There is about a month left in the summer season. If I was still going to school, this is about the time where I start getting bored with summer and long for going back to school. Of course, once I'm back at school, I would be longing for it to be over. August is almost here, and that means it could get a lot hotter, and that just isn't any fun. You run the AC more, which runs up the gas bill.
However, I am looking at August knowing that my life will change at the end of the month. Now I won't be going anywhere, in fact I will continue to chug along. However, my living situation will under go a drastic change. At the end of August, Justin will be moving out and going back to school. Now I have had many room mates in my college life, and another in my post college years. But none of them have had the same impact on my life as Justin. During college room mates where just room mates, but Justin really has become one of my best friends. That's why when he leaves, I will miss him. Of course, it's not like I won't be able to visit him and such, but you get used to having certain people around.
To replace Justin when he moves out, I did a very short search, and chose his best friend. That's right, he is the third member of Blaq Coq, the Guy in F.A.G., and the man who says "Hit the road" like none other. Ladies and gentlemen, please give it up for Mr. Brian Gresko ::Crowd goes wild::
Living with Brian will be fun, and I am looking forward to it. Too bad we couldn't all just live in one giant house together... ::thought bubble forms:: That's it, we will buy a house and live together "Full House" style!
Friday, July 21, 2006
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
That Lethargic Feeling
I hate when you get that lethargic feeling. You know, when you have been sitting in front of the computer all day, playing endless games of solitaire or mind sweeper (not because you don't have work to do, but because the work you have to do is just so boring) and your contact with people has been limited. And you enjoy because it allows you to slack off, but on the other hand, you get that feeling in your mouth like you haven't spoken to another human in 5 days.
That pretty much sums up how I feel right now. The worst part is, that after a day like that, you don't want to talk to your friends when you get home, you just sit in front of another computer or the TV, and zone out until it's meal time, and then you maybe break out of what ever kind of funk that you are in, or it lasts until you lay down for bed only to realize that you aren't tired because you haven't done anything all day.
That pretty much sums up how I feel right now. The worst part is, that after a day like that, you don't want to talk to your friends when you get home, you just sit in front of another computer or the TV, and zone out until it's meal time, and then you maybe break out of what ever kind of funk that you are in, or it lasts until you lay down for bed only to realize that you aren't tired because you haven't done anything all day.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Internet At Work
Today, a global e-mail was sent out reminding everyone that the Internet at work was to not be used for personal Internet surfing. Ha, I say to that, and I will tell you why. First of all, I come from a background of working in a school with unregulated Internet usage except for file sharing sites. It was the norm for anyone to search anything. Now I have moved to the corporate world where not everyone has Internet access. I first found a loop hole to get it, and once that loop hole was closed, I got it the legit way by being approved by the VP.
My reasoning for needing that access was sound, having a Mac, I need to get Apple updates for my computer. Being the AV guy, I need to be able to look up equipment to purchase, and learn about new stuff that is coming out. And since I have started working here, having the Internet access has helped out in almost every project that I have worked on.
Now I will admit, I don't always use it for business. I check my bank account, I find new programs, and I read the news, etc. In some people's eyes, this is very wrong. In my eyes, I am taking care of personal business while my computer is rendering video like it is right now as I right this. But I don't think that people should be afraid to use the Internet at work, and corporations that restrict it down to nothing are fools (except certain situations where there is a need for security). A professor of mine once said that you can't expect people to do work all the time, and it's true. He said that Monday morning and Friday afternoon are the least productive times, and instead of punishing people, let them relax. Happy employees will be more productive when they are working than unhappy employees that just go through the paces.
To those that are in charged of these decisions I say this. Give people access to the Internet (Restrict file sharing and porn sites to keep everyone from getting sued of course). Continue to monitor, or at least keep logs of everyone so you know where they go during the day, but don't look at it. The only time you should need this data is if a problem arises. If you have an employee that is under performing, than check out what he is doing. Perhaps that person needs to be restricted, or even let go because they can't balance their time.
All of this can be related to a method of child raising that my parents believe in. You don't child proof the house, you house proof the child. In other words, you don't put locks on all the doors and such so that the child can't get there, instead you teach the child not to go in that cabinet with the bleach. If they break the rules, then you punish. A child learns better when they have create the restrictions, not when you put a physical lock on a door for them. The same thing is true with adults. By restricting access, a person doesn't learn time management, they just play more solitaire on their PC, wasting time, when at least that time could be spent reading the news (or even industry news).
My reasoning for needing that access was sound, having a Mac, I need to get Apple updates for my computer. Being the AV guy, I need to be able to look up equipment to purchase, and learn about new stuff that is coming out. And since I have started working here, having the Internet access has helped out in almost every project that I have worked on.
Now I will admit, I don't always use it for business. I check my bank account, I find new programs, and I read the news, etc. In some people's eyes, this is very wrong. In my eyes, I am taking care of personal business while my computer is rendering video like it is right now as I right this. But I don't think that people should be afraid to use the Internet at work, and corporations that restrict it down to nothing are fools (except certain situations where there is a need for security). A professor of mine once said that you can't expect people to do work all the time, and it's true. He said that Monday morning and Friday afternoon are the least productive times, and instead of punishing people, let them relax. Happy employees will be more productive when they are working than unhappy employees that just go through the paces.
To those that are in charged of these decisions I say this. Give people access to the Internet (Restrict file sharing and porn sites to keep everyone from getting sued of course). Continue to monitor, or at least keep logs of everyone so you know where they go during the day, but don't look at it. The only time you should need this data is if a problem arises. If you have an employee that is under performing, than check out what he is doing. Perhaps that person needs to be restricted, or even let go because they can't balance their time.
All of this can be related to a method of child raising that my parents believe in. You don't child proof the house, you house proof the child. In other words, you don't put locks on all the doors and such so that the child can't get there, instead you teach the child not to go in that cabinet with the bleach. If they break the rules, then you punish. A child learns better when they have create the restrictions, not when you put a physical lock on a door for them. The same thing is true with adults. By restricting access, a person doesn't learn time management, they just play more solitaire on their PC, wasting time, when at least that time could be spent reading the news (or even industry news).
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Rabid Dogs Movie Review
Rabid Dogs
Keith: Dude, that was a pretty good movie last night. I mean, I'll be
honest, when you came home and said you wanted to watch a movie at
10:30, I was a little apprehensive. I mean, I was getting ready to go
lay down in bed and read, after all, I was tired from playing b-ball.
But I made the mistake of starting to watch it, and that was my undoing.
My second surprise was when I found that I had to read. I don't believe
you tricked me into watching a foreign film. Although, I think forcing
myself to read actually kept me awake, since I was so tired. Anyways,
my first impression of this film from 1974 was that it appeared to be a
low budget job. Most of the shots where close ups, for example; when
the car sped through a red light, they did not show a long shot where
you could see all of the cars avoiding each other, rather they took many
close low angle shots of cars stopping with sound effects of screeching
tires and spliced it all together. Also, it was a relatively small
cast. Would you agree?
Justin: That one has been in my "movies to watch" queue for awhile. It
was recommended by a friend, who did not give me much background on the
movie. However, I had heard of Mario Bava, and that this movie was said
to be one of his best. So I didn't mind the subtitles. I find it to be
amazing how your brain connects the dots when you are reading the
subtitles, you translate it into the characters actually saying the
dialogue. Now, I am not going to lie- I am not much of a student of
film, and most film buffs would be disgusted by the number of classics I
have not seen. However ,I have been taking myself on a crash course
lately.
As someone not as in tune to the making of film, I took the close-ups at
certain times to be simply artistic expression, and the movie did not
feel overly cheap to me. Of course, it had a very small cast, and no
special effects, explosions, etc.
From what I read, this movie has been out of print for some time, and
was only recently reintroduced, spliced with a new opening, part of the
film that was lost. Now, I also have waiting at home Diabolik, one of
his other famous pieces. You up for the challenge?
Keith: Well, I don't think I meant to say that it was cheap, just that
it was a low budget film. I actually have a big place in my heart for
low budget films. Today, movies cost millions to make and don't have
half the story line as Rabid Dogs does. I agree that close ups are very
artistic. The sign of a true artist is when they can take few materials
and create a masterpiece.
I thought the acting was excellent in the movie. The characters each
had a distinct personality. And there is more I would like to say about
the acting, but at the same time, I feel that to describe some of it I
would have to give away some details of the movie that may ruin the
experience for someone who might want to watch it.
Now as far as your challenge goes, I am up for watching Diabolik any
time. And if we keep with this foreign film trend, I have a couple that
I will have to add to the mix.
Keith: Dude, that was a pretty good movie last night. I mean, I'll be
honest, when you came home and said you wanted to watch a movie at
10:30, I was a little apprehensive. I mean, I was getting ready to go
lay down in bed and read, after all, I was tired from playing b-ball.
But I made the mistake of starting to watch it, and that was my undoing.
My second surprise was when I found that I had to read. I don't believe
you tricked me into watching a foreign film. Although, I think forcing
myself to read actually kept me awake, since I was so tired. Anyways,
my first impression of this film from 1974 was that it appeared to be a
low budget job. Most of the shots where close ups, for example; when
the car sped through a red light, they did not show a long shot where
you could see all of the cars avoiding each other, rather they took many
close low angle shots of cars stopping with sound effects of screeching
tires and spliced it all together. Also, it was a relatively small
cast. Would you agree?
Justin: That one has been in my "movies to watch" queue for awhile. It
was recommended by a friend, who did not give me much background on the
movie. However, I had heard of Mario Bava, and that this movie was said
to be one of his best. So I didn't mind the subtitles. I find it to be
amazing how your brain connects the dots when you are reading the
subtitles, you translate it into the characters actually saying the
dialogue. Now, I am not going to lie- I am not much of a student of
film, and most film buffs would be disgusted by the number of classics I
have not seen. However ,I have been taking myself on a crash course
lately.
As someone not as in tune to the making of film, I took the close-ups at
certain times to be simply artistic expression, and the movie did not
feel overly cheap to me. Of course, it had a very small cast, and no
special effects, explosions, etc.
From what I read, this movie has been out of print for some time, and
was only recently reintroduced, spliced with a new opening, part of the
film that was lost. Now, I also have waiting at home Diabolik, one of
his other famous pieces. You up for the challenge?
Keith: Well, I don't think I meant to say that it was cheap, just that
it was a low budget film. I actually have a big place in my heart for
low budget films. Today, movies cost millions to make and don't have
half the story line as Rabid Dogs does. I agree that close ups are very
artistic. The sign of a true artist is when they can take few materials
and create a masterpiece.
I thought the acting was excellent in the movie. The characters each
had a distinct personality. And there is more I would like to say about
the acting, but at the same time, I feel that to describe some of it I
would have to give away some details of the movie that may ruin the
experience for someone who might want to watch it.
Now as far as your challenge goes, I am up for watching Diabolik any
time. And if we keep with this foreign film trend, I have a couple that
I will have to add to the mix.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Pink Floyd Co-Founder Syd Barrett Dies At 60
Pink Floyd co-founder Roger "Syd" Barrett died Friday (July 7) at the age of 60, reportedly due to complications from diabetes. The artist, who left Pink Floyd in the late 1960s after his mental health began to decline, spent the better part of the past 30 years living in seclusion with his mother in Cambridge, where he was born on Jan. 6, 1946.
"The band are naturally very upset and sad to learn of Syd Barrett’s death," the surviving members of Pink Floyd said in a statement. "Syd was the guiding light of the early band lineup and leaves a legacy which continues to inspire."
Full Story
Monday, July 10, 2006
Bush Video 10 Years Ago!
Ok, this is crazy, but this shows that at one time Bush knew how to speak in actual sentance structure.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Without a car
Earlier this week, I posted about how Joy's car was in the shop. Well, it's still there and I have been driving her to work all week. I don't mind doing this, because I'm a nice guy, however it is 2 hours of driving everyday. Today is a little different though. Joy doesn't have to work the whole day, so she dropped me off at work and took my car... that's a little weird.
I am guy who is used to always having his car, I like to be the one to drive places, and I also like to have my keys on me. I have all of my scan saver cards on my key chain, plus I have a USB memory stick on there. Today, I have none of it, no car, no keys, no scan saver cards and no memory stick. But there is an up side to all of this.
The first good thing about this is I am using less gas today, which we all like with prices the way they are these days. And I mentioned to her that I needed an oil change, and well, she took care of that for me during the day, and even washed my car. So when comes back with my car around 5 today, I will have a clean car, with new oil, and oh ya, Joy will be here too.
I am guy who is used to always having his car, I like to be the one to drive places, and I also like to have my keys on me. I have all of my scan saver cards on my key chain, plus I have a USB memory stick on there. Today, I have none of it, no car, no keys, no scan saver cards and no memory stick. But there is an up side to all of this.
The first good thing about this is I am using less gas today, which we all like with prices the way they are these days. And I mentioned to her that I needed an oil change, and well, she took care of that for me during the day, and even washed my car. So when comes back with my car around 5 today, I will have a clean car, with new oil, and oh ya, Joy will be here too.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Where has our freedom gone?
I read this article today and wanted to share it with all of you. I think it is a sign of how our country is not focused on dealing with real issues. The idea that someone was arrested becuase he was wearing a shirt that promotes peace makes me sick to my stomach. Please, read it for yourself.
Busted for wearing a peace T-shirt; has this country gone completely insane?
By Mike Ferner
Online Journal Contributing Writer
Jul 5, 2006, 01:49
Friday afternoon, drinking a cup of coffee while sitting in the Jesse Brown V.A. Medical Center on Chicago's south side, a Veterans Administration cop walked up to me and said, "Okay, you've had your 15 minutes, it's time to go."
"Huh?" I asked intelligently, not quite sure what he was talking about.
"You can't be in here protesting," Officer Adkins said, pointing to my Veterans For Peace shirt.
"Well, I'm not protesting, I'm having a cup of coffee," I returned, thinking that logic would convince Adkins to go back to his earlier duties of guarding against serious terrorists.
Flipping his badge open, he said, "No, not with that shirt. You're protesting and you have to go."
Beginning to get his drift, I said firmly, "Not before I finish my coffee."
He insisted that I leave, but still not quite believing my ears, I tried one more approach to reason.
"Hey, listen. I'm a veteran. This is a V.A. facility. I'm sitting here not talking to anybody, having a cup of coffee. I'm not protesting and you can't kick me out."
"You'll either go or we'll arrest you," Adkins threatened.
"Well, you'll just have to arrest me," I said, wondering what strange land I was now living in.
You know the rest. Handcuffed, led away to the facility's security office, past people with surprised looks on their faces, read my rights, searched, and written up.
The officer who did the formalities, Eric Ousley, was professional in his duties. When I asked him if he was a vet, it turned out he had been a hospital corpsman in the Navy. We exchanged a couple sea stories. He uncuffed me early. And he allowed as to how he would only charge me with disorderly conduct, letting me go on charges of criminal trespass and weapons possession -- a pocket knife -- which he said would have to be destroyed (something I rather doubt since it was a nifty Swiss Army knife with not only a bottle opener, but a tweezers and a toothpick).
After informing me I could either pay the $275 fine on the citation or appear in court, Ousley escorted me off the premises, warning me if I returned with "that shirt" on, I'd be arrested and booked into jail.
I'm sure I could go back to officers Adkins' and Ousleys' fiefdom with a shirt that said, "Nuke all the hajis," or "Show us your tits," or any number of truly obscene things and no one would care. Just so it's not "that shirt" again.
And just for the record? I'm not paying the fine. I'll see Adkins and Ousley and Dubya's Director of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, if he wants to show up, in United States District Court on the appointed date. And if there's a Chicago area attorney who'd like to take the case, I'd really like to sue them -- from Dubya on down. I have to believe that this whole country has not yet gone insane, just the government. This kind of behavior can't be tolerated. It must be challenged.
I was at the Jesse Brown V.A. Medical Center because I'm participating in the Voices for Creative Nonviolence's 30-day, 320-mile "Walk for Justice," from Springfield to North Chicago, Illinois, to reclaim funding for the common good and away from war.
Mike Ferner served as a Navy corpsman during Vietnam War and is obviously a member of Veterans For Peace. He can be reached at: mike.ferner@sbcglobal.net.
Copyright © 1998-2006 Online Journal
Busted for wearing a peace T-shirt; has this country gone completely insane?
By Mike Ferner
Online Journal Contributing Writer
Jul 5, 2006, 01:49
Friday afternoon, drinking a cup of coffee while sitting in the Jesse Brown V.A. Medical Center on Chicago's south side, a Veterans Administration cop walked up to me and said, "Okay, you've had your 15 minutes, it's time to go."
"Huh?" I asked intelligently, not quite sure what he was talking about.
"You can't be in here protesting," Officer Adkins said, pointing to my Veterans For Peace shirt.
"Well, I'm not protesting, I'm having a cup of coffee," I returned, thinking that logic would convince Adkins to go back to his earlier duties of guarding against serious terrorists.
Flipping his badge open, he said, "No, not with that shirt. You're protesting and you have to go."
Beginning to get his drift, I said firmly, "Not before I finish my coffee."
He insisted that I leave, but still not quite believing my ears, I tried one more approach to reason.
"Hey, listen. I'm a veteran. This is a V.A. facility. I'm sitting here not talking to anybody, having a cup of coffee. I'm not protesting and you can't kick me out."
"You'll either go or we'll arrest you," Adkins threatened.
"Well, you'll just have to arrest me," I said, wondering what strange land I was now living in.
You know the rest. Handcuffed, led away to the facility's security office, past people with surprised looks on their faces, read my rights, searched, and written up.
The officer who did the formalities, Eric Ousley, was professional in his duties. When I asked him if he was a vet, it turned out he had been a hospital corpsman in the Navy. We exchanged a couple sea stories. He uncuffed me early. And he allowed as to how he would only charge me with disorderly conduct, letting me go on charges of criminal trespass and weapons possession -- a pocket knife -- which he said would have to be destroyed (something I rather doubt since it was a nifty Swiss Army knife with not only a bottle opener, but a tweezers and a toothpick).
After informing me I could either pay the $275 fine on the citation or appear in court, Ousley escorted me off the premises, warning me if I returned with "that shirt" on, I'd be arrested and booked into jail.
I'm sure I could go back to officers Adkins' and Ousleys' fiefdom with a shirt that said, "Nuke all the hajis," or "Show us your tits," or any number of truly obscene things and no one would care. Just so it's not "that shirt" again.
And just for the record? I'm not paying the fine. I'll see Adkins and Ousley and Dubya's Director of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, if he wants to show up, in United States District Court on the appointed date. And if there's a Chicago area attorney who'd like to take the case, I'd really like to sue them -- from Dubya on down. I have to believe that this whole country has not yet gone insane, just the government. This kind of behavior can't be tolerated. It must be challenged.
I was at the Jesse Brown V.A. Medical Center because I'm participating in the Voices for Creative Nonviolence's 30-day, 320-mile "Walk for Justice," from Springfield to North Chicago, Illinois, to reclaim funding for the common good and away from war.
Mike Ferner served as a Navy corpsman during Vietnam War and is obviously a member of Veterans For Peace. He can be reached at: mike.ferner@sbcglobal.net.
Copyright © 1998-2006 Online Journal
Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" played on some Ukuleles
Someone posted this video on the intertent and I needed to share it with all of you. It is the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain playing Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit".
Important Holiday
According to my desktop calendar, today is the birthday of Sylvester Graham, who lived from 1795-1851. He was a Kellogg-like fellow who promoted an abstemious lifestyle which rejected "sexual excess" and laziness, and encouraged cold baths, chastity, and a vegetarian diet. He stated that Languor, lassitude, feebleness of circulation, loss of appetite, indigestion, chilliness, headache, melancholy, epilepsy, weakness of the brain, loss of memory, and early death of offspring, along with about 30 other ailments were caused by sexual excesses between husband and wife.
In honor of this luminary and his special day, I am going to go home, take a cold bath, abstain from any "excess", and eat a dinner of his most notable contribution to society- the Graham Cracker. No doubt I'll wake up fit as a fiddle- so if you see me kicking up my heels, and think "He's Got Moxie!" That's probably why.
Car Broken? Don't go to Pep Boys.
This is a consumer warning, don't use Pep Boys for your auto repairs. If you are just going to pick up some supplies, that's fine, but as far as repairs go, here is a little story about a girl I know and her bad times with Pep Boys.
A couple weeks ago, a girl named Joy had her brakes done at Pep Boys for a good price and in a short amount of time. Sounds great so far. Two weeks later, her breaks are acting funny, making noises and such. She returns to Pep Boys, since she has a warranty on the breaks with them, to find out that something in her breaks broke. While the mechanic is under the car, he discovers that the guy who did the first brake job put the breaks on the WRONG WAY.
At this point Pep Boys fixes their mess up and discounts the new job, which took most of the day as Joy sat in the waiting room all day. Fast forward a couple of days. Joy is driving and her break light goes on. She doesn't show too much concern for it since her check engine light does this all the time. (However, if your break light does go on, you should pull over right away and check your break fluid). A couple days later driving from her parents house to mine she sees a puff of smoke behind her car on the road. Nothing is wrong yet. Nearing me house, breaking starts to become difficult. When pulling in front of my house she had to use the hand break to stop.
After checking the things out I saw the break fluid was all gone. We went and got more break fluid, put it in and tried it out only to have the fluid leak down the back tires. The next day Pep Boys toed the car back to the shop. On Monday they determined that there is a problem that they did not see the first time and they will be eating the cost of the entire job.
Things Pep Boys did right
However, what they did wrong was to not properly diagnose a break problem which could have killed Joy. A break job is not something that should be messed up, as it is life threatening. So please take my advice and don't go to Pep Boys for your car repairs (well, at least not the one in Bridgeport, CT).
A couple weeks ago, a girl named Joy had her brakes done at Pep Boys for a good price and in a short amount of time. Sounds great so far. Two weeks later, her breaks are acting funny, making noises and such. She returns to Pep Boys, since she has a warranty on the breaks with them, to find out that something in her breaks broke. While the mechanic is under the car, he discovers that the guy who did the first brake job put the breaks on the WRONG WAY.
At this point Pep Boys fixes their mess up and discounts the new job, which took most of the day as Joy sat in the waiting room all day. Fast forward a couple of days. Joy is driving and her break light goes on. She doesn't show too much concern for it since her check engine light does this all the time. (However, if your break light does go on, you should pull over right away and check your break fluid). A couple days later driving from her parents house to mine she sees a puff of smoke behind her car on the road. Nothing is wrong yet. Nearing me house, breaking starts to become difficult. When pulling in front of my house she had to use the hand break to stop.
After checking the things out I saw the break fluid was all gone. We went and got more break fluid, put it in and tried it out only to have the fluid leak down the back tires. The next day Pep Boys toed the car back to the shop. On Monday they determined that there is a problem that they did not see the first time and they will be eating the cost of the entire job.
Things Pep Boys did right
- Discounted the cost on the second job
- Doing the newest job for free
However, what they did wrong was to not properly diagnose a break problem which could have killed Joy. A break job is not something that should be messed up, as it is life threatening. So please take my advice and don't go to Pep Boys for your car repairs (well, at least not the one in Bridgeport, CT).
Monday, July 03, 2006
TMBG @ Mohegan Sun
Ryan, Joy and I went to Mohegan Sun's Wolf Den to They Might Be Giants perform a free show. We almost didn't get in since they Wolf Den only has 360 seats, but we managed to be the last three people. I have some concert video on here, but since I had other video on my phone that i forgot about, I couldn't record too much.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Friday, June 30, 2006
Slow day before holiday
I always hate these days. You walk around the office and know that most people's minds aren't on the meeting at 11, or the report that is due. No, they are thinking about picking up the volleyball net, getting propane for the grill, and checking the beer supply.
I, for one, won't actually be celebrating over the weekend. I am going to see They Might Be Giants tomorrow at Mohegan Sun, but that is all until the actual 4th of July. As it is, I will be going to work on the 3rd, which will be another wasted day. Half of the building will be empty, and who really wants to work for one day? Not me, I say that eveyone who does have to work on Monday should be able to go in wearing picnic clothes. Wear shorts and sandals, have fun!
Happy Friday before the 4th!
I, for one, won't actually be celebrating over the weekend. I am going to see They Might Be Giants tomorrow at Mohegan Sun, but that is all until the actual 4th of July. As it is, I will be going to work on the 3rd, which will be another wasted day. Half of the building will be empty, and who really wants to work for one day? Not me, I say that eveyone who does have to work on Monday should be able to go in wearing picnic clothes. Wear shorts and sandals, have fun!
Happy Friday before the 4th!
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Ford backing out of Hybrids
From Wired.com
Ford Reverses on Hybrids
Topic: Hybrids
Buying an "American" hybrid in the future will be a bit more of a challenge as Ford says it was just kidding about its pledge to produce 250,000 hybrids per year.
Instead of ramping up production of hybrids, the company is going to focus on flex-fuel vehicles and will work with bio-fuels companies to increase the availability of ethanol, according to the Detroit News.
Critics say Ford keeps to promises about as well as Charlie Sheen, citing past pledges for increasing fuel efficiency that never came to be.
Ford isn't giving up on hybrids altogether, but the shift to ethanol is taking the easy way out since it doesn't require innovation. Add "Falsely Over-promising on Research and Development" to the list of disparaging acronyms.
Now the other day, I posted about NYC going Hybrid with their Taxis, and as Ryan had pointed out, they were Fords. Now if Ford is making less of these, how will other cities follow the lead of NYC. Instead Ford wants to go with Flex Fuels (e85). Well, that is still burning something, but it is better for the enviroment, the problem is the stations, there aren't that many stations. Look at this map. First you will notice that they aren't in every state, and second, you will notice that in the states where they are, there are not that many of them.
It seem to me that the US, Detroit based companies want to keep burning things, while it's the Japanse companies want to use their battaries. One thing to keep your eye on is this device, it's the H2N-Gen. It works with your car that you have now, and makes it's own Hydrogen on the spot to inject into your engine, increasing milage and cutting emissions almost completely.
Ford Reverses on Hybrids
Topic: Hybrids
Buying an "American" hybrid in the future will be a bit more of a challenge as Ford says it was just kidding about its pledge to produce 250,000 hybrids per year.
Instead of ramping up production of hybrids, the company is going to focus on flex-fuel vehicles and will work with bio-fuels companies to increase the availability of ethanol, according to the Detroit News.
Critics say Ford keeps to promises about as well as Charlie Sheen, citing past pledges for increasing fuel efficiency that never came to be.
Ford isn't giving up on hybrids altogether, but the shift to ethanol is taking the easy way out since it doesn't require innovation. Add "Falsely Over-promising on Research and Development" to the list of disparaging acronyms.
Now the other day, I posted about NYC going Hybrid with their Taxis, and as Ryan had pointed out, they were Fords. Now if Ford is making less of these, how will other cities follow the lead of NYC. Instead Ford wants to go with Flex Fuels (e85). Well, that is still burning something, but it is better for the enviroment, the problem is the stations, there aren't that many stations. Look at this map. First you will notice that they aren't in every state, and second, you will notice that in the states where they are, there are not that many of them.
It seem to me that the US, Detroit based companies want to keep burning things, while it's the Japanse companies want to use their battaries. One thing to keep your eye on is this device, it's the H2N-Gen. It works with your car that you have now, and makes it's own Hydrogen on the spot to inject into your engine, increasing milage and cutting emissions almost completely.
Today's Song
I don't really have anything newsworthy to report on today, since I am chained to my desk, and actually quite busy today. But I am listening to my iPod here (shut up, I had one when they still looked like little lucite bricks), which I enjoy having at work because it allows me to listen to the tons of music I download when I go on a download spree and often forget about altogether. Because of that, sometimes I hear a song that is completely novel to me, and comes at an odd time when I am not expecting it to.
This happened recently with a Kiss song. Now, I've never been a big Kiss guy. I'm not anti-kiss, but I never got into their whole face painting, pyrotechnic, freakish tongue-having cult. I mean, Knights in the Service of Satan? I can't get behind that. But when someone lent me the greatest hits, I downloaded it to my playlist for later digestion, thinking, hey, maybe it is not all "I wanna rock and roll all nite."
So, last week I was in Manhattan, walking briskly, to catch a subway and get on my commuter train back to the 'burbs. Suddenly, I hear "New York Groove"- Don't expect it to change your life- it is a very basic, simple song- almost bordering on a disco tune, but at that moment, coming on my earphones at the very same tempo that I was walking, it brought a big smile to my face. It also had special significance for me, as I am making my return to the NY thing in September.
Google Checkout
Google has done it again. They have re-created a web tool and I can only imagine that they made it better. I am talking about the new Google Checkout. And it is just what the name suggests, a new way to buy things online. The idea is very much like that behind PayPal. You put your money in account, or connect your credit card to it and they give the money to the vendor. But with Google, I can only imagine that they have made it better and easier. And for AdSense Customers, there are cost savings for using the service on the vendor side of things. The details deal with numbers, and I am not going to share them here. All I will say is that chances are they will have better fees than PayPal, even though they said that they are not in competition.
Well it is Google, and I tend to like alot of what they do, chances are good that I will be trying this out in the near future. The program has been in testing for a year and they already have two major players signed up, Starbucks and Buy.com.
Good luck Google, you need... who am I kidding, Google doesn't need any luck, I need their luck.
Well it is Google, and I tend to like alot of what they do, chances are good that I will be trying this out in the near future. The program has been in testing for a year and they already have two major players signed up, Starbucks and Buy.com.
Good luck Google, you need... who am I kidding, Google doesn't need any luck, I need their luck.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Precipitation Rains on My Plans.
So, I wanted to play golf today. Nothing fancy, just a quick nine on a short course after work- a bit more facile than a standard course, a little more challenging than a par-3. And here in
Anyway, the rain is enough to overwhelm the drainage system at the Orchards, and enough to ruin my plans. At least it is good for my cranberry farm.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Hybrid Taxis in NYC
I would like to give NYC some credit here. Treehugger is reporting that NYC will be getting more hybrids in their fleet of Taxis. This is a great idea. Most of Taxi driving in NYC is stop and go and that is when the Hybrid becomes benifical. Heck, they will barely even use any gas at all.
What i'm confused by is this picture below. It is great that they are getting hybrids, but why hybrid SUVs? Why not hybrid sedans? They MPG on a hybrid SUV is the same as on my Nissan Sentra. Well, at least it's a step in the right direction.
More infor about hybrid cars can be found at HybridCars.com. They have a listing of all current and up coming hybrids out there, plus stats.
What i'm confused by is this picture below. It is great that they are getting hybrids, but why hybrid SUVs? Why not hybrid sedans? They MPG on a hybrid SUV is the same as on my Nissan Sentra. Well, at least it's a step in the right direction.
More infor about hybrid cars can be found at HybridCars.com. They have a listing of all current and up coming hybrids out there, plus stats.
Food
So, there is another blog that I once started, that would chronicle my food adventures, eating at good restaurants, making good meals, even discovering new holes in the wall. I'm not even going to link to it, because there is nothing there. I'm not sure there ever will be, since the time will come soon that my kitchen will once more be nothing more than a countertop and a fridgerwave. So, I'm going to start posting all of my food-related thoughts here instead, and close it for business. I mean, I would rather have a blog that I update daily than 4 that I never update.
I will certainly miss having cooking adventures like the below beer can chicken, or even grilling a thick rib eye like we did last night. I'm no expert, but some of my tips for a juicy steak on the grill:
- Olio. A couple dashes of olive oil will help your seasonings to stick evenly on the steak, and help in the searing process. Besides, the tiny bit you put on will be instantly turned to carbon when it hits the grill, so the additional calories are negligible.
- Season away. Don't be afraid to put a nice thick coat of pepper, chili powder, Coriander, Cumin etc on the steak. Other great seasonings include dry mustard, granulated garlic, and ginger. The only key is think about how they'll taste together- if you aren't sure. mix them up in a small bowl, taste, and then once you make your "rub" and are satisfied, apply.
- Hot Hot Hot. While cool smoke cooking is great for some applications, a juicy steak needs to hit a hot grill. If you have a gas grill, turn it up to preheat right before you put the steaks on. If you have a traditional grill, try and spare a piece of fat or some bacon drippings, and drop them on the coals so they flare right before you apply. Sear the steak for a few seconds, then on a gas grill, reduce heat to high.
- Butter. I know, it's not good for you. But if you are going to do it right, do it right. If you want to be healthy, make a turkey burger. Take a small pat of butter and mush it with fresh or dry parsley (or chives). Put a tiny pat on each steak- no need to drench it, just a little dollop. It is as much for garnish as for flavor, Do it just before serving, so the butter is about 2/3 melted when you get to the table.
Yeah, butter and olive oil. You wanna fight about it?
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