Friday, October 31, 2008

Some Repairs

You remember the Chip Master 9000 don't you? This is the 60 ton machine needed to dig the hole for the pool. Well, during one of the unloading events (the thing comes on a massive multi-wheeled trailer, takes 30 minutes to load or unload, and blocks off the whole street while it's at it.) a little misfortune befell the shop driveway.

At some point the unloading man decided that it would just be easier to roll the beast over the shop driveway rather than jockey the trailer around. This action resulted in the destruction of said driveway, and the subsequent repair you see getting started here. Step one is, remove the damaged concrete and haul away.

Step two, replace concrete.

This needs to dry, and then the expansion joints get cut in. Next spring they will come and stain the whole drive so everything matches.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Has Halloween Become Overcommercialized?



This Is edgy and NOT for everyone... If you are easily offended, don't watch it!

How?

History DOES Repeat Itself!

New Xbox 360 Experience

This November, the Xbox 360 will turn three. So far, it’s been a profitable and successful system for Microsoft, capturing the attention of developers, snatching exclusives away from the PlayStation 3 and gaining lots of street cred from hardcore gamers.

But in spite of this success, Microsoft has chosen to make an aggressive, totally unprecedented step. They’re completely overhauling the Xbox 360 firmware with a free update called the New Xbox Experience (NXE) that hits consoles on November 19th. Functionally, it's hiding at least one killer app. Visually, it’s a bigger jump than Windows XP to Windows Vista. Given that NXE is a mandatory update for anyone on Xbox Live, it's a good thing we really, really liked it.

Caves!

Body MPG

28.5 miles per gallon

Created by The Car Connection

I Want My MTv

MTV Music expands upon the music video offerings already posted to MTV.com by offering an entire back catalogue of videos that go all the way to when music videos were born. The library includes more than 16,000 videos, sprinkled with "exclusive" MTV concert footage and MTV "Unplugged" performances that used to be all the rage. And that's just the beginning. According to a blog post on MTV's Splash Page, more videos are being added by the day, so even if your favorite Paula Abdul selections haven't been posted yet, they probably will make it up eventually.

HD Netflix streaming comes to Xbox 360 first

It's something you can't get on the Roku. Nor on LG's BD300. Nor on Samsung's P2500 / P2550 Blu-ray players. Nor through Netflix's own "Watch Instantly" portal. It's high-def Netflix streaming, and it's coming first to Microsoft's Xbox 360.

Click Title For More.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

The Door To Hell!

This Might Be Dangerous

The Places We Live

FormatFactory

FormatFactory is a multifunctional media converter.
Provides functions below:
All to MP4/3GP/MPG/AVI/WMV/FLV/SWF.
All to MP3//WMA/MMF/AMR/OGG/M4A/WAV.
All to JPG/BMP/PNG/TIF/ICO/....
Rip DVD to video file , Rip Music CD to audio file.
MP4 files support iPod/iPhone/PSP/BlackBerry format.
Source files support RMVB.

FormatFactory's Feature:
1 support converting all popular video,audio,picture formats to others.
2 Repair damaged video and audio file.
3 Reducing Multimedia file size.
4 Support iphone,ipod multimedia file formats.
5 Picture converting supports Zoom,Rotate/Flip,tags.
6 DVD Ripper.
7 Supports 35 languages

OS requirements: All 32 windows OS

It's Not Really That Bad...

If you think that the current economic crisis is something that has never happened in history before, you may be wrong! After the collapse of the agriculture sector in Zimbabwe in 2000, the inflation in that country skyrocketed to 231 million percent a year! Just think about it - 231 000 000%! Unemployment went up to 80% and a third of country’s population left it.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Carving A Pumpkin?

Carve a design you'll love using one of our free patterns. Enjoy! Simply click on the images below and print out the pattern page (you must allow pop-ups for these pages to appear) or click on the "Download Pattern - Zip" link to download your pattern in Zip format (we recommend using WinZip to unzip the patterns).

Please remember, these patterns come up in a pop-up window so you must allow pop-ups for these pages to appear. You can either set your pop-up blocker to allow pop-ups from this site or you can simply hold down the "Ctrl" button on your keyboard while clicking on the pattern you want.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

How the U.S.A. Elects Its President

Every four years, the world looks with bafflement at the United States as the country goes through its curious process of electing its President. Truth be told, the system is far from obvious, and remains misunderstood and controversial even within the U.S.A. A brief primer on how it all works.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

EepyBird's Sticky Note Experiment

Rick & Deb Hit The Corn Maze

You start off climbing a raised platform to get your first look at the maize (or is it maze?)

Now since Deb & I both had to work the next day we opted for the emergency map!

Deb looking certain that her way is the right way!

Using my superior "man skill" of direction.

Just in case you wondered how they make a corn maze.


A view from above!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Longest Wave On Earth?



Twice a year, between the months of February and March, the Atlantic Ocean waters roll up the Amazon river, in Brazil, generating the longest wave on the Earth. The phenomenon, known as the Pororoca, is caused by the tides of the Atlantic Ocean which meet the mouth of the river. This tidal bore generates waves up to 12 feet high which can last for over half an hour.

The name "Pororoca" comes from the indigenous Tupi language, where it translates into "great destructive noise". The wave can be heard about 30 minutes before its arrival, and it's so powerful that it can destroy anything, including trees, local houses and all kind of animals.

Halloween Window

Some Insight



Not Safe For Work

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Need A New Screen Saver?

All support multiple monitor setups!

Need A Quick CD/DVD Sleeve?

Xbox 360 Dash Board Update

Xbox 360 Fall Update Coming November 19th The Xbox team has officially announced November 19th as the release date for the new Xbox experience. Why do we care? Because the update brings support for Netflix Watch Instantly video streaming, and considering the addition of the Starz catalog to Watch Instantly, that means lots of great movies at your fingertips. Can't wait until November? Turn your 360 into a streaming Netflix player right now.

Picasa 3 BETA!


Picasa : Picasa 3 feature overview

Print
What's New What's Changed

To get you started on the upgrade from Picasa 2.7 to Picasa 3, we've provided a detailed run-down of what's new and what's changed. This page explains the basics, but you'll need to get your hands dirty to really appreciate the changes. Click the links below to learn more about each feature.

Download the Picasa 3 beta at http://picasa.google.com. To get additional support or to give feedback for this beta release, please visit our Picasa Help Group to find answers from our most knowledgeable users and the Google Guide.

sync

Sync your Picasa 3 and Picasa Web Albums edits

Tired of having to manually re-upload your photos after making further edits? By enabling 'Sync to Web,' edits made to your photos in Picasa 3 are automatically transferred to your corresponding online albums.

retouch

Retouch your images

Always want to be airbrushed? Use the Retouch tool to remove unsightly blemishes and improve photo quality. It can also help you to restore old photos with marks, water stains, and scratches to excellent condition.

viewer

Preview image files with Picasa Photo Viewer

The photo viewer is a fast, lightweight application for viewing images on your desktop or through Windows Explorer. Installed with Picasa 3, it lets you to take a quick look at images without having to fully open the Picasa 3 program.

movie maker

Create and edit movies

Combine your photos, videos, and music into a movie or use the editing room to trim your existing movies.

webcam

Capture your screen

Instantly take and import your screen captures and webcam captures into Picasa 3.

text

Add text or watermarks to your photos

You can easily personalize your photos using the Watermark and Text tools.

print

Print captions

Your captions are about to see a little more action. You can now print your captions or photo file names on or below your photos.

dropbox

Upload easily to Picasa Web Albums

Use the Drop Box to hold quick uploads and upload throttling to multi-task during your upload.

PWA settings

Control your Picasa Web Albums settings

If you have an online album in Picasa Web Albums, you can now control the online settings through the corresponding folder or album in Picasa 3.

move folders

Manage folders on your computer

It's now possible to move entire folders around on your hard drive from within Picasa 3.

exif

Get more information about your photos

We've added new icons and tools to the Library view to quickly communicate useful information about your photos.

Ummmm

Monday, October 13, 2008

The Sun

The Sun is now in the quietest phase of its 11-year activity cycle, the solar minimum - in fact, it has been unusually quiet this year - with over 200 days so far with no observed sunspots. The solar wind has also dropped to its lowest levels in 50 years. Scientists are unsure of the significance of this unusual calm, but are continually monitoring our closest star with an array of telescopes and satellites. Seen below are some recent images of the Sun in more active times.

Internet TV Remote: Quick Links to Free Streaming Shows

You already know about all of the different ways to watch TV online. Now you just want links to your favorite shows (plus all those new ones) as quickly as possible so you can ditch your TiVo and TV once and for all. Our Internet TV remote has the best links to every prime-time show currently streaming online at full length. Bookmark it and check back often, we'll update it as new shows come out.

Always... Always, Lower Your Forks!

Awesome F-35B Video Shows US Marines Already Have Transformers!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

The Power User's BlackBerry Guide

CrackBerry addicts, are you ready to take your Blackberry to the next level? In this list, you'll find some of the most awesome tips, hacks, how-tos and guides for the BlackBerry, making it easy for just about anyone to become a power user.

Ahhhh... Remember Your Wedding?

Run... It's A RAINBOW!

Time For A Nap?

Substituting a little lost sleep with a nap during the day can also be as good as getting a full night’s worth. Research has shown that splitting sleep into segments not only is fine but also still gives you the mental and physical benefits you would get from a solid eight hours. “If you’ve lost sleep for just one or two nights, a 20-minute nap during those days will do,” says Sara Mednick, PhD, author of Take a Nap! Change Your Life. “If you’re chronically sleep-deprived, nap for 90 minutes each day.”

Do You Take Sleeping Pills?

Chances are, someone you know takes a sleeping pill. One in four Americans takes a sleep aid every year, according to the National Sleep Foundation, and the numbers are even higher for women—one in three uses some sort of sleep medication a few times a week.

Why do women have such trouble sleeping? The reasons are as numerous as the passel of pills on the market: anxiety, depression, chronic illness, restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea, everyday exhaustion...the list goes on and on. No wonder so many sleep aids are available.

But sleeping pills, while often quite helpful, are largely misunderstood. Many stop working after a few hours, for instance, and most should never be mixed with other meds. So if you take one of these drugs now—or plan to in the future—there are important questions you need to ask. Here, the answers.

The History Of Smoking Through Advertising

Early in the last century, when questions about the health effects of smoking became a topic of widespread discussion, tobacco companies undertook a multi-faceted campaign to allay the public's fears. As terms like "smoker's cough" and "coffin nails" (referring to cigarettes) began to appear in the popular vernacular, tobacco marketers recognized the need to counter this threat to their livelihood.

One strategy was to use endorsements by healthy and vigorous appearing singers, Hollywood stars, and elite athletes. Another was to raise fears over weight gain: "Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet."Among the more reprehensible tactics was the utilization of the image of the noble and caring physician to sell cigarettes: Doctors were depicted both as satisfied and enthusiastic partakers of the smoking habit ("More Doctors Smoke Camels"). Images of medical men (and a few token women) appeared under soothing reassurances of the safety of smoking. Liberal use was also made of pseudo-scientific medical reports and surveys.

Our intention is to tell—principally through advertising images—the story of how, between the late 1920s and the early 1950s, tobacco companies used deceptive and often patently false claims in an effort to reassure the public of the safety of their products.

On first impression, most viewers will find these images outrageous, humorous, and so blatantly false as to trigger incredulity. But tobacco industry ad men also excelled in creative genius and had high levels of artistic skill. The best talent money could buy was recruited for this effort. Tobacco advertisers faced a daunting challenge: How do you sell a product which shortens the life of the user by an average of about 8 years? In 2003, the tobacco companies brought to this task a war chest of over $15 billion in advertising in the U.S. alone. Constrained by governmental regulation and fears of litigation, tobacco marketing strategies have evolved over time from the (now) transparent hucksterism of the 1920-1950 era. Companies invest enormous resources into crafting clever and highly sophisticated devices to get their message across (witness Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man). The take home point is that little has changed from then to now, save for the subtlety of the methods employed.

Boise Gets Earliest Snow On Record

Big snow flakes fell early Friday evening, turning Downtown Boise into a giant snow globe for people on their way home from work. Across the Treasure Valley, tree branches heavy with wet, snow-covered leaves fell on power lines, causing scattered power outages. This is the earliest measurable snowfall in Boise since record keeping began in 1898, according to the National Weather Service. At 10 p.m., the Weather Service said 1.7 inches of snow had fallen. The previous earliest recorded snowfall was Oct. 12, 1969, when a little more than an inch fell. And if the snow wasn't enough, meteorologists say winds across southwestern Idaho will average 25 to 40 mph through Saturday afternoon, with gusts up to 55 mph. Sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph are expected, which can make driving difficult.

Fall Color Information


Fall Foliage Legend
No Change (0-10% change)
Only occasional patches of color, not fully developed. The predominant color is still green

Patchy (10-50% change)
Some clearly defined color changes can be seen, but they are not yet at their brightest. About three fourths of the foliage is still in green

Near Peak (50-75% change)
As much as half the vegetation has changed color. In the earlier changing trees, the colors are bright. Late-changing trees remain primarily green

Peak (75-100% change)
Most trees are in full color. Deep reds and bright yellows prevail. Very little green vegetation remains. A few trees have yet to reach peak, but are showing very bright, well developed colors. These trees will peak very quickly

Past Peak
Brightness and depth of color have begun to fade. Leaf drop has begun and will accelerate from this point

These changes will vary by region. In the northeastern forests, hardwoods such as Maple prevail. Ash, Oak and Hickory are found here, as well as in states to the south. They produce deep red, bright rust and yellow colorings

Midwestern states and those in southerly climes have Sassafras, Sumac, Virginia Creeper, Dogwood, Blackgum and a few others. While these will generally make the change earlier than hardwoods, they may not turn as early as in northern states because of the latitude.

The mountain states of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, California, and to an extent Arizona and New Mexico, have Aspen and Birch, which produce bright yellows, particularly at higher elevations. In these states there can often be simultaneous areas from low to peak, depending on elevation.

Throughout September and October, one strong rain or snowstorm in any of the northern tier or mountain states can bring a sudden end to the foliage season.

Color change occurs when a tree enters dormancy, which is caused by photosynthesis as days shorten. Food in the upper portion of the tree travels to the roots, leaving visible pigment, which was present during the summer but covered by chlorophyll.

Drought tolerance plays a role. Hardwoods such as maples (red and orange), hickory (golden yellow) and Oak (bronze and rust) have greater tolerance and turn later. Birch, Dogwood, Poplar and other softer woods are fewer droughts tolerant and turn earlier

Click on this blog entry to get the very latest from The Weather Channel

Don't Look Up!

Saturn V Launch Views - High Speed Cams

Google Offers 'Mail Goggles' for Drunk E-Mailers

Here's the scenario: It's Friday night, and what began as an innocent happy-hour margarita morphed into a few pitchers. After all, those tacos were salty.

Bidding friends adieu, you jump in a cab, head home and decide a quick e-mail check is in order. And there it is: a message from your ex. Or your boss. Or that friend you're secretly mad at.

If you're the kind of person who types tipsy and regrets it in the morning, Google's "Mail Goggles," a new test-phase feature in the free Gmail service, might save you some angst.

What Is A Kindle?

Look Where You're Going!

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Amazon's Kindle 2 Leaked

After rumors surfaced on the Web a few months back that a new Kindle might be on the way, Amazon.com did its best to shoot them down, saying a new Kindle was not coming this year. In time for Christmas?

Top 10 Everyday Things People Do To Ruin Their Cars

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Global Air Traffic Over 24 Hours

Always Pay Attention When You Are Driving!

Don't Vote!

This Video Is Rated R and not for kids!


This Video Is Rated R and not for kids!

Now The UK Really Wants You To Stop Smoking!

Shocking pictures of throat cancer and rotting teeth are to appear on cigarette packets from today to illustrate the health risks of smoking.

Among the other images smokers will see are rotting lungs, a corpse in a morgue and a body cut open during surgery.

The photos will appear on the back of packets accompanied by a written health warning.

Currently graphic images are now used on tobacco products sold in Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, Venezuela, Thailand and Uruguay.

Still Haven't Joined Netflix?

Most of us still watch movies the old fashioned way: on DVD. Okay, maybe watching movies on DVD isn't that old, but for every $10 U.S. consumers spend on movie and TV entertainment, $8 of it goes to purchasing or renting DVDs... Which certainly makes us wish we bought Netflix stock when it first starting trading publicly in 2002. But DVDs won't remain the number one movie and TV source forever. And no, Blu-ray is unlikely to be DVD's ultimate successor either. The future--and it's not a very distant future--of movie and TV consumption is via online streaming.

Can You Say Crazy?

Money Meltdown

Does the whole bail out thing have you confused? What really happened, and what might happen with or without the bailout.