Always wondered why pine terrs are't damaged by small forest fires. Found out: serious thick layers of bark!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Sunday, June 21, 2009
At Devils Tower
(Wonder if thatll ger rotated automagically?)
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Hulett Motel
100 years old. Hope to be staying here next week on the way home.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Fallout shelter sign
Appropriate, considering the tourist stuff we saw today.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
River overlook, SD
Lewis and Clark monument in the foreground.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Friday, June 19, 2009
Zesto burger stand
Supposed to have the best burgers in town...
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Corn palace gift shop
I was wondering where the giftshop was. It is the entire inside of the corn palace!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Want out!
Blackberry photo with led flash and bad backlighting. Not bad for a fone.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Pinball museum is coming together...
Click into Flickr for more from the museum!
-- Sent from my Palm Pre
-- Sent from my Palm Pre
Friday, June 12, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Download YouTube Videos as MP4 Files
Download YouTube Videos as MP4 Files: "An interesting side-effect of YouTube's recent push for higher quality videos is that most videos can be downloaded as MP4 files directly from YouTube."
Wild take on the Now
Wired UK Columnist Warren Ellis: 'We're living in the last days of the Roman empire': "These are truly the last days. How else can you account for Britain being ruled by an unelected leader who is also Scottish? Who saw that coming when William Wallace was having his bowels hacked out and incinerated in front of him at Smithfield seven centuries ago? Bloody nobody. This is the problem with writing fiction in the early 21st century: the real world outdoes you for madness every day."
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Monday, June 08, 2009
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Cat and chimena on a Sunday Morning
Lazy sunday morning. Click in for the photo.
-- Sent from my Palm Pre
-- Sent from my Palm Pre
Friday, June 05, 2009
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Nice night for a walk
And what a good dog to pose for me!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Labette Count School Super is out to lunch
"Superintendent Stockton said parents should check with school administration before allowing their child to change their appearance."
From: Kansas Parents Furious After School Faculty Cuts Son's Hair - WDAF
More:
From: Kansas Parents Furious After School Faculty Cuts Son's Hair - WDAF
More:
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
What business people don't want to hear
acleareye.com: We read too many business books.: "Control destroys relationships. Control blinds you to opportunities. Control shuts down your inner voice. Control is driven by your ego's need to serve itself. Control is an illusion you cling to primarily to alleviate your fears"
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Why should a Kid build a Catapult?
Why should a kid build a catapult? (Also known as backyard artillery!)
I seem to recall building matchstick rockets, then model rockets, then Chinese rockets and learning about force, thrust, motion, weight and more. This is too cool!
Because the world needs good engineers and scientists, and because the kids who will grow up to become engineers and scientists need a way to get hands-on experience with physics, math and engineering.
In this age of 200-plus channels of TV, the Internet and computer games, kids are also spending far less time building tree houses, tinkering with engines, or designing downhill racers. We believe those are important skills to have. They help form the basis for good problem solving skills and an innate understanding of the real, physical world that you just can't get from a computer game, no matter how good its physics simulation software is.
Ballistic motion was one of the key players in the development of the science of physics. The word "engineer" even originated as the builders and designer of Siege Engines
Why is a budding engineering student expected to take a year or two of calculus in high school, but she isn't expected to have any real-world experience in building or working with machines and materials? Pencil and paper (or computer screens) are only one part of the learning experience. Where will she apply all of the stuff she learned in geometry and trig? Without physical projects to touch, feel and see, the lessons become abstract, their utility questionable.
A catapult project gives students a chance to see that science and engineering really can be fun, and it's a lot more than just numbers on paper. The real payoff for an engineer is in the field, where she can see and enjoy the results of her ingenuity. And it may seem counterintuitive, but engineering projects not only help kids learn math and science, they are also great at getting kids back outdoors, away from the massive over-exposure to video games, TV and the Internet.
Why all this interest in getting kids to study science and engineering? Because it's important to our society, and it's great mental cross training regardless of what field of work the kids eventually go into. Most people develop a sense for what they want to do in life while they are still in high school or even earlier. A catapult project is fun and interesting enough to inspire some kids to study the science behind how they work, and then go on to become the engineers and scientists of tomorrow.
I seem to recall building matchstick rockets, then model rockets, then Chinese rockets and learning about force, thrust, motion, weight and more. This is too cool!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Teach Yourself Graphic Design: A Self-Study Course Outline - Psdtuts
Teach Yourself Graphic Design: A Self-Study Course Outline - Psdtuts:
"Fortunately, it isn't required to go to design school in order to be a graphic designer. A good foundation in graphic design history, theory, and practical application will help you hit the ground running. There are plenty of resources available in which you can learn graphic design on your own. Don't set your expectations to high at first, as it will take enthusiastic study for years to become great. You can do it though!
If you would like to learn graphic design from the ground up, through self directed study, then this article lists some great resources that will get you started with your design education. Also, even if you do go to design school, at least three-fifths of your education will be through self directed study anyway. Let's get to it!"
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Alec in the paper
Alec made the front page of the Community section of the Liberty Tribune. (he's in grey leaned over) fron the April Science Club at HMS Beagle in Parkville, MO
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Un der Chickie en der yard, um, good!
Overland Park Code, 18.370.020 para. L says I have to have a special use permit to keep chickens. Shazbot. But fortunately, there's a Chicken Movment taking place:
http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1189350.html
And it's spreading to OP:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/1191585.html
Bork Bork Bork!
http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1189350.html
And it's spreading to OP:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/1191585.html
Bork Bork Bork!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Videos Of Barack Obama’s Comedy Routine At White House Correspondents’ Dinner | The Moderate Voice
Videos Of Barack Obama’s Comedy Routine At White House Correspondents’ Dinner | The Moderate Voice -- I'm not a big fan of all his policies, but WOW - this was outstanding.
Update! Full Text of the comments is available from WBS Radio!
Monday, May 04, 2009
Excess Death: Risk Threats
Just poking around some numbers.
Coal fired power plants cause upwards of 24,000 excess deaths from pollution, radiation, etc. each year. Assuming we've had 70 years of serious coal fired power plants, thats 280,000 excess deaths.
Nuclear power plants caused between 0 and 19 excess deaths in that same time frame in the US; up to 4,000 worldwide including the Chernobyl foulup.
Coal fired power plants cause upwards of 24,000 excess deaths from pollution, radiation, etc. each year. Assuming we've had 70 years of serious coal fired power plants, thats 280,000 excess deaths.
Nuclear power plants caused between 0 and 19 excess deaths in that same time frame in the US; up to 4,000 worldwide including the Chernobyl foulup.
(The 19 comes from a vociferous anti-nuclear group. (or another, quoting 'just borderline statisticaly significant [deaths]') - the 4,000 is from Greenpeace, who'd be happiest if we weren't here.) The zero comes from everywhere else. Further reading:
What's that Opt Out clause in my kids school packet?
Ever wonder what that Opt Out clause was in your kids school packet when you enrolled them? Or did you even read it? "Percent of schools receiving No Child Left Behind Act funding that must give personal student information to the military unless student opts out: 100%" . . . (from arse poetica)
Magic and the Brain: Teller Reveals the Neuroscience of Illusion
Magic and the Brain: Teller Reveals the Neuroscience of Illusion: "'Reality seems so simple. We just open our eyes and there it is. But that doesn't mean it is simple.'"
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
2008 Riding Map
The Montana destination was a one-way trip on the bike. Sigh. Zoom out for the whole view.
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
2004 Riding Map
Near as I can recall, this was the last year before the divorce; I was trying to stay local and do family things to save what was left of the marriage. (didn't work). Two trips to Cassoday First Sunday breakfast, a weekend in Arkansas with +Nathan Morton and crew. Interesting trip.
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Monday, April 27, 2009
Alec leading Cub Scouts
Alec led the flag ceremony tonight
This e-mail may contain Sprint Nextel Company proprietary information intended for the sole use of the recipient(s). Any use by others is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete all copies of the message.
This e-mail may contain Sprint Nextel Company proprietary information intended for the sole use of the recipient(s). Any use by others is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete all copies of the message.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
2003 Riding Map
2003: New bike; bought a 1997 Honda ST1100 for 2-up touring and more Ironbutt class riding. Did a ton of IBA class stuff on that, ran 50,000 miles in 5 years before I wadded it. But in 2003, I was just learning this huge heavy thing. More local loop riding in Kansas and NW Arkansas. Trip to see a Post in a Field (6th Principle Meridian) with +Jeff Schneider.
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When is the flu not the flu?
CTV.ca | If you're vomiting, it's not flu, say experts: "When is the flu not the flu? When you are vomiting.
That's right. If you are nauseated, throwing up or chained to your bathroom with a bad case of the trots, you do not have the flu. (Young children are an exception to the rule, but more on that later.)
You may have food poisoning. You may have Norwalk virus or one of any number of other nasty gastrointestinal bugs. But you don't have the flu. And you don't even have 'a stomach flu' -- a nonsense phrase that makes infectious disease specialists see red."
That's right. If you are nauseated, throwing up or chained to your bathroom with a bad case of the trots, you do not have the flu. (Young children are an exception to the rule, but more on that later.)
You may have food poisoning. You may have Norwalk virus or one of any number of other nasty gastrointestinal bugs. But you don't have the flu. And you don't even have 'a stomach flu' -- a nonsense phrase that makes infectious disease specialists see red."
Saturday, April 25, 2009
2002 Riding Map
2002 - my first big year of riding. Forgot about 2002; that was when things got weird with my now ex-wife. Bought a 1997 VFR in Wichita, KS and rode it to Cassoday a few times, on the Baseball Grand Tour, and did a SaddleSore 1K in May of 2002 to Chicago and back. Good year for riding; almost 10,000 miles (not all shown on the map).
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2 Swine Flu Cases Confirmed in Kansas - NBC Action News KSHB-TV 41
2 Swine Flu Cases Confirmed in Kansas - NBC Action News KSHB-TV 41: "The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has confirmed two cases of swine flu in the state involving two adults residing in the same household in Dickinson County.
Neither of the patients was hospitalized. One is ill and being treated while the other one is recovering, according to the KDHE.
One of the patients had recently traveled to Mexico, flying in and out of Wichita. Both persons work in Saline County and became ill with the same unique (H1N1) strain of swine flu that has been identified in Mexico, California and Texas"
Neither of the patients was hospitalized. One is ill and being treated while the other one is recovering, according to the KDHE.
One of the patients had recently traveled to Mexico, flying in and out of Wichita. Both persons work in Saline County and became ill with the same unique (H1N1) strain of swine flu that has been identified in Mexico, California and Texas"
Everyone does everything right, and it actually made the news!
Public safety news in brief | Youngster brings nonfunctioning gun aboard school bus - Kansas City Star:
No lockdown - no SWAT teams called - no automatic weapons pointed at the kids, no command posts set up. The kid screwed up, check. The other kids told an adult, check. The adult took the right measures. And most surprising, it made the news - granted a mini-blurb back on page A-22...
"An 8-year-old boy showed friends a gun on the school bus. They told the principal.
Not your typical show-and-tell, but it happened Friday morning.
The boy’s family apparently found the gun in his grandfather’s house after his grandfather died.
After the bus arrived at the Longan French Magnet School near 34th and Cherry streets, the principal took the gun, which was missing its firing pin, and called security. A police officer interviewed the boy and his mother after school.
Since the gun didn’t work and the boy had not threatened anyone, police returned the gun to the mother. School officials said they were handling the matter under code of conduct guidelines."
No lockdown - no SWAT teams called - no automatic weapons pointed at the kids, no command posts set up. The kid screwed up, check. The other kids told an adult, check. The adult took the right measures. And most surprising, it made the news - granted a mini-blurb back on page A-22...
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Me, being an asshat
"DHS encourages recipients of this document to report information concerning suspicious or criminal activity to DHS and the FBI. The DHS National Operations Center (NOC) can be reached by telephone at 202-282-9685 or by e-mail at NOC.Fusion@dhs.gov. For information affecting the private sector and critical infrastructure, contact the National Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC), a sub-element of the NOC. The NICC can be reached by telephone at 202-282-9201 or by e-mail at NICC@dhs.gov. "
And, there's the document you're receiving. (PDF Link) (backup PDF link)
Just doing my part as a good Right Wing Extremist!
Found another document you are receiving. (PDF link), (backup PDF Link) Interesting to compare and contrast the two.
And, there's the document you're receiving. (PDF Link) (backup PDF link)
Just doing my part as a good Right Wing Extremist!
Found another document you are receiving. (PDF link), (backup PDF Link) Interesting to compare and contrast the two.
The More Things Change . . .
A few years ago (well, some 2,900 years ago), a new leader was risen up to the people. He was young and powerful and glorious, and he was tasked to find his way as a leader. The people, fearing that he would continue to tax them as heavily as had his father, promised their loyalty in return for a lighter burden.
Hmm. King Rehoboam didn't have a great ending. Wonder how our story will come out? Who will be our Rehoboam?
"And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
11And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." (KJV, 1-Kings-12)
Hmm. King Rehoboam didn't have a great ending. Wonder how our story will come out? Who will be our Rehoboam?
(Side note - this bible study stuff is as addictive as constitutional law. I have no life.)
US Gov't targeting conservatives
First Misouri, then Virginia, now the Federal Government. It's a bad time to think limited government and low taxes are a good thing. Now we can see all the powers set up by Bush & Co turned toward, well, the people that supported Bush & Co. Nice. Report: US is ripe for recruiting by extremists - Kansas City Star: "Homeland Security officials are warning that right-wing extremists could use the bad state of the U.S. economy and the election of the country's first black president to recruit members to their cause."
Monday, April 13, 2009
You needn't be driving to be guilty of DWI
You needn't be driving to be guilty of DWI: "[MN} State law says that any person who drives, operates or is in 'physical control' of a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol concentration of more than 0.08 percent is guilty of a crime. Testing of Fleck showed an alcohol concentration of 0.18 percent, the court said.
The court cited a 1992 ruling saying that 'physical control' includes situations where a drunk person is found in a parked vehicle that might be started and driven."
The court cited a 1992 ruling saying that 'physical control' includes situations where a drunk person is found in a parked vehicle that might be started and driven."
Investigative journalism under threat from new regulations
The Guardian, a UK Newspaper, has an interesting article about the new regulations in Britain that require telecom companies to keep a permanent log of every call, text email sent or website visited on your mobile phone or wired internet connection.
Investigative journalism under threat from new regulations :
Click the link above to read more from The Guardian...
Investigative journalism under threat from new regulations :
"The concern is that if someone gets in touch with a journalist, who then writes a story based on that information, the new regulations mean that the police - or intelligence services or local council - can work back from the database of all the contacts made to the journalist and figure out who the whistleblower is. It blows a huge hole in the journalist's legal defence under section 10 of the Contempt of Court Act of 1981 that sources can stay secret unless 'the court is satisfied disclosure is necessary in the interests of justice or national security or for the prevention of disorder or crime'. Join the communications dots, and a suspect is fingered.
How do you counter that risk? 'Step down a couple of technological rungs,' says David Leigh, the Guardian's investigations editor. 'Just send a letter - you know, snail mail.' He adds: 'When I've dealt with secret sources they take very great care not to communicate on any electronic medium.'
The next step, says Campbell, is to do what drug dealers and terrorists do: use pay-as-you-go phones and unregistered sim cards, bought with cash. Such closed rings are almost unbreakable - once you've met to swap numbers.
But must journalists and sources really use the same tactics as terrorists and drug dealers?"
Click the link above to read more from The Guardian...
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Family Archive Podcast
After ignoring chores for the past couple of hours, I've sorted out how to run a Podcast from Blogger. We'll be publishing weekly updates from the tape archive. Today's episode:
Family Archive Podcast: 1959: Robert K. Dean speaking about his son graduating from Kindergarten
You can subscribe to this RSS feed in iTunes for the full experience - including album artwork, image clips and more.
----
Tech Note: I used the An-Archos Javascript widget to automatically embed the m4a file in this blog post. Made my life a lot easier it did.
Family Archive Podcast: 1959: Robert K. Dean speaking about his son graduating from Kindergarten
You can subscribe to this RSS feed in iTunes for the full experience - including album artwork, image clips and more.
----
Tech Note: I used the An-Archos Javascript widget to automatically embed the m4a file in this blog post. Made my life a lot easier it did.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
A Good Day for a Ride
Sunny, cool, nice day for a lap around Truman Lake. Nothing unusual or interesting to report - just good riding. I did find the intersection of C, U and ZZ roads - CUZZ! Down deep in the hills of Central MO.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Learning The Wrong Lessons
Learning The Wrong Lessons from Sandra Cantu’s Death-- FreeRangeKids:
"The chances of being abducted and killed by a stranger stand at 1,500,000 to one, according to the Crimes Against Children Research Center. This is a number that does not go up or down a lot year to year. To keep your children inside or guarded at all times because of chances like that would make sense only if you also vowed never to take your children in a car, considering the odds of them dying in an accident are 40 times greater.
And yet, even though five child passengers are killed each day, you never see parents vowing, “I used to let my kids come with me in the car. But after this, there will be no more driving. This is a long-term change.”"
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Change?
In Warrantless Wiretapping Case, Obama DOJ's New Arguments Are Worse Than Bush's | Electronic Frontier Foundation:
For what it's worth, this is from the left-wing group Electronic Freedom Frontier - not some NeoCon right wing team.
"the gulf between Candidate Obama and President Obama is striking. As a candidate, Obama ran promising a new era of government transparency and accountability, an end to the Bush DOJ's radical theories of executive power, and reform of the PATRIOT Act. But, this week, Obama's own Department Of Justice has argued that, under the PATRIOT Act, the government shall be entirely unaccountable for surveilling Americans in violation of its own laws.
This isn't change we can believe in. This is change for the worse."
For what it's worth, this is from the left-wing group Electronic Freedom Frontier - not some NeoCon right wing team.
US Economic Crisis - Perspective from the IMF
The Atlantic Online | May 2009 | The Quiet Coup | Simon Johnson:
"In its depth and suddenness, the U.S. economic and financial crisis is shockingly reminiscent of moments we have recently seen in emerging markets (and only in emerging markets): South Korea (1997), Malaysia (1998), Russia and Argentina (time and again)."
Sunday, April 05, 2009
How to change 1990 Ducati ST2 Fuel Filter
This PDF file shows how to change 1990 Ducati ST2 Fuel Filter -- also known as 'call the dealer'
Sheesh. They don't make things easy do they? The more I learn about my Ducati, the more I miss my Honda ST1100. You could nearly change that fuel filter while riding.
Sheesh. They don't make things easy do they? The more I learn about my Ducati, the more I miss my Honda ST1100. You could nearly change that fuel filter while riding.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Who Is Arming the Mexican Drug Cartels? by Michael Gaddy
Who Is Arming the Mexican Drug Cartels? by Michael Gaddy:
"This week, Secretary of Homeland Defense, Janet Napolitano, announced a new plan to curb the alleged flow of weapons from the US into Mexico. This program, which will cost the overwhelmed US Taxpayer another 700 million dollars plus, includes machines that employ what is referred to as 'virtual strip search.' This plan will supposedly slow down the number of guns traveling south from the US to the drug cartels in Mexico. If this program has the same success rate as the government’s efforts at stopping the flow of contraband north into the US, the Mexican drug cartels will have nuclear weapons by the end of April!"
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Airport Extreme error (-5) after firmware upgrade
I upgraded my Airport Extreme to 7.4.1 (74100.25) firmware and immediately after the upgrade Airport Utility reported "An error occurred while reading the configuration. Make sure your Apple wireless device is plugged in and in range of your computer or connected via Ethernet and try again. (-5)"
Additionally the wireless would not assign a valid IP address to my MacBook Pro.
I resolved this by connecting to the Airport Extreme via ethernet. Then I launched Airport Utility and chose File - Configure Other. I entered the IP address (10.0.1.1) of the device and my password. This brought up the configuration options. I chose from the menu "Base Station", Upload Firmware. This presented a list of firmware choices and I chose 7.3.2. The downgrade completed and I was able to use the wireless again as well as normally configure the Airport Extreme via wireless or ethernet. No more Error -5.
I found this information in the Apple Discussions forum.
Additionally the wireless would not assign a valid IP address to my MacBook Pro.
I resolved this by connecting to the Airport Extreme via ethernet. Then I launched Airport Utility and chose File - Configure Other. I entered the IP address (10.0.1.1) of the device and my password. This brought up the configuration options. I chose from the menu "Base Station", Upload Firmware. This presented a list of firmware choices and I chose 7.3.2. The downgrade completed and I was able to use the wireless again as well as normally configure the Airport Extreme via wireless or ethernet. No more Error -5.
I found this information in the Apple Discussions forum.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
True Colors
British government environmental ministers are showing their true colors, aping the Earth First line that people are a parasite on the planet, and the population must be reduced. (link to google search; work firewall won't let me view their site)
How much? 30,000,000 people in Britain alone - about 50% of the population. Assuming you extrapolate that out, that's around 3,000,000,000 'excess population' that needs to be removed to match the planets carrying capacity.
Stalin would be proud.
Oh - sorry - we can't "treat the world’s population as a homogenous unit, as deep ecologists so often do." Only the industrially developed nations need to be de-populated, in order to match the carrying capacity of the planet.
Any volunteers for depopulation?
OK, this really isn't news, it's been bandied about by Malthusian and growth sides, as well as the NWO tinfoil hat crowd for years. The interesting bit is that it's an official government position statement, rather than tweedy academics or gun-toting art-bell-listening tweakers bringing it up.
How much? 30,000,000 people in Britain alone - about 50% of the population. Assuming you extrapolate that out, that's around 3,000,000,000 'excess population' that needs to be removed to match the planets carrying capacity.
Stalin would be proud.
Oh - sorry - we can't "treat the world’s population as a homogenous unit, as deep ecologists so often do." Only the industrially developed nations need to be de-populated, in order to match the carrying capacity of the planet.
Any volunteers for depopulation?
OK, this really isn't news, it's been bandied about by Malthusian and growth sides, as well as the NWO tinfoil hat crowd for years. The interesting bit is that it's an official government position statement, rather than tweedy academics or gun-toting art-bell-listening tweakers bringing it up.
EPA takes first step
EPA Takes first step toward outlawing deadly carbon dioxide dumping; setting it's sites on even more dangerous Dihydrogen Monoxide.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Land Hurricaine?
No, just a wicked low pressure front. But wow - what a cool radar image! Snagged at 7:15 PM from weather.gov
Sleepy day
Alec is off school today, i am working from home. Alec is sleeping on the bed in the office, Random the Cat is under his arm, and Sam the Dog is asleep on the floor.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
The Big Takeover : Rolling Stone
Matt Taibbi writes this excellent article clearly explaining the basics of what the hell just happened: The Big Takeover : Rolling Stone
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tiny microphone for iPod Touch
Switcheasy announces thumbtack-size iPod mic | Accessories | Playlist | Macworld: "The microphone plugs directly into the headphone jack of compatible iPods, letting you record audio using either the iPod’s built-in voice-recording feature or, in the case of the iPod touch, third-party software."
Yeah, but will it work for using the Touch as a VOIP phone?
Yeah, but will it work for using the Touch as a VOIP phone?
Saturday, March 14, 2009
National Pi Day
National Pi Day? Congress makes it official | Politics and Law - CNET News
: "Washington politicians took time from bailouts and earmark-laden spending packages on Wednesday for what might seem like an unusual act: officially designating a National Pi Day.
That's Pi as in ratio-of-a-circle's-circumference-to-diameter, better known as the mathematical constant beginning with 3.14159.
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a resolution introduced two days earlier that designates March 14, 2009 (3/14, get it?) as National Pi Day. It urges schools to take the opportunity to teach their students about Pi and 'engage them about the study of mathematics.'"
Friday, March 06, 2009
Yaesu VX-8R and Motorcycles
At first glance, the new Yaesu VX-8R Ham radio looks like it's perfect for motorcycle use. Waterproof, receives DC to light (530khz to 999mhz) APRS built in, etc. But one problem - in order to use the APRS, you have to either plug the GPS puck into the microphone jack, or use an external speaker mic with a slot for the GPS puck. In order to use the HT with external mic and speakers (like hooked to an Autocom) you have to hook an adapter dongle to the microphone jack.
The adapter dongle doesn't have a provision for the GPS puck - so no dice running APRS and using it with your Autocom.
Now it does have a Bluetooth option coming out, so it may be possible to use Bluetooth for audio and transmit, while having the GPS puck attached to the radio. We'll see . . .
The adapter dongle doesn't have a provision for the GPS puck - so no dice running APRS and using it with your Autocom.
Now it does have a Bluetooth option coming out, so it may be possible to use Bluetooth for audio and transmit, while having the GPS puck attached to the radio. We'll see . . .
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Sam the Dog Howling
Got lucky today and Sam was howling on the deck while I was sitting here with the camera ready.
New Photos Up
Finally got around to copying the photos from the camera and uploading them to Mylanders. Below are links to the new albums - click the photo to check out the rest of the pictures!
Alec and Peridot in Winfield
Alec's 8th Birthday Party
Feb Visit to Nature Center with Alec
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