Hawk's Nest

2007-12-12T08:10:00.000-05:00

You don't know who Scrooge is??!!!

So I was blown away this morning when a co-worker said he didn't know who Scrooge is. I mean, come on, what cave do you have to live in to not know this. Surely this should be a standard classic to read in high school. Why is this so outrageous? There should be a common cultural heritage by growing up in America and it's disappearing. That's what makes it sad. Meantime, get up to speed yourself by checking out the Charles Dicken's classic A Christmas Carol from the library or reading it online. Or at least watch a video version, preferably starring George C. Scott or Patrick Stewart. Even the Muppets know what Scrooge is all about...

2007-11-13T16:23:00.000-05:00

Believe it or not...new post immanent! This is where I'll be tonight

2007-08-14T21:54:00.000-04:00

Red Hot News...Hawk Posts!

Nathanael (gift of God) Josiah (The Lord saves) was born today at 7:34am. 8 lbs. 9 oz. and 21.5 inches long. Everyone is tired but doing well.

2007-02-06T09:01:00.000-05:00

Lost Again

Got the call for a follow-up on my previous interview about the show "Lost". Neil White did a great job asking questions and capturing my thoughts. It was a lot of fun. My 15 minutes of fame are almost up... Can 'Lost' find it's footing?

2007-02-01T12:21:00.000-05:00

My Windows Vista Weather gadget this morning...in South Carolina

2007-01-10T07:46:00.000-05:00

iPhone introduced by Apple

Take a look at some new technology Apple introduced yesterday. It's still vaporware until June but you can get it today if you know how (see pic).

2007-01-02T22:11:00.000-05:00

A bad first day??!! Feel the pain!

Thanks Justin...

2007-01-01T18:41:00.000-05:00

2007

As my oldest said, "Happy Birthday 2007!" And what a birthday party it was...the Rose Parade with Star Wars floats, the Rose Bowl with a true traditional Big 10/PAC 10 rivalry and a win by USC. Great food traditions with Mom's potato salad, Heavenly Ham, deviled eggs and the like. Finally, vacation has arrived. Oops, it's over too.

2006-12-30T17:25:00.000-05:00

Which superhero are you??

Well, now you finally know.
Other famous bloggers have revealed their secret identities too.
You didn't know I was Steve Rubel either.

Your results:
You are Superman

Superman		70%
Spider-Man		50%
Green Lantern		45%
Robin		45%
Wonder Woman		38%
Supergirl		38%
Catwoman		35%
Hulk		35%
Batman		30%
The Flash		15%
Iron Man		5%

You are mild-mannered, good,
strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...

2006-12-30T17:11:00.000-05:00

FoxTrot to Cease Dailies

Don't know how I missed this but I'll feel the absence of daily commentary on pop culture from Jason. I don't know how many times I've found myself in the character of Jason, especially his interest in SciFi. He'll still be around weekly, for now.

Enjoy the last daily....

2006-12-25T07:03:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas! Luke reports Christ is born!

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

2006-12-16T21:39:00.000-05:00

Santa 24

The following takes place between 11:58 PM and 12 AM...on Christmas Eve.

2006-12-14T09:17:00.000-05:00

Google Patents and will I ever post again?

Second question first, obviously this post answers that. Sorry for the delay. All that non-posting chatter aside, I'm back with a truly great post.

Yesterday, Google launched Google Patents to be able to more easily search US patents. The historical data here is absolutely fabulous as reflected in this link from the above post. But most especially significant is a patent I was able to pull up right away, filed by one of my heroes when I was two years old. It's from my Dad. He patented the ability to run multiple model trains independently on a single track. He worked for General Electric at the time and "sold" it for a dollar, I think. Anyway, it's making some little kids happy on Christmas morning when they get to play with their new train set and I'm thrilled to have a Dad who can take some of the credit for making that joy a reality.

Check it out!!!

2006-11-10T20:54:00.000-05:00

Doctors using Google to diagnose illnesses | the Daily Mail

Try Google for a 2nd opinion. Very interesting little study.

2006-11-08T22:51:00.000-05:00

Blogthings - Are You Right or Left Brained?

My results...

You Are 60% Left Brained,
40% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.
Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.
If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.
Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.

The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.
Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.
If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.
Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

2006-11-08T08:36:00.000-05:00

Column from PC Magazine: What Not to Buy in 2006

Planning your holiday shopping list? Pay attention to the suggestions here. Some good thoughts about what NOT to get.

2006-10-03T07:45:00.000-04:00

The State | 10/03/2006 | Going back to the island leaves us lost

"It’s the combination of the character development and the back story of each character,” Benson said. “There are many mysteries in the back stories of their lives as there are on the island."

I said I'd go public today...so here it is.
Get LOST!

2006-10-02T06:44:00.000-04:00

Okra Strut

Saturday was the annual Okra Strut festival in Irmo, SC. Here are some pics of Okra Man, greeting governor Sanford, Millie watching it all, the girls on the swing ride and their favorite...the father and son on stilts!

2006-09-29T13:54:00.000-04:00

Lost...a personal scoop?

I've commented on Lost in this blog here, here and here. Some of those observations have been right, some wrong. Now I go public in print with my perspective on what makes Lost so appealing . Stay tuned for Tuesday....

2006-09-29T11:46:00.000-04:00

EVDO Arrives!

That's right...I was pleasantly surprised when this morning my Treo 700w showed "EV" next to the swirling arrows at the top meaning EVDO is here. That means faster access to the Internet and a better experience. I'd been told that it was on course for the end of the month and it looks like they're delivered. Thanks, Verizon!

2006-09-25T22:57:00.000-04:00

On Location with "Death Sentence"

Today I had the rare opportunity with some co-workers to walk out of my government building in Columbia, SC, to the familiar street next door and view the prep and shooting of a scene from Death Sentence, a Kevin Bacon movie coming out in 2007. IMDB's plot statement says of the movie "After his family members suffer at the hands of gang members, a father sets on a mission to kill each thug involved with the crime." Normally, it's not the kind of movie I'd be interested in but I've always had the film bug myself. From early on, my inner Spielberg would be release by using Super 8 films to have a plane battle with model fighters on fish string. And throughout the years, I've enjoyed putting together this or that special video/slide show. So any opportunity to be behind the scenes of a movie and maybe glimpse an actor or two is alright by me. So here's what we saw...

Crossing the street we watched as "muscle cars" were prepped for the scene.

Second Unit Director Joel Kramer's chair

Kevin Bacon's arrives and preps for scene

The "Bad Guys" are here

The scene is shot with Kevin sitting in a gold car across the street from a courthouse watching with riveted eyes on the gang members who celebrate their court "victory". Bacon's stunt double preps to sit in the car and drive after the gang members who jump in their cars and speed away.

Director James Wan (in the baseball cap and not even 30 years old!!) is even here to make sure everything is as he wants

Checking the scene, looks good, roll it!

They'll be for a few weeks...maybe there's a chance for some more sneak peeks.

2006-08-30T11:54:00.000-04:00

New Google Service Offers 24x0 Support for Business Users

My point reinforced by a mock press release from a real hosted Exchange provider. 24x0 Support...love it!

2006-08-29T09:17:00.000-04:00

Will the Enterprise Go for Google's Apps?

I had the opportunity to comment for an article yesterday concerning Google's free apps (thanks BR). As found in this article, quote's from the Hawk found here...

Mobility of Google's applications would also need to be addressed to woo enterprises. "Part of the question of portability is the ability to sync with handheld devices either using Exchange Activesync, BlackBerry services or Good software," says Kevin Benson, Chief Technology Officer, South Carolina Parks, Recreation & Tourism.
"No solution Google is currently providing or has announced would meet the needs of small or midsize businesses, which rely on mobility as a key component. Being tethered to a Web-based app is becoming a prisoner to access and bandwidth."

I also made these comments...The freedom, utility and flexibility of fully developed applications which are portable is much more compelling in the business environment. Ease of use and simplicity are two things software developers can learn from Google but admiring and adopting are worlds apart.

2006-08-15T10:43:00.000-04:00

Wired News: TechTV Reborn as 'UndoTV'

I've been a huge fan of Leo LaPorte and company from back in the day. I keep up with some of the gang by listening to TWiT and other host shows but this possible reunion is great news! I never understood why TechTV went the way of the dodo bird apart from pure economics. Here's hoping their heyday returns.

Update: Here are Chris Pirillo's comments on what he's helping to do

Panda Dog

2006-08-13T12:44:00.000-04:00


Wouldn't you like one??!!

2006-08-07T22:54:00.000-04:00

Appalachian State University is HOT HOT HOT

Kudo's to the worst marketing of a university ever!

2006-08-04T12:29:00.000-04:00

Chinese water torture | the Daily Mail

My nightmare beach experience!!

2006-08-03T10:40:00.000-04:00

MAKE: Blog: Animated light pen art

This is very creative. Stop motion animation is something I've always enjoyed. I know it's a lot of work but creative minds yield a lot of fun for all of us.

2006-08-03T10:03:00.000-04:00

Blogs of History...

2006-08-02T09:17:00.000-04:00

The Cloud Appreciation Society

3+ months later...my head must have been in the clouds.

2006-04-24T08:21:00.000-04:00

April 24 Birthdays

So today is my birthday. What do you make of someone who shares a birthday with Shirley MacLaine and Barbra Streisand? I couldn't be more different than those two.

I had a surprise celebration on Saturday and my wife planned a very special time with friends old and new. She put together a slideshow (with great assistance from MW) which brought me to tears and I will forever cherish. And she had a lot of help from others as well. Thanks everyone for making it possible.

2006-04-21T06:47:00.000-04:00

Variety.com - Trekkies have a new leader

Is it April 1st?? Am I living some kind of dream right now?? No, it seems the reality is Trek is coming back being helmed by a dream team. J. J. Abrams, creator of some of my favorite TV series, Alias and Lost, is co-writing, producing and directing a new Star Trek movie. Damon Lindelof from Lost is part of the production team as well. All I have to say is "Wow"!!

2006-04-19T14:20:00.000-04:00

The VW Rabbit is back - alpha.cnet.com

My first car to drive was a white VW Rabbit. I delivered a lot of papers using it. Nice to see it's rebirth. I never like "Golf" as a car name.

2006-04-18T23:45:00.000-04:00

Dvorak: Apple Needs to Make OS X Open-Source

I completely agree with John. It's what I said two months ago when John first wrote.

As Picard would say, "Make it so"

P.S. Hawk is back in the roost.

2006-03-19T20:41:00.000-05:00

Why & Where the Hawk Blogs

Recently some discussion has arisen about just why a person blogs. If you've followed this blog, you know it goes in fits and starts. Mostly, it is driven by time concerns and the ebb/flow of life. When I want to write a little more about a topic, it shows up here.

Mostly, though, I like to clip interesting postings that I'll find myself readingfrom the blogosphere throughout the day. I might make a small comment on the post or just let it stand on its own. Either way, it is the blog you should check out daily from me. You'll alway find something new and worth reading. It's become my main avenue for sharing so please check it out.
Hawk's Clippings -- http://www.bloglines.com/blog/theotrek
The RSS feed if you are so inclined is http://www.bloglines.com/blog/theotrek/rss

2006-03-12T22:13:00.000-05:00

'Top Gun' Jets Return From Final Combat

Having been into fighters growing up, it's sad to see the F-14 which captured my imagination as a child be retired. I used to have a model of the plane with its movable wings. I loved pretending my own flyovers with it.

2006-03-01T09:24:00.000-05:00

Variety.com - ABC downloads plan to upload segs on Web

So ABC will start offering episodes of show "free" online with ads. Talk about shaking things up...buy ad free Lost from iTunes or watch free online with ads. It's great that they're "getting it". Just read this unbelievable quote from the CEO of Disney, Bob Iger:

While many nets have Webcast individual episodes of their shows online for promotional purposes, none have yet regularly Webcast series for free -- a move sure to raise affiliates' eyebrows.

But Iger made clear that maintaining current business relationships isn't at the top of his agenda. "You have to be willing to put traditional business models and relationships aside in order to reach consumers," he noted. "We will no longer be slave to the old business models because consumers just don't care about them." (emphasis mine)

2006-02-22T08:14:00.000-05:00

Broken Elbows in Children

"Supracondylar Humerus Fracture" or at least that's what it seems to be. My oldest experienced this joy on Monday. We're helping her keep it protected for two weeks while it heals enough to be out of the danger zone. Any re-injury now could mean surgery.

How did it happen? Visiting a friend's house and falling from gym rings suspended from the ceiling onto a hardwood floor. Owwwwwww!!

2006-02-22T08:08:00.000-05:00

CNN.com - MySpace's the place online - Feb 14, 2006

Don't know where your kids are? For better or worse, you just might find them here.

2006-02-17T00:18:00.000-05:00

TIME: Life in the Googleplex Photo Essay

Take a peek inside and see what it's like to work at Google.

2006-02-16T14:09:00.000-05:00

PC Magazine: Will Apple Adopt Windows?

This is an interesting theory. If this were to happen and Apple focused completely on hardware, there would be more than riots going on in the U.S. But I'd like to propose one more step which Dvorak doesn't mention...open source.

The real kicker for this scenario would be if Apple released its operating system to the Open Source community. Imagine the ability to continue to develop this OS in a community which has tried to make a compelling case for desktop Linux but can't get the GUI or OS to be as simple as Windows. Suddenly they would have a compelling GUI and the ability to develop an OS many average users would find useful. With a shift to "Intel Inside", there is no reason why this couldn't happen. Desktop Linux would be left in the dust as a serious contender and a solid alternative to Windows would emerge. Maybe Google would tweak it and rebrand it so the dream of a GoogleOS would be a reality.

I know it's only one possible scenario but since John Dvorak and the Rutgers University professor Yakov Epstein have raised the question, I'd like to think the answer might be even more profound.

Note: Thanks to "The Pirate" for this intriguing start to my morning.

2006-02-09T22:17:00.000-05:00

CBS 2 / KCAL 9: Sand Truck Overturns

I have connection to this story which makes it of interest to me. I understand it took about four hours to clear it and it resulted from avoiding a wreck with an unlicensed, uninsured driver.

2006-02-09T00:06:00.000-05:00

Extend Firefox Contest Finalists :: Mozilla Update

I'm still a big fan of using Firefox for my main browser. I just can't give up the flexibility with all of the extensions available. Here are some of the best. And also 10 must-have extensions.

2006-02-08T06:57:00.000-05:00

Paid E-Mail and the Road to Perdition --Dvorak

Don't believe the Seth Godin's of the world that paid e-mail is our savior from spam. There are technologies to stop this stuff and Yahoo/AOL are just wanting to be lazy.

2006-02-02T06:41:00.000-05:00

Microsoft Research Group Shot

This is an awesome tool! Haven't you taken group shots and have several in a row which are of the same thing but somebody wasn't smiling or was looking the wrong way? Well, Microsoft Research has a new program that automagically is able to bring these shots together. Last night I did some unbelievable composites of two and three shots. Below is one. Here is the help for it.

Also, I found selecting a variety of smaller areas avoided double-headed subjects or 3-footed children.

2006-02-02T06:31:00.000-05:00

How Much Should Hotel Web Access Cost? - Sometimes it's free. Sometimes it's $20 a day. Why? By Steven E. Landsburg

I thought about this while I was traveling recently. Greenville, SC has free WiFi in the airport; Memphis, TN and Los Angeles don't. My hotel also didn't but did have a T-mobile pay as you go plan for $6/hr which worked out the best for me. Finding the right balance is the key. Of course, I think it should be "free" just like water and electricity.

2006-02-01T22:14:00.000-05:00

Trains at Christmas!

One of the highlights during Christmas was a visit to Mr. Strange's (yes, that's his name but he the opposite of strange) 1950's Train setup. The kids loved it...steam coming out of trains rolling down the tracks, bridges, tunnels, horns blowing, cityscapes and small city and town areas accompanied by Peggy Lee's sweet voice playing on an old record play. Wow!! Pictures can't capture the experience but here are a few to get a taste....

2006-02-01T21:57:00.000-05:00

IN-N-OUT Burger

During my recent trip to Long Beach, we ate at IN-N-OUT Burger. I stood ready to order knowing there was a secret menu but at a loss as to what it was. If only I'd had these links, I would have known about "Animal style". I tried to tell my wife and parents about the secret menu but just got blank stares. So here...seriously! The Most Accurate Secret Menu

2006-02-01T08:57:00.000-05:00

USNews.com: Technology: Bill Gates' House

A virtual tour of the house you'd want to visit.

2006-01-30T09:25:00.000-05:00

Who's on Cisco's shopping list? | CNET News.com

Will Cisco buy Tivo? Probably not, but a partnership may be in the works. Cisco wants to move heavily into the consumer market so their moves are something to watch. The Linksys acquisition was a great move in this direction. Read the article and pay attention to the names of other potential companies which may be on Cisco's short list...Nintendo?? Slingbox?? Only time will tell but Cisco's solid networking business bodes well for quality consumer products in your entertainment center.

2006-01-20T20:52:00.000-05:00

Honda Commercial (via BoingBoing)

This is wonderful and very creative. The power of human sound effects.

2006-01-10T09:33:00.000-05:00

CNN.com - Five buzzworthy products from CES - Jan 6, 2006

With the unplanned events in my life over the last week or two, I haven't been able to keep up as well as I would have liked with all the tech stuff. Last week was the Consumer Electronics Show and several items worth noting are at the link above. Everywhere I read Slingbox...so take note. Here is another list from a TV media guy. Also, here's a live blog from Bill Gates' keynote. For full coverage, peruse the c|net site CES 2006.

I saw Power Lunch for a few minutes last week while I prepped for my days (the magic of a 3 hour difference between East & West coast). They had some very interesting interviews with Brian Cooley from c|net, the Palm CEO Ed Colligan, Michael Dell and more. I couldn't see them all but I'll pay attention to this next time an important trade show is around.

So today is the beginning of MacWorld and the Steve Jobs keynote is the one to watch. I'm very interested to see if he announces a Mac mini media center unit since the claims against Microsoft for copying Apple would be reversed in such a case (but I'm sure the media won't cover that).

2006-01-09T23:02:00.000-05:00

Where Has The Hawk Been

I've been away for a while as my Uncle died suddenly two days before New Year's. We flew out last week to be with the family and provide support. Stayed here (Long Beach-Hyatt Regency) and saw the beauty Long Beach, California offered despite the circumstances. I'll report more about this trip and our vacation soon. Lots of pictures to share.

2005-12-29T04:56:00.000-05:00

LA Daily News - Will ON DEMAND kill the supply of prime-time TV?

We are in a time of technological shift which I embrace. TV is a powerful medium consumed by most everyone. Part of its power has not just been its content, but the ability to control our lives because of the content. The paradigm has always been that in order to partake of content, you needed to schedule to be available at a certain time. For a lot of us, that changed in the 80's with the advent of the VCR. In a primitive and very analog way, we time-shifted our programming to a more convenient hour. But most people couldn't program their VCR appropriately so it never broke a hold that scheduling had on our lives. But now that's changing.

DVR's have made time-shifting easier. On-demand programming has made recording scheduled programming unnecessary. And now downloadable content like TV from Apple's iTunes breaks the slavery to the paradigm of the past.

I've been waiting for this shift. Are there other ramifications due to this change...like more TV watching instead of less? I'm sure. But I already control how much I watch and with technology, when I watch. This last element has influenced our social interactions and culture at large. Now due to technological advances, that hold that the TV schedule has had on our lives is crumbling. I agree it may be a while before those bonds are completely broken but anything to speed us to that day of freedom is welcome.

2005-12-29T04:26:00.000-05:00

Nick's Cultural Revolution - New York Times

It is outrageous to see a media giant plotting to overthrow a culture because it doesn't agree with the culture's values. It is interested in promoting its vision of society upon undiscerning minds so ultimately it can make money. And it has no problem destroying something which has been in place for literally thousands of years.

In the U.S., the revolution has been much easier. Our short history as a republic has been untested for the long term. Democratic rights as interpreted in this culture have brought us to a very different place in a very short time. Kid programming from Viacom has helped supplement this revolution and created a faster mechanism for spreading moral toxicity throughout the culture.

With a breakdown of traditional structures and moral guidelines to embracing the unthinkable, our society's days are numbered. One need only look to the ancient past to see the collapse of cultures. Rome became so weakened from within it could be overthrown from without. Put more succinctly by the great historian Will Durant, "A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within."

Viacom is accomplishing this in the U.S. With China in its sites, the decline of a great civilization is only a matter of time.

2005-12-25T07:50:00.000-05:00

He, through whom time was made, was made in time; and He, older by eternity that the world itself, was younger in age than many of His servants in the world; He, who made man, was made man; He was given existence by a mother whom He brought into existence; He was carried in hands which He formed; He nursed at breasts which He filled; He cried like a babe in the manger in speechless infancy -- this Word without which human eloquence is speechless!

-- Augustine of Hippo, Sermon on Christmas (via Al Mohler)

For God so loved the world...

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-21T13:13:00.000-05:00

McSweeney's Internet Tendency: The iPod Zepto: Inconceivably Small.

Get a jump on MacWorld and see this new device!

2005-12-19T06:53:00.000-05:00

ReplayTV to power Hauppauge cards

My ReplayTV is dead...long live ReplayTV?? That's what this latest news seems like. I've been an avvid user for several years and now I know for sure I won't be replacing my unit with another ReplayTV appliance if mine dies. Will I opt for a video card with software? Will I opt for a Media Center PC? How about an Mac mini media center (TBA)? And the ever-growing options of Tivo?

The field is full of contenders and I'm not sure where to go next. There are pluses and minuses for each and some are just emerging. Hopefully, my unit will be around for a while but stay tuned to see if one of the options becomes the most likely candidate for my home watching experience.

2005-12-16T06:51:00.000-05:00

Literacy Falls for Graduates From College, Testing Finds - New York Times

Watching TV abounds and it's affecting our kids. Video gaming is on the rise, too.. The result:

When the test was last administered, in 1992, 40 percent of the nation's college graduates scored at the proficient level, meaning that they were able to read lengthy, complex English texts and draw complicated inferences. But on the 2003 test, only 31 percent of the graduates demonstrated those high-level skills. There were 26.4 million college graduates.

The college graduates who in 2003 failed to demonstrate proficiency included 53 percent who scored at the intermediate level and 14 percent who scored at the basic level, meaning they could read and understand short, commonplace prose texts.

2005-12-15T23:55:00.000-05:00

And Today I Was Crowned...

No, I didn't move overseas or discover some lost lineage. No, this was a crown of the toothy kind. I've personally never had anything worse than a filling. But today that all changed.

I had no idea how a crowning worked but this Wikipedia article does a very decent job going through the steps. It took about 1.5 hours and the weirdest part was the local anesthesia. When it was all over, I felt like half my tongue was swollen as big as my mouth and I couldn't feel the right side of my mouth or jaw. All normal. At one point, I felt an itch I couldn't stratch on my face. Couldn't scratch it no matter how hard I tried...really strange. It took about 3-4 hours for it all to wear off. No residual pain just soreness.

Since the 1st crown is temporary, I get to go back for the real one once it's tailor made for my tooth. Shouldn't be as bad. Oh well, more fun.

2005-12-11T23:37:00.000-05:00

Google Print, Part 4

Well, it's not over folks. I reported to you at the above link that my friend had a story about how Google Print helped him find a photograph of his Great Uncle Earl Robichau. Now word arrive this weekend from Google that

we will be running a national ad campaign, running in major cities across the country, which will include quotes from Google Book Search users and authors. I am excited to tell you that we would like to include you in our campaign!

Wow! Robichau will be a household name...maybe not but it's nice to take an active part in defending a legitimate service which is under attack without cause.

2005-12-11T23:29:00.000-05:00

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Decembers seem to be a time for fantasy and this year was no exception. I organized a group to embark into the land of Narnia and there was much to see and enjoy. Now, this is no Lord of the Rings. Comparisons are to be expected but to be fair, this film needs to stand or fall on its own...not as a "lite" version of Peter Jackson's masterpieces (in my opinion). That said, many aspects of the film were delightful translations of the book. Lucy, Edmund, Mr. Tumnus, Aslan and the Professor all were as expected. Edmund may not have been as obsessed with Turkish Delight as I remember, but overall, they were endearing.

The obvious addition of the river sequence was a bit thin and the battle scene was more lavicious than the book sequence. But overall, I'd visit Narnia again...for some of the characters and especially for Narnia itself. I had the same desire for exploration that I had during Lord of the Rings because I enjoy alternatively-conceived worlds. Translating those from the mind's eye to the screen is a tricky task. In this case, the important elements worked and made me hungry for more.

Thanks to C.S. Lewis, I don't need to wait and it's always a good sign when I'm wanting to continue my journeys immediately by reading the classic literature it's based on. So I'll settle into the canon of Narnia for now and enjoy the movie again in the future because it takes me to a place I've loved most of my life without spoiling it.

2005-12-08T15:00:00.000-05:00

A Christmas Party & A Birthday, 50 Years In The Making

The elves delivered on their handiwork at the Christmas party today. We always give our faithful leader a gift representing the year. Our theme this year was LOST. Half of us follow the show and we've taken tests to figure out which character we are. So we put the LOST characters like Locke, Kate, Hurley, etc. in places our boss frequents (some samples to the right). He loved it!

Then we surprised him for his 50th birthday by having staff sticky note his office while we were out at our party. Very fun!

Happy Birthday DE from "The Hawk"!

2005-12-08T06:41:00.000-05:00

Christmas Party

It's Christmas party day at work.
The elves have been busy.
All is ready for an enjoyable time.

2005-12-08T00:19:00.000-05:00

Google: Ten Golden Rules - Issues 2006 - MSNBC.com

Worthy of review...and putting into practice.

2005-11-27T22:54:00.000-05:00

A Library for The New World

You may have heard about Google's donation to this cause but hear the vision as outlined in the above article from the librarian of Congress, James Billington. Building a legitimate world library in the virtual world may become like the glories of the Alexandrian Library of old (though its collections methodology is suspect).

2005-11-27T21:48:00.000-05:00

TipMonkies : The Ultimate Guide to Google Services

The Thanksgiving weekend is over and it's time to get in a little more work before the next holiday stretch. Here's a nice page that summarizes the services Google offers. It may be just the place to start as you get back into the groove.

2005-11-11T11:48:00.000-05:00

NPR : Pizza Goes Back to Its Roots

Here's a yummy story about my favorite food. There has never been more variety or unique offerings in pizza. And that's a good thing for a pizza lover. This NPR spot reflects similar ideas found in this article on the rise of artisan pizza. If only we had a brick oven at home.

I'll settle for my favorites now when I go out. They include the Mellow Mushroom (Gourmet White pizza), Carrabba's Italian Grill (Italian Chicken Pizza) and Uno Chicago Grill (any deep dish).

If only we had a Giordano's here, my all-time favorite Chicago-style pizza, my pizza wishes would be complete.

What's your favorite pizza/pizza place? Leave comments below.

2005-11-11T11:28:00.000-05:00

ZDNet: PCs plagued by bad capacitors

Lest you think I'm beating this story to death, it's actually nice to read an article that covers the entire issue. The most important fact to point out to computer users is that this isn't just a Dell problem. These bad capacitors exist in Hewlett-Packard PC's, Apple computers and any PC's using Intel motherboards. Dell has been the most forthcoming about the hit they're taking but let's face it, it's a big problem. Thanks to ZDNet for covering the whole story!

2005-11-11T11:05:00.000-05:00

Google Print, Part 3

Let's put this one to rest for now with one last post. I've let the previous two postings give the main arguments for the validity of what Google is doing. Here are some follow-ups worth reading:

1-Google's indexing the web is a direct parallel to Google Print. Read this analysis at Search Engine Watch and see how strong a case Google Print really has.

2-Only 4% of Titles Are Being Commercially Exploited - Read about the "twilight zone" of books whose content would never be found if a project like Google Print wasn't moving forward.

3-Google Print hurts kids?? This is quite the stretch for the anti-Google Print forces. Feel those tugs on your heart strings??

4-Alternate revenue streams now available--selling pages and chapters at a time.

5-Find and read the full text of Google Print books in the public domain by using special search parameters.

2005-11-07T08:12:00.000-05:00

Google Print Part 2

My friend shares an experience which boosts support for Google Print...

I have explored Google Print several times in the last 48 hours, and I stumbled across something remarkable. While searching the collection in Google's virtual library for instances of my family surname, Robichau, I found something remarkable. A book by James W. Baker titled Plymouth Labor and Leisure (Images of America) contained an instance of the word "Robichau," and clicking through the link brought me to a photo of my great uncle, Earl Robichau, from 1914. I could tell who the Robichau in the photograph was before looking at the list of names - the family resemblance is remarkable.

Never before could I have found such an obscure and wonderful gem. But, thanks to this new technology, I am able to research any topic with a degree of rigor never before possible. Until now, I could go to the library and search the index of a book that might or might not contain references to my topic of research (or, I could search the internet and hope to find a valid online source of information). Now, I have entire libraries of material that have been scanned and indexed - searchable to the letter.

The publishing world claims that Google print is their enemy. Tonight, Google Print prompted me to buy two "hardcopies" of books that I never would have purchased, or even known about, otherwise; I think that is good thing for the publishing world.

You can see my Great Uncle Earl in a photo of the Plymouth Cordage Company's company baseball team for the 1914 season.

2005-11-03T23:58:00.000-05:00

Reining in Google -- The Washington Times

What a terrible Op-Ed! I don't need to rant and rave about this one because so many already have. Just see Forbes and Classical Values. But I do have the special privilege of printing a response sent to Mr. Barr and Ms. Schroeder by one of my good friends, Bernie...and he got a response. Here is the exchange, unedited:

Dear Mrs. Shroeder and Mr. Barr,

I appreciate the fervor with which you write, but I must take issue with your Chicken Little approach to this issue. It seems that your fear of technology drives you to preach an unwarranted apocalyptic message to the people and politicians in America. The publishing industry is, indeed, not in danger of falling.

Google Print provides a real and lasting benefit to society, and Google makes some money in the process. This "internet behemoth" (to use your words), Google, saw a way to make information that has always been available, freely, through libraries, more accessible. If you have ever used Google Print, you would know that copyrighted materials only display a few pages, sometimes less, before the content on the preceding and following pages is blocked – therefore, the public is only receiving excerpts of copyrighted material free of charge.

Now, I could go to my local library and get the same content for free. If my library doesn't have the book, I can surely request a copy via inter-library loan, and within a week or two, I will have the book. In the case of the local library, I get the entire content without paying.

Google simplifies a process that was once cumbersome – but with materials available from Google Print, since copyrighted materials are only available as excerpts, I get less than I would from the local library.

I find it hard to imagine that Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Jefferson, both authors, would have decried the introduction of inter-library loan or even the prevalence of modern public libraries that extend to the community outside of academia. Both of these "modern concepts" are only available due to technological innovation (rapid transit / efficient postal systems and modern, inexpensive printing techniques).

I will gladly purchase a hard-copy of any book that will prove to be a valuable resource and addition to my library. But, some concerning books that contain a paragraph or a chapter that I find relevant and/or interesting, I will not purchase physical copies of them. I will either find it in a library or use an available copy online. I think that most users of electronic media will agree.

Regarding your assertion that authors are somehow not smart enough to utilize an "opt-out" service provided by Google, then you are insulting the intelligence of the authors you claim to represent. If Google manages to make the opt-out tool too cumbersome to use, and therefore useless, then you might have a firm legal case against Google. But, I trust that Google is not "out to get" the poor little authors out there.

It is sad to see that the publishing industry, instead of thinking outside the box and looking at new paradigms for revenue generation, is following the path of Hollywood and the music industry. Trying to fight the emergence of electronic media with reactionary legislation is not a sustainable approach. Follow, rather, the lead of Apple who has proven that people will, and do, pay for electronic media if it is comparable to what they get in the stores. I will gladly pay for the three songs I like on an album if I am allowed to download them individually (Apple's model), but I will no longer pay for an entire album that is full of music for which I don't care. The world is changing, and it is time to change with the world instead of burying our heads in the sand.

And, for what it is worth, people who avidly read books are, at present, unwilling to resort to electronic books because they are 1) more cumbersome to read, 2) difficult to mark, 3) hard to loan to friends of like mind and 4) simply not as enjoyable to read by the fireplace. If the publishing industry will find a way to address these concerns, then the world will widely and willingly adopt a fee-based electronic book model. If these obstacles are insurmountable, then the paper book will always be around. Some lackluster authors might need to find alternative employment, but the paper book is likely here to stay (my belief).

Finally, your reactionary posture might have caused you to miss an opportunity for collaboration. Google currently links to Amazon.com and other online booksellers (with a direct link to the work in question) on left side of every visible scanned page on Google Print. I'm sure that this has increased sales of worthy books. If the publishing industry would focus on the production of quality literature, the online sales will likely soar because of Google Print, not in spite of it. Might authors who write non-fiction, for instance, find Google Print to be a valuable resource - making the quality of the books they produce superior to those produced in the past (with outdated research techniques). Did you ever think of the fact that Google might be willing to provide a premium and paid version of Google print that might provide an additional source of revenue (through profit sharing) for struggling authors who "opt-in?" Have you considered the fact that Google might be a potential ally to the publishing industry?

In the end, I appreciate the publishing industry for what it does simply because I love the written word – it is a powerful medium. Please, before using all of your political connections and lobbying powers to ruin the potential for enormous good, think outside of the box with your heads out of the sand.

The sky is not falling.

Sincerley,

Bernie

---------------E-mail Response From Ms. Schroeder---------

We love the idea of the internet and publishers are there with websites and digital copies. What Google forgets is no one would use their search engine if there wasn't interestiing content to search. SO, taking the content away from the creators without permission, is a sure way to dry up future content. Yahoo, Microsoft and others are doing it correctly and even Google is overseas.

Our forefathers thought allot about intellectual property because they were publishers, authors and inventors and put protection of it in the MAIN body of the Constitution, Art. 1, sec. 8. Publishers get permissions everyday to publish books and so do many other companies. One of the most profitable in the world should play by the rules also.

Pat Schroeder

I have a couple of additonal arguments to make but I think I start in the next post.

2005-11-01T06:46:00.000-05:00

Bulging capacitors haunt Dell | Tech News on ZDNet

I covered this two months ago here. And now it's finally hitting the mainstream press as it continues to be a problem. It's costing Dell money as they announce their revenue miss and take a $300 million hit for this problem. Wow!!

Interestingly enough, a change in weather seems to have slowed the failure rate as the ambient temperature stays lower as whole. But without intervention, next summer the problem will be back with a vengence. Everyone with one to two year warranties, take note.

2005-10-31T08:54:00.000-05:00

ZDNet: The future of TV

Make your own line-up. With a PVR, I do this everyday. I rarely watch any TV in real time. And I don't want to. I want to download or subscribe to programming that I can choose a la cart. I don't need to pay for everything I'm not watching. Just for what I do.

Yes, there will always be users of a more traditional model. But as the economics drive distribution closer to the originators of content, providers for the old models will become scarce and less attractive.

Check back with me in ten years.

2005-10-31T06:35:00.000-05:00

Appliance Parts from Repairclinic.com - Detailed Appliance Illustration

Saturday night we smelled something funny coming from the washing machine. The breaker had been tripped several times in the past few weeks. We thought there was a short in the washing machine. Here's what we found. Resistance makes things heat up.

My Dad and I replaced it last night.

2005-10-30T23:11:00.000-05:00

Shyamalan: Day-and-date 'life or death to me'

So, this is going to get me in hot water with a lot of movie goers...I don't care. This is about releasing movies simultaneously on DVD and in theaters. M. Night's claim that the movie theater experience is the art form is an interesting one. If I watch a movie with my family in my "home theater" but don't go out to watch it with 500 strangers, I agree my experience is different. But is the art form? Does it change the nature of the film? I don't see how it would. The same messages, the same effects and the same characters are there. I'm just changing the venue.

Sporting events can be viewed in person or watched on TV simultaneously. Yes, it's a different experience from being there but is it any less entertaining? Everyone literally can't be there at a live event. The same is true of movies...no matter how many times it is showing. If people have a choice to stay at home for a movie release and the market finds a growing number would, why not allow this experience? For many, it's the only experience they can afford. Paying a babysitter and going out to dinner and a movie at least doubles the price of the movie, if not more. I could own a copy of the movie for the same price a one-time experience in a theater costs. I don't have to be bothered by the people talking around me, the obnoxious kids around front, inept parents who bring crying babies and "in your face" unsolicited commercials. I'm an introvert. I don't thrive on this public experience. So why not make room for the rest of us?!

Will there be fewer theaters if this transition takes place? Probably. Will they go away completely? I don't think so. You will always have people who want to see the "live event" but then you'll have people like me. Isn't there room for both of us?

2005-10-30T08:33:00.000-05:00

Time Warner Cable :: Start Over

You may have read about this week Time Warner's introduction of the ability to start a program over once it has started. Despite its limitations, the concept is interesting. I'm featuring the link which Time Warner is sending us to as Columbia, SC is the test market for this service. They have the details of what you can do and what channels are included there.

2005-10-23T09:56:00.000-04:00

Lessons from a Bear of Very Little Brain: The Place of Children's Literature in Education

Reading good books is lost on today's society. I was never forced to read literature and no one ever cultivated my imagination to find the Truth and Beauty of something well-written. I've discovered it on my own.

Sam Torode's essay (above) captures the wonder of classic literature...beginning with Winnie the Pooh. I've been able to share the joy of A.A. Milne's world with my children and look forward to sharing with them the unending rich repository of writing from our past.

2005-10-22T22:21:00.000-04:00

Redemption Songs & Stories Tour 2005

Wow! Last night was a great experience. Three of my favorite artists in one place challenging us to think, act and worship. What a great time!

Sara Groves opened, introduced by her two boys the oldest of which was four or five. It was very cute. She was so real as an artist. She loves her craft as it adds to the beauty (the title of her latest album) of the world around us. She reminded us of the quote from Mother Teresa: We cannot all do great things but we can do small things with great love.

Chris Rice is just plain fun. His enthusiasm is infectious. His lyrics are whimsical at times but profound. I remember hearing the "clumsy fly song" (Deep Enough To Dream) for the first time and I knew I'd like this guy. And he surprised me by playing it during his set! His new album, Amusing, sounded great from the stuff he played. Can't wait to hear it all.

Jars of Clay opened with "And They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love" and isn't that what it's all about?! What a set! They've reached into the past with their new album, updating music to traditional hymns. Their in-concert renditions were incredibly vibrant. All of us were singing along, familiar with the words from childhood but hooked into the rhythms and melodies of today. They played a song they wrote for a "The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe" CD and did a cover of a Julie Miller tune which will come out in a week or two as an iTunes exclusive. They too surprised me by playing "Flood", "Liquid" and "Love Song For A Savior" from their first album. They took some time to share their hearts about a work they've started in Africa called blood:water mission. I encourage you to hear their vision to provide clean water and blood to our brothers and sisters in Africa.

2005-10-17T06:44:00.000-04:00

Measuring the World: From Material to Ethereal - New York Times

Without a standard, we'd never know what a real kilogram or meter was. And so many others results would be without measure.

2005-10-13T06:55:00.000-04:00

First Look Special: Apple Computer iPod (5G) with Video

I must admit, I was excited to hear about this announcement. After reviewing the details, the jury is out for me. Just how good/bad is the video resolution on the TV out from the Video iPod? I'll have to see a store demo.

The best part of the announcement, though, was the first mainstream delivery of downloadable TV shows for $2. New episodes of shows like Lost will be available the day after it airs. The concept is on target. But is it the delivery of something consumers want to have? Video resolution at 320x240 is too low to make it compelling unless there is some software magic that makes the picture good. I think if this were to be increased and deals were made to deliver TV from all studios, consumers could start to re-evaluate their cable bills. Why pay for unwatched content on cable when you can download only the content you want and keep it? Especially if the business model includes subscriptions.

We'll see how it all plays out. We're not quite there yet but Apple took us one step forward.

2005-10-04T14:53:00.000-04:00

Slashdot | Google & Sun Planning Web Office

NOT! Or at least they're not saying explicitly that this is the case. Only hedging around the idea. The announcement between Sun Microsystems and Google today was unimpressive. Bundling JRE with the Google Toolbar and vice versa??!! If you follow the initial speculation about the announcement, you would have expected a lot more...like a commitment to the above web office. Even the way off speculation about a WebOS in the post cited by Slashdot can now be answered...it's Java!

From a business perspective, it's really bad news. Will I require a certain JRE version on my desktops to run the toolbar? How can I load or update it if I'm not an administrator? And speaking of updates, where are the pieces to make these updates available in my enterprise?

Lots of question, lots of disappointment. Google just went down a notch.

P.S. I'm not the only one disappointed in a webcast which was so slammed the first 15 minutes that I couldn't hear the big news. Just read the comments like "much ado about nothing" and "tremendous letdown"

**UPDATE (10-5-05, 12:10am) Many tech bloggers are weighing in...Om Malik, Techdirt, even Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols and are equally down on this non-event. Mary Jo Foley has some thoughts on GoogleOffice as compared to Microsoft Office if it ever does show up.

2005-10-03T21:40:00.000-04:00

New Orleans seafood safe to eat again - experts | Reuters.com

Somehow I don't think I'll be rushing to get some fish from this lake, no matter what the experts say.

2005-10-02T22:01:00.000-04:00

Fire and Knowledge--Children, Computers, and Education

Joshua makes a great point about the $100 laptop project at MIT. I commend his comments. But more than those, I commend the entire essay,
Informing Ourselves To Death, which he links to by Neil Postman. I've always admired Postman's thought as a critique of culture and technology. Since I "do technology" for a living, I'm very cognizant of the role it plays in my life and the life of others. Postman's words give great balance and perspective for any specialist.

2005-09-28T16:12:00.000-04:00

Top 50 Science Fiction Television Shows of All Time - Boston.com

As it should be, Star Trek is Number One. However, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine didn't make the cut. That's pretty amazing given all they were able to do with that series. It would certainly make my top 10.

2005-09-28T13:57:00.000-04:00

Forced Marsh - New York Times

Let's not rush in to attempt the impossible. This sobering opinion piece should make us all think twice about the use of our money in Louisiana. Let's check our arrogance at the door and realize when the investment isn't worth the risk.

2005-09-28T13:41:00.000-04:00

Dvorak: The Hard Drive and Human Behavior

Do larger hard drives breed laziness? That's the contention of Dvorak. I understand where he's coming from. With more storage, I've become more laid back at keeping data pared down. You never know when you might need it.

One additional observation about the matter is the effect of desktop search. Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo are making it easier to find stuff in our personal repository of data. Personally, I've stopped organizing my e-mail since it is so easy to search and find past correspondences. Can desktop search be another enabler of laziness or could it actually be justifying our retention of all this information?

2005-09-26T21:54:00.000-04:00

A TV Channel Takes Aim at Toddlers - New York Times

My favorite line in this article is "Nielsen figures show that the children watched an average of 3 hours and 40 minutes of television a day during the 2004-5 TV season - 13 minutes more than the 2000-1 season." Unbelievable! This means most children see more TV in a day than my kids see on a 3 day weekend. And those kids see commercials (due to technology, commercials are skipped)! What is this doing to these children's minds??!! I guarantee it isn't making them smarter. It's instead creating a certain way for these little ones to think and stealing their imagination by an oversaturation of visual images.

2005-09-26T21:47:00.000-04:00

Managing Google's Idea Factory

Marissa Mayer's role at Google is worthy of this read. I love the one day a week to work on your own pet project and the ideas mailing list. Innovative approaches as well as the leadership of someone like Marissa are what is making Google a leader in the industry. I truly can't wait to see what they come up with next.

2005-09-25T21:46:00.000-04:00

NPR : Translating Education into Earnings

When you listen to this, you'll hear why it's important to get your high school diploma and even go on to college...on average, that is.

2005-09-25T21:24:00.000-04:00

The Observer| Armed and dangerous - Flipper the firing dolphin let loose by Katrina

What happens if you mix Alias with Flipper? You get this...

2005-09-23T08:45:00.000-04:00

From Google to Noodles: A Chef Strikes Out on His Own - New York Times

More good things come from Google. Sounds like it will a great place to eat!

2005-09-22T13:34:00.000-04:00

Who needs Windows?

This story got my attention because I still have a Commodore 64. But I don't use and I've moved on. It seems most people arrive at a place where something in their lives is "good enough" for what they do but it often for reasons other than the primary function of the object. It may be nostalgia, cost or values which bring about a "good enough" response. And that's fine...for what it is. But let's admit that invention and technology have brought us faster, easier and more efficient ways to do tasks and weigh those changes accordingly against competing values we may choose to place higher on the scale.

2005-09-22T13:18:00.000-04:00

Writers Sue Google, Accusing It of Copyright Violation - New York Times

After yesterday's announcement, there has been a lot of buzz about what Google is doing with books. Listen to this NPR story or read Lawrence Lessig's blog post about this topic to get an accurate view of the real issues. I support his views wholeheartedly and fear the day that copyright owners bring a halt to our access to knowledge.

2005-09-22T08:35:00.000-04:00

Special: Lifehacker's guide to weblog comments - Lifehacker

I don't get many comments to my blog but if you do comment, here is great guide to doing it right.

2005-09-20T08:35:00.000-04:00

Steven Berlin Johnson: Finding Lost

The author of Everything Bad Is Good For You: How Today's Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter has some explanation as to the intrigue Lost brings to our collective conscience.

2005-09-20T07:49:00.000-04:00

Laptop Stolen From U.C. Berkeley Recovered

Here is the rest of the story from a post 5 months ago...remember, the professor tried to scare students into confessing.

2005-09-20T07:46:00.000-04:00

WFTV.com - Jeep, Doing 80MPH, Drives Under Plane To Fix Landing Gear

Nice video showing the inspection.

2005-09-20T00:09:00.000-04:00

NPR : 'Lost' Returns With New Twists

Lost returns Wednesday night. As David Bianculli points out in this story, fans of this show are born from the DVD generation, differing from the TV and VCR generation.

2005-09-19T23:59:00.000-04:00

Google Secure Access Installer

Not much reporting on this going on but Google's WiFi plans are slowly being made known. Today a client shows up (thanks to Make|Blog for the tip). The FAQ's indicate that the client creates a secure VPN tunnel back to Google so your network traffic on their public WiFi network is encrypted. This means no one can see your data when connecting on their network (once it leaves their network, it's fair game; also, they can see all your data). A novel approach to creating a secure public wireless network.

It must mean they have VPN concentrators standing by to handle the load. They also probably only accept traffic from their WiFi Access Points because I've tried to connect with the client but can't.