Sadly and suddenly our cat Urza passed away last night. She lived a great 10+ years and enriched our lives greatly. She will forever be part of our family and her memory will always live in our hearts.
Urza Whitten 1995 - 2006
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
We'll Never Forget Her...
Sadly and suddenly our cat Urza passed away last night. She lived a great 10+ years and enriched our lives greatly. She will forever be part of our family and her memory will always live in our hearts.
3 Percent Fee On Cell Phones Started 107 Years Ago
NewsNet5.com - Money - 3 Percent Fee On Cell Phones Started 107 Years Ago: "There is a call to repeal a cell phone tax most people probably don't even know they are paying, NewsChannel5 partner ONN reported.
Anybody who has ever tried to decipher a cell phone bill knows how tough it can be. One of the charges is a 3 percent fee on every cell phone bill in America. The origin of the tax predates the invention of the cellular phone by nearly a century.
Annie Brinkman and her friend, Stacey Lemle, don't know it, but every time they use their cell phones, they are supporting the war effort -- the Spanish-American War."
Anybody who has ever tried to decipher a cell phone bill knows how tough it can be. One of the charges is a 3 percent fee on every cell phone bill in America. The origin of the tax predates the invention of the cellular phone by nearly a century.
Annie Brinkman and her friend, Stacey Lemle, don't know it, but every time they use their cell phones, they are supporting the war effort -- the Spanish-American War."
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Saturday, January 14, 2006
My Cat Is Watching HDTV!
My Cat Is Watching HDTV!: "My Cat Is Watching HDTV!
And she isn't alone. Many High-Definition TV owners report that their pets are having trouble distinguishing the realistic picture from reality itself. "
And she isn't alone. Many High-Definition TV owners report that their pets are having trouble distinguishing the realistic picture from reality itself. "
Thursday, January 12, 2006
My Landing At PDX
Arrived home from Bakersfield, California today... And this is how my landing felt!
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Do Burned CDs Have a Short Life Span?
PCWorld.com - Do Burned CDs Have a Short Life Span?: "Opinions vary on how to preserve data on digital storage media, such as optical CDs and DVDs. Kurt Gerecke, a physicist and storage expert at IBM Deutschland, has his own view: If you want to avoid having to burn new CDs every few years, use magnetic tapes to store all your pictures, videos and songs for a lifetime.
'Unlike pressed original CDs, burned CDs have a relatively short life span of between two to five years, depending on the quality of the CD,' Gerecke says. 'There are a few things you can do to extend the life of a burned CD, like keeping the disc in a cool, dark space, but not a whole lot more.'"
'Unlike pressed original CDs, burned CDs have a relatively short life span of between two to five years, depending on the quality of the CD,' Gerecke says. 'There are a few things you can do to extend the life of a burned CD, like keeping the disc in a cool, dark space, but not a whole lot more.'"
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
The Law & Your Shower!
The Bureaucrat in Your Shower - Mises Institute: "You might have some vague memory from childhood, and perhaps it returns when visiting someone who lives in an old home. You turn on the shower and the water washes over your whole self as if you are standing under a warm-spring waterfall. It is generous and therapeutic. The spray is heavy and hard, enough even to work muscle cramps out of your back, enough to wash the conditioner out of your hair, enough to leave you feeling wholly renewed - enough to get you completely clean."
Somehow, these days, it seems nearly impossible to recreate this in your new home. You go to the hardware store to find dozens and dozens of choices of shower heads. They have 3, 5, 7, even 9 settings from spray to massage to rainfall. Some have long necks. Some you can hold in your hand. Some are huge like the lid to a pot and promise buckets of rainfall. The options seem endless.
But you buy and buy, and in the end, they disappoint. It's just water, and it never seems like enough. Why? As with most things in life that fall short of their promise, the government is involved. There are local regulations. Here is one example of a government regulation on the matter, from the Santa Cruz City Water Conservation Office: "If you purchased and installed a new showerhead in the last ten years, it will be a 2.5 gpm [gallons-per-minute] model, since all showerheads sold in California were low consumption models beginning in 1992."
This fine article includes instructions on how to hack your shower head and bring back that refreshing shower of yester-year.
Somehow, these days, it seems nearly impossible to recreate this in your new home. You go to the hardware store to find dozens and dozens of choices of shower heads. They have 3, 5, 7, even 9 settings from spray to massage to rainfall. Some have long necks. Some you can hold in your hand. Some are huge like the lid to a pot and promise buckets of rainfall. The options seem endless.
But you buy and buy, and in the end, they disappoint. It's just water, and it never seems like enough. Why? As with most things in life that fall short of their promise, the government is involved. There are local regulations. Here is one example of a government regulation on the matter, from the Santa Cruz City Water Conservation Office: "If you purchased and installed a new showerhead in the last ten years, it will be a 2.5 gpm [gallons-per-minute] model, since all showerheads sold in California were low consumption models beginning in 1992."
This fine article includes instructions on how to hack your shower head and bring back that refreshing shower of yester-year.
TiVo Series 3 - First Look!
Alright TiVo people, here is what is coming next. This link includes video.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Windows PCs Face "Huge" Virus Threat
FT.com / By industry / IT - Windows PCs face "huge" virus threat: "Computer security experts were grappling with the threat of a new weakness in Microsoft's Windows operating system that could put hundreds of millions of PCs at risk of infection by spyware or viruses.
The news marks the latest security setback for Microsoft, the world's biggest software company, whose Windows operating system is a favourite target for hackers.
"The potential [security threat] is huge," said Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at F-Secure, an antivirus company. "It's probably bigger than for any other vulnerability we've seen. Any version of Windows is vulnerable right now."
The flaw, which allows hackers to infect computers using programs maliciously inserted into seemingly innocuous image files, was first discovered last week. But the potential for damaging attacks increased dramatically at the weekend after a group of computer hackers published the source code they used to exploit it. Unlike most attacks, which require victims to download or execute a suspect file, the new vulnerability makes it possible for users to infect their computers with spyware or a virus simply by viewing a web page, e-mail or instant message that contains a contaminated image.
"We haven't seen anything that bad yet, but multiple individuals and groups are exploiting this vulnerability," Mr Hypponen said. He said that every Windows system shipped since 1990 contained the flaw."
The news marks the latest security setback for Microsoft, the world's biggest software company, whose Windows operating system is a favourite target for hackers.
"The potential [security threat] is huge," said Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at F-Secure, an antivirus company. "It's probably bigger than for any other vulnerability we've seen. Any version of Windows is vulnerable right now."
The flaw, which allows hackers to infect computers using programs maliciously inserted into seemingly innocuous image files, was first discovered last week. But the potential for damaging attacks increased dramatically at the weekend after a group of computer hackers published the source code they used to exploit it. Unlike most attacks, which require victims to download or execute a suspect file, the new vulnerability makes it possible for users to infect their computers with spyware or a virus simply by viewing a web page, e-mail or instant message that contains a contaminated image.
"We haven't seen anything that bad yet, but multiple individuals and groups are exploiting this vulnerability," Mr Hypponen said. He said that every Windows system shipped since 1990 contained the flaw."
Monday, January 02, 2006
Almost Done
Todd stopped by today and replaced the damaged roof tiles with the brand new ones. If you look up on the roof now, you would never know that 20+ feet of timber crashed down on it.
I re-screened the slider for the bedroom deck access door, removed all of the drip pans from up in the attic, and re-fluffed the insulation smashed down by my many trips back and forth to the repair area.
So, other than the patio furniture, and replacing the damaged deck railing, we are done with the whole sorted mess! Going back to work will seem like a break after all of this.
I re-screened the slider for the bedroom deck access door, removed all of the drip pans from up in the attic, and re-fluffed the insulation smashed down by my many trips back and forth to the repair area.
So, other than the patio furniture, and replacing the damaged deck railing, we are done with the whole sorted mess! Going back to work will seem like a break after all of this.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Dead Trees Go Down!
The weather cleared, and it was time to take out the dead trees. It is hard to believe that only a week ago the tree strike saga started. The day began with plans to go down and play in the mud with the quads, but then the sun came out, and the wind stopped blowing.I fired up the Jeep and headed down into the swamp to run a safely cable to prevent any more accidents involving the house and falling trees. I was only half way down the hill when I realized that I was just a big sled on a slide full of mud. It became obvious that the angle was wrong, the cable was too short from that side and the mud was too soft. Now, how to get the Jeep back up the hill.
From the point where I came to a stop at the bottom of the hill all the way back to the top, there was not one inch of ground covered without the aid of the winch!I finally made it back to the top and positioned myself on the on the other side of the house up on the hill and out of the mud. I ran the winch cable down the hill and used a tree strap and pulley anchored to a large (stable) tree and then ran the cable back up the hill to the intended victims.
Todd positioned the tree strap as high up the trunks as possible, to each tree and then attached the cable hook. I spooled in the winch and pulled the trees down and away from the house. Ray would then fire up his chain saw and one by one they all came crashing down as Deb snapped photos.
That is me fighting a losing battle against a blackberry vine, while hooking up the anchor point.
Yup, that is Todd up on the ladder. Trying to get the straps as high as we can.
Ray and I prepping the winch before the pulling can begin.
Todd and Ray positioning the cuts properly so the tree goes where we want it to.
Ray running the saw, like a real man!
Ray running like a little girl!
... And down it goes.
How about another one.
At the end of the day 4 dead trees down on the ground...where they can't hurt anyone!
We trimmed off the stumps as low as we could, and left the downed trees on the ground to be cut up and stacked later for fire wood. Glad to have that little chore done. Now, next time there is a wind storm I can look out the friggen window safely! My thanks goes out to all the helpers on this job, but honesty, getting to drop a big tree and hear it crash to the ground... IS A TON OF FUN!
Credit to Deb for taking all of the photos in this blog article. I am especially impressed with the action shots of the trees going down.
Oh yea, we did get some quad riding in... Don't worry!
New Yellbox!
Alright, I have heard enough! "I tried to comment, but it's too confusing." or "What are those letters I have to type in about?" So, I am testing out a new feature for 2006 that allows to you to just type your name, (or handle) and then type your message. It could not be easier! Have fun and keep it clean!
Thanks,
Management.
P.S. Remember, that everyone who visits this site will see your comments! Abusers will be banned! (Yes, I really can do that.)
Thanks,
Management.
P.S. Remember, that everyone who visits this site will see your comments! Abusers will be banned! (Yes, I really can do that.)
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