It’s Just A Phone
April 24th, 2008It’s Just A Phone
I’m Not Impressed
So, we all know that I’m a computer geek. I live, breathe, play and dream computers. It’s not limited to computers of course. Any cool electronic gadget will keep my normally ADHD brain occupied for hours. In fact, electronics rank right after cheerleaders and money in my top 10 list of favorite things.
What I don’t get though, is why this doesn’t carry over to cell phones.
For the past several years, my business associates (also computer geeks) have drooled over the newest cell phone technologies, and are quick to visit their service provider for upgrades to the latest and greatest.
There’s usually a certain amount of unsolicited discussion when they first begin looking at new cell phones, then when they make the decision, followed by how they have to leave early to meet the FedEx guy and take delivery of the new phone, and the inevitable show-and-tell the next day at the office.
I usually just share the obligatory “oh, cool” with them, and then try to extract myself from the official cell phone demo.
Here’s my cell phone requirements:
- Must make and receive calls.
- Must be comfortable in my pocket.
That’s it.
“Hey, look! My cell phone has a GPS navigation system!”
Um… So?
I have a Garmin GPS in my vehicle. Why would I want one on my cell phone? It’s not like I’m going to drive around, holding my cell phone up in the air as I try to follow the tiny little map on the screen.
“My cell phone plays MP3s!”
Really? So does my iPod.
I do have a camera on my cell phone, but that’s not a requirement. It just happened to be on the phone style I wanted. The camera gets used maybe once per year – or however often the high school cheerleaders have those car washes.
For me, the most enjoyable part is watching all of these people run over to the window every time they get a call, because they have little or no reception otherwise. My “plain old” cell phone, however, works perfectly no matter where I am, or what building I happen to be in.
Of course, if I get lost in that building, I won’t have a built-in GPS to find my way out. I guess I can at least call for help though.
School Fundraising
April 24th, 2008School Fundraising
A Better Solution
There’s no question that practically everyone is feeling the financial pinch from the sputtering economy and rising energy prices. Our public schools are feeling it too, in everything from food costs to fuel for the buses and the same rising energy prices we’re all experiencing.
While we are approaching the end of the current school year, there’s no doubt that most schools will need to make some drastic changes for the upcoming year, and beyond. In addition to spending cuts, they will need to double their fundraising efforts.
The problem is, with everyone feeling the effects of the economy, it’s unlikely that most people will have extra funds to contribute to the usual fundraising sales events. It’s going to be harder to convince neighbors and friends to buy that extra cheesecake, or those candy bars. It’s definitely time for new school fundraising ideas.
People will continue to purchase the same necessities that they purchase today. Schoolpop.com provides schools with an easy method to earn contribution amounts up to 20% of those everyday purchases.
Supporters simply shop with any Schoolpop merchant partner, or use the Schoolpop credit card anywhere, and a percentage of the amount spent will be automatically contributed to the school of your choice.
This is the future of fundraising, and much easier, and safer, than door-to-door.
Free Gas
April 24th, 2008Free Gas
Because Morons Need Gas Too
A few days ago I read a report that gasoline thieves are resorting to “drilling holes in gas tanks” of parked vehicles, then collecting the free-flowing gas.
Am I the only one thinking this problem will pretty quickly resolve itself?
Sure, it might work a few times, then Bubba will simply see an extremely bright flash, feel some intense heat, and will meet Jesus. This, of course, will present that awkward moment where he has to explain to Jesus what he was doing under that stranger’s car with the drill and the drip pan.
I’m certain that as the price of gas continues to rise, we’ll see more and more of these “ingenious” schemes revealed. I just hope some of them are caught on video.
Bikes And Leathers
April 23rd, 2008Bikes And Leathers
Which Came First?
It’s been quite a few years since I owned my last motorcycle. The memories are still very vivid though.
My bike was a late 1980s Honda Interceptor. I bought it used from the friend of a friend. Despite living in a northern climate with short summers, I managed to put a lot of miles on that motorcycle. But, after a few years, I sold it.
Since moving to the beautiful south almost 10 years ago, I have had the urge to purchase a new bike. While I still have a passion for the Japanese crotch rockets, in my “older age” I’m not inclined to go for the more comfortable Harley Davidson.
But, I have been having a hard time justifying the cost. I would prefer to buy a new motorcycle rather than take a chance on the unknown history of a used one.
With gas prices approaching $4 per gallon, a 60 MPG motorcycle is starting to look much more attractive, and is a more justifiable purchase.
I have been doing some initial pricing of a couple models and am particularly fond of the Night Rod Special.
I’ve also been looking at motorcycle jackets and accessories at TheBazaarOnline.com. These guys have very competitive prices, and an unbeatable guarantee of satisfaction. The excellent selection of biker leathers offered by TheBazaarOnline.com assure the perfect gear for that Night Rod.
I’m still undecided right now, but it won’t take much to convince me to place that order.
NIN
April 23rd, 2008NIN
A Gift From Trent
Trent Reznor is not only a musical genius, he’s also always full of surprises. So, what’s he got for us now?
This one is pretty easy - just enter your email address on this page at nin.com and you’ll receive the new Nine Inch Nails single, Discipline, absolutely free.
And, come on, it’s Nine Inch Nails. You know it’s going to be worth your time.
Backup Or Lose It
April 23rd, 2008Backup Or Lose It
Don’t Risk It
I have been an IT professional for a very long time now. And I have been a computer hobbyist for even longer. Needless to say, I’m a computer geek.
Over the years I have accumulated a lot of data. Software, photos, documents, music, videos, spreadsheets, development code, and practically everything else you can utilize a computer for. I currently have seven computers in my home, including two laptops, several Windows PCs, a Mac, and a Linux server.
I can’t even begin to imagine what it would take – how many hours and how much time – to replace all of this data in the event of a disaster, or even a simple hard drive crash. The truth is, a large portion of the data is not replaceable at any cost.
I learned long ago to take backups very seriously. A backup to external hard drive device could save the day. Yes, it’s true that you may never need to restore one, but are you willing to take that chance?
It is also my experience that the best backups are the simplest ones. If it’s too much trouble to perform the backup, or is too complicated, it’s too easy to come up with excuses to avoid it.
Rebit is a simple USB hard drive backup device that anyone could use – you don’t need to be a computer geek like me. If you know how to plug in a USB device, you can perform safe, complete, and reliable backups with Rebit.
With a device as easy to use as Rebit, there’s no longer any excuse to neglect your data backups.
Amazing Statements
April 23rd, 2008Amazing Statements
About Our Precious Little Snowflake
Some new and fascinating statements were released yesterday related to the Victory Lindsay case in Lakeland, Florida.
The statements indicate that Mary Nichols, grandmother of little skank Mercades Nichols, was troubled that her granddaughter was one of the eight teens participating in the beating of our favorite cheerleader.
Grandmother Nichols stated “I don’t care what anybody does, nobody deserves to be beat like that”.
Well, Gramdma, I respectfully disagree. Your piece of shit granddaughter deserved to be beat like that. In fact, if someone with parental authority had beat her like this during any of her previous outbursts, threats, or arrests, Victoria would not be suffering physically and emotionally as she is today.
Gramdma goes on to say that her granddaughter has “a lot of anger”, but that she has also “shown compassion for stray dogs and rabbits”.
What the fuck? Compassion for dogs and bunnies, but absolutely zero compassion for a fellow human being?
Reconnect With Nature
April 23rd, 2008Reconnect With Nature
Try Something Different
Over the course of several years, I passed over the chance to visit a botanical garden quite close to my home. That was, until last year, when my family decided that we should visit it. So, despite my initial reaction and protest, I was “dragged” along to see what it had to offer.
I will be the first to admit that I was very pleasantly surprised. You can very easily make a full day of strolling through the various natural displays of horticulture wonderment. In fact, I was ready to plan my next visit before the sun had set.
Since that first visit to my local botanical garden, I have become more aware of larger, world-class facilities, with much more to offer. The Shangri La Gardens and Nature Center in Orange, Texas, is one I would definitely recommend to anyone looking to experience nature at its best.
If you live near the city of Orange, TX, you’re most likely already aware of Shangri La Gardens and Nature Center. But, if you’re like me, you may have passed over the opportunity. Now is the time stop, visit, and smell the flowers.
Anyone from a greater distance away should consider Shangri La Gardens as a travel destination, whether travelling alone, or with their family. Even the children will enjoy this facility.
Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center was the first project in Texas to earn the U.S. Green Building Council’s Platinum certification for LEED-NC, which verifies the design and construction of the facility has reached the highest green building and performance measures. In fact, they are even the 50th project in the entire world to receive this recognition.
If you would like an experience that’s both enjoyable and educational, you owe it to yourself to visit their website and learn about everything the Shangri La Gardens and Nature Center has to offer.
In addition to the 300 plant species, visitors will enjoy viewing nesting birds and the Nature Center, which includes something for everyone, such as hands-on exhibits, a laboratory, and outdoor classrooms located deep in the cypress swamp.
In case you don’t think that will fill your day, don’t forget about the Exhibit Hall, Discovery Theater, Children’s Garden, Exhibition Greenhouses, Garden Store and, of course, the Café to regain your energy!
This summer, try something different – The Shangri La Gardens and Nature Center.
Shreveport - America’s Baghdad
April 22nd, 2008Shreveport - America’s Baghdad
Only Worse
Here’s a little bit of information related to the Angie Garbarino arrest that seems to have been swept under the carpet…
It was revealed in one of the videotapes that after Angie was taken from the Shreveport Police Department room where she was “injured” - you know, from that “fall”, a police officer joked to a colleague about taking his picture lying near the pool of blood from Garbarino’s injuries.
A part of that tape of the encounter between Garbarino and police officer Wiley Willis, who was with her when she was injured, shows another officer make light of what happened after Garbarino was taken away on a stretcher and police officers and firefighters were the only ones in the room.
The officer in question took a picture of the blood with his cell phone, then joked about what happened.
“Let me lay down there beside it like it’s mine,” the officer said of the blood. “Take a picture so I can freak my kids out.”
The officer never got on the floor. It apparently was his sick idea of a joke.
Garbarino’s attorney called the incident “deplorable” and “insensitive”.
Related:
Dubai Wonders
April 22nd, 2008Dubai Wonders
Hard To Decide
I’ve been presented with an opportunity to join an associate of mine on a flight to Dubai for an onsite demonstration of our products to a United Arab Emirates media company. The dates are still pending, so I’m not sure if I can squeeze this in before my upcoming trip to the U.K., but I really hope it can work out. Especially considering it will be free!
Dubai has grown immensely over the past two decades and has so many cool things to see it would be hard to prioritize such a short visit. I’d much rather spend a couple of weeks there, rather than four days. But, not knowing if I’ll ever have an opportunity to visit again, I’d have to make the best of it.
I would really love to see the Palm Islands, which were constructed over the past seven years. It’s not every day that you get to see… or set foot on… “man-made” islands. Aside from the incredible architecture I’ve seen in photos of these islands, just the amazing feat itself of creating such a wonder would make it well worth the trip.
