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March 31, 2006
Picture Friday
Posted by mhader at 5:20 PM
March 30, 2006
Web 2.0?
My short, unresearched, rambling rant on Web 2.0:
I just don't get it..what is web 2.0 and when did it begin (hint: probably long before the term was coined)? Personally I think it's just an annoying buzzword and absolutely pointless. I cringe when I hear the reference. The 'industry experts' basically say that it's a relatively new model that allows people to collaborate and personalize websites in a new (and generally easy) way (there might be a bit more to it :) ). Blogging, ajax, podcasting, tagging, and bittorrent are among the many things that are considered to be Web 2.0.
I'm not quite sure why we aren't on Web version 20.0 or so already. The web has been around for awhile and has had it's share of major changes (like when it became commercialized--which I see as a bigger change than Web 2.0). I guess it could be because the mainstream population has not been online all that long. I see most of the changes considered to be Web 2.0 more of a facelift of older sites due to newer programming methods and ideas. The same thing happened when languages like php, java, and javascript came about.
I'm still waiting to get Internet 2.0 from the universities holding it hostage...
Posted by mhader at 9:27 PM | Comments (1)
March 29, 2006
Non-Trivial Answers
1. Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones. (Big Bonus - Here's my go: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Casey Affleck, Bernie Mac - 7/12 - The rest are: Scott Caan, Shaobo Qin, Carl Reiner, Elliott Gould, Eddie Jemison)
2. Tony Kanal
3. Joshua Bolten (currently the budget director, responsible for our $9 trillion debt) is replacing Andy Card.
4. eBay got it's name in September of 1996. It was launched as Auctionweb in September of 1995.
5. With 894 goals, it's Wayne Gretzky, surpassing Gordie Howe by 93 goals.
Posted by mhader at 8:46 PM
March 28, 2006
Trivial Tuesday # 12
1. 'Ocean's 13' is set to start filming this summer. Which two lead actors are not currently included in the script? (Big Bonus: How many of the 12 from the second movie can you name without looking it up?)
2. Which of 'No Doubt's' members is starting the record label, Kingsbury Studios.
3. It was announced today that the Chief of Staff for Bush is stepping down. Who is the incumbent and who is replacing him?
4. Ebay is currently in court fighting a patent battle for their 'Buy It Now' option for selling items online. When did eBay launch?
5. Last night, Steve Yzerman tied Mario Lemieux with 690 career goals in the NHL. Who has the most goals?
Posted by mhader at 4:18 PM | Comments (6)
March 27, 2006
Mobile Monday
I know, I know. I missed two days in a row. I wasn't home Thursday night until late and I was lazy on Friday.
On Friday I headed up to Columbia for Susan's [birthday] party extravaganza weekend bash (I know lot's of people with late March birthdays-so Happy Birthday to all!). Friday we had sushi and hit the Art Bar, with a bit of guitar hero throughout. Saturday was filled with more guitar hero, some birthday shopping, and one game of Ms Pac-Man (only one because I didn't think I'd do any better than my first try which was just over 153,000 points I believe). Saturday night there was a little shindig with lots of Susan's friends. All that and I made it back for the aquarium on Sunday..
Posted by mhader at 4:49 PM
March 22, 2006
World Water Wednesday
It's that time of year again..It is indeed World Water Day. So conserve water today and drink, um, something else :).
Speaking of water, I was flipping through the channels the other day and landed on a show highlighting some freshwater diving spots in Florida. It really made me want to go diving again (some of those places looked really cool). It's been far too long since I've been. Buying all new gear has been the first hurdle that I am not yet ready to tackle. Then I'd actually have to go. Anyways, back to the show. The host was following around some families that were getting their open water certification. About five minutes into the program the host started quoting scripture, which isn't a bad thing, but it kind of freaked me out a bit. I had no idea I was watching the inspirational channel. I didn't realize they had programming like that because I don't tend to watch that channel (or even flip through channels anymore). It was a cool show with a good message, the host was just a little cheesy.
Answers to yesterday's trivia:
1. It will be 17 years in May. "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" was released in the US on May 24, 1989.
2. I apparently don't.
3. December 13, 2003 during Operation Red Dawn.
4. It seems to change, but my current sources say 6. (SXSW == 'South by Southwest': It's a music/film/interactive media festival held yearly in Austin Texas.)
5. As usual, I've given no attention to the tournament so I only know a few teams that made the cut. According to one site I looked at, it appears that most people picked Connecticut.
6. 1000000 = Ten to the Power of Six
Posted by mhader at 10:21 PM | Comments (1)
March 21, 2006
Trivial Tuesday # 11
week 11:
1. Harrison Ford recently said, after much rewriting, that the final script for "Indy 4" is done. How long has it been since the debut of the last sequel?
2. Music news seems to be lacking this week. Does anyone have a good place to find out what's going on in music?
3. Today, three years after we invaded Iraq, Bush says that he is planning to leave the decision of pulling out the troops up to the next President. When was Saddam Hussein captured?
4. I was going to mention SXSW in tech, but I just found out that Microsoft has pushed back the release of Vista to next year. How many different versions of the OS do they plan to release? (Bonus: What is SXSW?)
5. I suppose I should mention that little NCAA basketball tournament. Who did you pick to win?
6. 1000000 = T to the P of S
Posted by mhader at 6:59 PM | Comments (2)
March 20, 2006
The Spanish Prisoner
I just realized it's been nearly two weeks (13 days, 6 hours) since I restarted my computer. No wonder it's been acting so strange. Hopefully it will stop freezing up when I open media files now.
Has anyone been watching "Hustle" on AMC? It's a joint effort with the BBC (all English..well European..actors) and comes on at 10 on Saturday nights. I recommend setting the PVR/DVR/Tivo/VCR. The episodes tend to run 75 minutes so you even get a little extra entertainment every week. The show follows 5 grifters who run the long con (a complex scam to maximize profit). It's filmed a lot like 'Ocean's 11 & 12' in that you aren't really let in on the whole con until the end of the episode.
I have a feeling the show 'Heist' (and possibly some other new show), which is starting soon on one of the major networks, is going to be a lot like 'Hustle' except with thieves. I'm also guessing that it is going filmed like 'Prison Break' (of which a new episode of the 'new' season just started) where the whole season leads up to the big heist.
On the topic of cons and thieves, I've also been enjoying "It Takes A Thief" on the Discovery Channel. In this show, homeowners allow an actual thief to break in to their house, trash it, and take all their valuables. It's a good show to watch if you think you and are your house are secure. I have no clue when that comes on so check your local listings! :)
Posted by mhader at 7:27 PM | Comments (3)
March 17, 2006
Picture Friday
Posted by mhader at 4:30 PM
March 16, 2006
Short Thursday
Not really a short Thursday, but definitely a short entry. My mildly entertaining [at least to me and one other person] tidbit for the day revolves around the elevator. I arrived at the hospital around 7 am this morning and rode the elevator to the seventh floor with one person heading to the sixth. When I got back on the elevator roughly nine hours later, it stopped on the sixth floor and picked up the same person I rode up with. What are the odds?
Have a fun St Patrick's Day!
Posted by mhader at 9:56 PM | Comments (1)
March 15, 2006
Wally Wednesday
It's been another crap day of comcast internet service. If I'm lucky I'll find a way to post this before the day is over. I can't say the internet has actually gone out today, it just seems to be very picky..and very slow. Like 2400 baud modem slow (well, maybe 14.4 with high-speed bursts).
I started jotting random things down during the day to mention in the blog. None of today's topics have been all that exciting, so don't get your hopes up. First off, I went to super wally-world today. Begin rant (why do I go here again? oh yeah, cheap groceries and it's on the way home from the hospital): I need to not use the self-checkout.
I don't pay enough attention when the price pops up on the screen. I'm more worried about bagging, making sure I don't scan twice, and getting the next item scanned. When I got home I noticed two things on the receipt that were more expensive than what the price sticker on the shelf said. The difference between the two items was hardly even $2--it just point that makes me mad. I would not have bought either item if I had known the real price. One of items was razor blades. I'm really not that picky when it comes to my mach 3 blades. I don't need to have 'turbo', but according to the shelf tag (and a lot of them at that), they were only about ten cents more than the non-turbo. I thought it was odd, but I went ahead and bought the more expensive of the two because they must be better, right? Apparently I shopped for too long and the price jumped up to be a dollar more than the non-turbo's (which are already crazy ridiculous expensive -over $2 per blade!?). At least they aren't as bad as the new 5 blade system. Thirteen dollars for four (4) blades! (btw, yes I do have and use a very nice electric razor, but nothing beats a blade). The good news at sw-w was that they actually had a transforming Jeep--an orange transforming 1:24 scale Jeep Wrangler Sport [not Unlimited] ( Rollbar). The only problem is that they don't have it anymore. That doubled my toy Jeep collection. I wish I could double my not-toy Jeep collection =).
Wow..I ranted too long. I'll save my other ideas for another day.
Answers to Trivial Tuesday #10:
Lot's of good answers over the last day!
1. It was published as Gray's Anatomy: Descriptive and Surgical in 1858
2. Theme from Shaft, in 1971
3. Made by President Roosevelt, it was to enlarge the Cape Romain Migratory Bird Refuge in South Carolina
4. 2 - Phobos, Deimos
5. Eight time winner, Chris Evert
6. 4 & 20 Blackbirds Baked in a Pie
Posted by mhader at 9:34 PM | Comments (2)
March 14, 2006
Trivial Tuesday # 10
1. It appears that Grey's Anatomy did what Alias failed to do following the special, after the Super Bowl episode. Nielsen ratings show that it has surpassed Desperate Housewives in viewers this week. I don't think it hurts that it's actually new every week (minus Oscar night). When was Gray's Anatomy first published?
2. Isaac Hayes seems to be creating the most popular buzz at this moment. Yesterday he announced that he was quitting as the voice of Chef on Comedy Central's South Park. For what song did this Rock 'n Roll Hall of Famer win an Oscar?
3. The Federal Register has been published daily (well, every government work day) since March 14, 1936. It's purpose is basically to allow the public to keep up with proposed new rules and changes to existing rules. What was the first rule written?
4. First Earth, then the moon, and now Mars. Google recently launched its interactive map of the Red Planet. How many moons orbit Mars?
5. The opening of the Family Circle Cup on Daniel Island is getting close. I will accept tickets. Of the 15 women who have won the tournament, who has won the most?
6. 4 & 20 B B in a P
Posted by mhader at 1:13 PM | Comments (6)
March 13, 2006
Another Monday
I should really write down my ideas for entries when I think of them. I'm not very creative under pressure.
Two big tech news items from last week. I haven't really researched either but have listened to a decent amount of discussion on both. First was the info about Origami from Microsoft. I actually like the idea, but I'm not really sure what I'd use it for, especially with it costing close to a grand. I'm kind of wishing I had bought a tablet PC vs a laptop for work..although I prefer to have XP pro vs XP tablet. The first generation of Origami seems to have a lot of issues. It would be very unwise, in my opinion, to run out and buy one. The battery life is supposed to only be a couple hours. My big honking laptop can go well over four. It's sad when all these companies release [expensive] items while saying better ones should be out shortly. Doesn't seem like good marketing to me.
The second tech item are the details on Intel's new chipset's. It sounds like they are finally going after AMD and are willing to change to stay competitive (hopefully that means in price as well). Perhaps I won't move to AMD when I upgrade next year (fingers crossed that it will happen next year). Intel is also planning to sell a water cooling kit which should make it an easy thing to do.
So what are your thoughts on these subjects my non-bloggers and non-blogging bloggers?
Posted by mhader at 8:49 PM | Comments (1)
March 10, 2006
Picture Friday
Taken at Dulaney Hollow at Old Rag Mountain, in Madison, Virginia
Posted by mhader at 11:38 AM
March 9, 2006
Nothing to Say
I'm sitting here catching up on my backlog of CSI and trying to come up with a topic for the day. This is never a good idea as tv always seems to take all of my attention, especially when I don't have to watch the commercials. Luckily tomorrow is picture day so all I have to do is find a random picture to post. It's hard writing something new every day! Of course if I don't start taking more pictures it could become a challenge to find a variety to post.
Posted by mhader at 10:22 PM
March 8, 2006
Another lazy Wednesday
It's been a long day and I have little to say..so I am here to post the answers to yesterday's trivia and do no more. I did enjoy the alternate answers to #6, btw! Going along with Ben's "7 Congdons in a Rocketboom" comment (which is unfortunatley untrue), there are [ 2 M in a C ].
answers:
1. I was hoping you could tell me..it's in excess of $100,000.
2. Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard
3. Ron Wyden, Oregon
4. Amanda Congdon from Rocketboom. (Bonus: March 2, 2006)
5. 1987, 1991
6. 7 Colors in a Rainbow
Posted by mhader at 9:57 PM
March 7, 2006
Trivial Tuesday # 9
1. Entertainment news today is still mostly about the Academy Awards this week so I assume I should mention them. The presenters and performers are all given a taxable 'goodie-bag'. What is the estimated value of the swag?
2. More Oscars..Who wrote the winning Best Original Song 'Hard Out Here for a Pimp' from 'Hustle & Flow'?
3. What US Senator is proposing a bill to stop the broadband providers from charging content providers for faster speeds on a two tiered network?
4. I can't believe I'm posting a link to this site...Who is featured on this fake video ipod? (Bonus: What day was the video posted?)
5. Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett passed away yesterday at the age of 45. What two years did he lead the Twins to a World Series Title?
6. 7 C in a R
Posted by mhader at 5:04 PM | Comments (2)
March 6, 2006
MGS
Another late start to a Monday entry. I put in the last of three new games on Friday (which is always a bad way to start a weekend). The game is Metal Gear Solid 3. The game, which actually takes place before it's predecessors, is almost more of a movie where you get to play occasionally. If you've played the previous two, you'd probably like this one. My only real problem with the game is that the point of view cannot be controlled by the player. Often times you can't see what's in front of you so you could be running right into an enemy or off a cliff.
Posted by mhader at 11:04 PM
March 3, 2006
Picture Friday
I'm not sure what year this is from off the top of my head..Can you tell who the five (yes, 5) people are on the raft?
Posted by mhader at 4:09 PM
March 2, 2006
OR Humor
I can't tell you, especially in a public forum, all of the humorous things that can happen in an operating room, but I can let you hear (or let you read as it were) some of the jokes being passed around.
A woodpecker walks into a bar and says "Where is the bar tender?"
An invisible man walks into a doctor's office to get an appointment. The doctor says, "Sorry, I can't see you."
I'll leave you with this one. I'll post the answer in a comment tomorrow assuming nobody posts the answer first..Don't cheat! The internet makes it far too easy to do so. :)
What do you get when you cross an agnostic with a dyslexic insomniac?
Posted by mhader at 10:05 PM | Comments (3)
March 1, 2006
Oh The Wires!
I forgot to mention that I did a bit of rearranging of my room over the weekend. I switched the bed and the entertainment center, then the desk and the entertainment system. Did that make sense? Moving the desk meant rewiring which is always entertaining. The wires tend to stay orderly for a couple weeks..then it turns into this:
Answers to yesterday's trivia:
1. Random House
2. Wham! (Bonus: Andrew Ridgeley)
3. Port of New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia Port, Port of Baltimore, Port of New Orleans, Port of Miami
4. 8
5. 8
6. 4 Strings on a Violin (or a Viola)
Posted by mhader at 8:14 PM | Comments (1)