
And all the smiles that are ever ever...

Ever...
Get the feeling that you're never
All alone and I remember now
At the top of my lungs in my arms she dies
She dies

At the end of the world
Or the last thing I see
You are
Never coming home
Never coming home
Could I?
Should I?
And all the things that you never ever told me
And all the smiles that are ever gonna haunt me
Never coming home
Never coming home
Could I?
Should I?
And all the wounds that are ever gonna scar me
For all the ghosts that are never gonna catch me

If I fall...
If I fall...
Down

At the end of the world
Or the last thing I see
You are
Never coming home
Never coming home
Never coming home
Never coming home
And all the things that you never ever told me
And all the smiles that are ever gonna haunt me
Never coming home
Never coming home
Could I....
Should I?
And all the wounds that are ever gonna scar me
For all the ghosts that are never gonna.....

Death Cab For Cutie - Blacking Out The Friction
(Fan Made Video)

Sealing the Deal; Part II

2006-06-15T19:08:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm ditchin' the 2 bedroom. It was slightly shady anyway and this kid I was dealing with on the apt wasn't, well, just a kid. Showing it for his parents who were too lazy to do it themselves.

So...I found a better apartment! MUCH better! Alanna and I went and saw it today. It's a huge one bed (bye-bye dedicated theatre ;( maybe next year!). Only 2 blocks from David Brink Park on Lake Washington, view of the lake off the deck, newly remodeled kitchen with black counter tops and very nice/new tile flooring. That's right! Tile!! No crap lenolium! It's super private and quiet! The location is wonderful! (Aside from the ghost's that may wonder over from the spooky Funeral Home 2 blocks down :-P) Hidden parking.

I put down my deposit...I move in first week-ish of July!

(if you haven't noticed by my over explanation of the place, I'm still rather excited about the whole thing :-P Am I getting my hopes up? Probably! But who cares! LoL)

NOTE: Please re-view the post "MC360 Released for XBMC!!" as it has been updated.

Gates Leaving Microsoft

2006-06-15T19:05:00.000-07:00

Like I really need to post this, who hasn't allready heard the big news:

Gates to leave day-to-day Microsoft operations
REDMOND, Washington (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates announced Thursday that he will transition from day-to-day responsibilities at the company he co-founded to concentrate on the charitable work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

SOURCE: http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/15/gates.ap/index.html

Sealing the Deal

2006-06-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

Just a few more steps and I'll have my 2 bed Kirkland apartment! Cragslist has been so silent for so long on Kirkland apartments (<$900 that is) that for a moment there, I thought I'd be stuck having to move into Redmond. Then this post popped up on my RSS feeder.

And...if this Apt doesn't go through (it will! :D), there is another 1 bed sitting down there I might get my hands on.

Another great vid!

2006-06-10T08:37:00.000-07:00

Funny Stuff!
:-P

Cat Swinging from a Fan

2006-06-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

Sick? Funny? Both?

Don't worry, it's fake, some Nokia commercial from a few years back

MC360 Released for XBMC!!

2006-06-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

EDIT: 06-15-06 -1920PST - Added "jC!'s BLUE Box" running the MC360 skin on XBMC Screenshots

Don't you wish your Xbox could do this ;-) (psst..just ask me..takes just 10 mins!)

All you Xbox modders out there (if there any who read my blog) the highly anticipated MC360 skin for Xbox Media Center (XBMC - http://www.xboxmediacenter.com) dropped today at Noon PST. MC360 is a highly advanced Xbox 360 themed skin that has been almost 7 months in the making. Brought to you by the Blackbolt Team, comprised of many of the top XBMC, EvoX, and Avalaunch, skinners in the modding scene from.

Don't you wish your Xbox could do this ;-)
(psst..just ask me..takes just 10 mins!)

So, if you have a modded out Xbox, and run XBMC (which you should be using as your default dash) be sure to grab T3CH's latest XBMC build featuring MC360! (http://blackbolt.x-scene.com/)

The song you must DL right now...

2006-06-06T13:16:00.000-07:00

Death Cab for Cutie - Blacking Out The Friction (Live)

lyrics (Album Version):
I don't mind the weather, I've got scarves and caps and sweaters,
I've got long johns under slacks for blustery days.

I think that it's brainless to assume that making changes to your
window's view will give a new perspective.

The hardest part is yet to come.

I don't mind restrictions, or if you're blacking out the friction.
It's just an escape (it's overrated, anyways).

The hardest part is yet to come.
When you will cross the country alone.

It'll be listed, some what, like this in your P2P software (I know you have one ;-P):
Death Cab for Cutie - Blacking Out The Friction/Brand New Love (Sebado)

7 Min long! :-) (Album Version only about 3 mins long, get both!)

It's been my favorite DCfC song for about 3 months now. Hard to find one all-time favorite DCfC song, but this would have to be my current overly, repeatedly played song right now :-)

Rain

2006-06-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

Pouring rain as I drove to work this morning. Do you ever find yourself driving along in the blinding rain, the kind of rain when your control over the car is in question and from time to time the steering wheel is on the brink of it's own control, and the rain stops and instead of having that feeling of relief, you feel disappointment? Do you begin to miss the dangerous weather condition? I guess it's human nature to enjoy danger. Maybe we just want to have a tale to tell, how we defeated all odds as we sped down I-5, dodging cars, passing the slow drivers, and literally leaving them in your wake, all the while not being able to see more then 10 feet down the road. And only on 5 hours of sleep. Maybe that loss of that danger depletes the chance of challenge and chance of a good bragging story.

And, this morning when I get into my car, I realize the sun roof was left cracked open, leaving my seats covered with rain. Whoops! I need one of those newer cars where the sun roof senses rain and closes automatically. Some Day!

Wow, am I tired this morning. Just one more 5am morning (for the week).

Blog Template Going Crazy

2006-06-01T21:36:00.000-07:00

Maybe you noticed, if you visted my this blog on Thursday night, things looks a bit, well, plain. :-P

Not sure why. But anyway, I should have it fixed here in a few mins.

Y! Video! Awesome!! (well...almost)

2006-06-01T00:31:00.000-07:00

Yahoo! today launched Yahoo! Video uploading to combat YouTube. Hopefully this is just the first step. Currently, it's not interrogated into Flickr :-( and more importantly, does not allow the ability to post videos as private (friends/family).

So, as I've been thinking over the past week about posting videos I take with my Canon, and wishing Y! had Video Uploading, today it came true! But I will not be using it. I've chosen YouTube for the private posting.

I'll post a link here once I get some videos upped (upping a video now, 20 MB's takes a lil bit of time!). But, like Flickr, you'll need to sign into YouTube to see my videos. I know it's a pain to have to be signed in to everything just to view some content, but hopefully, Y! will get their act together soon!

EDIT: Here's the link to my first video! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRj6CwfOnAk) It's a vid from Mini Golfing at Willows Run on Memoral Day. Consider this a test, not sure what's required for people to view private videos. I'm sure it says it somewhere on YouTube, but I'm lazy and it's late. :-P

Ughhh....I didn't want to get up this morning...

2006-05-30T14:49:00.000-07:00

Well, first off, hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend! One thing I realized about this holiday is it's the only one where you don't have to buy anyone any gifts. And even if you do buy flowers, it's not likely their going to complain (unless of course you have some sort of 6th sense) :-P

But the day was fun! Took Alanna and her little sisters Mini Golfin' down in Willow's Run. Good times! That place is pretty awesome.

But with Memorial Day Monday and having Wed's and Thurs's off, I really didn't want to come into work today, Tuesday. And, for some reason, I feel achy all over! Feels as though I got run over by a truck in my sleep.

I need a soda...(good thing they're free here at work!)

I found this rather amusing

2006-05-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

Those crazy folks at Sony

Sony in a manual for their latest computer, the UX, obviouly thought their users do not know the proper way to operate a portable.

So from the pictures I guess they don’t want you to:
1. Use it as a TV stand
2. Smother it with a pillow
3. Touch it with a screwdriver and make threatening hand gestures at it (or you die)
4. Have tea with the Sony (coffee’s OK)
5. Use an electric towel anywhere near the Sony
6. Pour water onto the UX, even if you are wearing protective gear.

Don’t you just LOVE stupid warnings?

Source: .: UNEASYsilence :. » Those crazy folks at Sony

Across the border, Taliban rises again

2006-05-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

Dvorak Posts Truth!
http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=5513

If you don't know Dvorak, listen to TWiT (www.twit.tv)

What do you notice wrong with this picture?

2006-05-26T13:02:00.000-07:00

What do you notice wrong with this picture?

No, not the fact that M$'s stock has been dropping for months now.
(SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: Buy a Mac)

Blogger.com's spell checker apparently doesn't recognize the word 'blog'

Odd?

Guess it's time I start a blog

2006-05-26T12:49:00.000-07:00

I did this once, back before blogging was "blogging."

Years ago I had an Xanga page, even a MySpace page (long before the media coined MySpace a bad word). But I guess because I'm such a part of almost every other aspect of "Web 2.0" I better start blogging!

First off, shameless Flikr Plug!!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/lychand/
Comment this post for an invite to see 'Friends and Family Only' pics.

Stay Tuned!

** Blog Closed ** Please visit my MySpace page: myspace.com/jl_chand