The Cyber Pilgrim

A Tale Told by an Idiot

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 08:45:00 PDT

Shakespeare wrote in Macbeth, "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

This rather melancholy observation on the fleeting nature of human life is analogous to our virtual existence in Cyberspace. Day in and day out many people, myself included, ply our trades in one form or another in this great global computer network. We sound off about our lives and our work, we revel in our triumphs, we mourn our tragedies, and we suffer our defeats. We twitter and we tweet we blog and we browse. We celebrate the advent of new life as we lament the passing of old.

Where once only the privileged gave voice to their brief lives, now there are millions who can strut and fret their hour upon the stage. Where once pen and parchment and later the printing press largely determined one’s enduring legacy, now a few simple lines of HTML and the right storage medium all but assure a lasting memorial.

To be sure, many more players are heard, but in the end will it make any difference? What will the Internet become in a hundred years? What will happen to the Facebooks, the Myspaces and the Twitters? What fate is in store for the millions of blogs that daily record each and every aspect of our lives? For now that question remains largely unanswered, but I would like to think, decades from now, some small part of me, might still be present in a TXT or HTML file, in an MP4 or in a JPG. Perhaps my idiot’s tale in all its trivialness will be read or watched by my descendants.

A droll notion to be sure…but oddly comforting too.

5 Reasons the iPhone will never come to Verizon

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:30:00 PDT

Here we go again…Bloomberg is reporting that the all elusive, two people familiar with the plans, indicate that Verizon will begin selling the iPhone in January of 2011.

Hogwash. Here are my top five reasons that the iPhone will never come to Verizon.

1.    A deafening silence would fall on the blogosphere as millions of blogs would have nothing to report. Without the ability to perpetuate this rumor it would be a death knell to the Internet.

2.    Apple is not in it for the money. They are all about helping the little guy. In this case, AT&T is the little guy. We have all heard the complaints, and who hasn’t seen Verizon’s coverage map commercials?

3.    Verizon cannot possibly have a better phone than other carriers. It flies in the face of common sense.

4.    Hell would freeze over, pigs would fly, the sun would rise in the west, and chickens would grow teeth. Choose your idiom, but it’s not going to happen. After all who wants to live in a world where our commonly held beliefs are turned upside down and inside out?

5.    And my final reason…shhh, don’t tell my Droid…but secretly I still want one, and of course the Fates, have already determined that this cannot be.

Let’s see if I eat crow on this one.

My TV Repair Story

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:07:00 PDT

My son yelled from the living room. “Hey Dad, what’s wrong with the TV?”

When I heard this, my immediate response was the usual, “I don’t know; what did you do to it?” He had been using it nonstop with his Xbox for the past several days; and I was certain that he had done something to damage it.

I rose from my chair in my office, walked into the living room, and was met by a “clicking” sound emanating from my 52” Samsung LCD TV.

“No … way,” I thought. Well, that’s not exactly what I thought… There were other choice expletives racing through my mind. This was a $2500 television and it was not even two years old! There is no way this could happen.

I pulled the power plug. “It probably just needs to be reset,” I reasoned. I plugged it back in…click… click…click. I did this multiple times hoping for a different outcome. This was insane. Nothing changed. Click…click…click…

“You have got to be kidding me. This is just grrreeeaaat!” This was Samsung’s retaliation against me for calling the Omnia cellphone, mediocre. Either that or the Fates frowned upon my neglect of my once prized TV and this was their doing.

And now it was dead. Coincidence you say? Hmmm…perhaps, but the conspiracy angle makes for a much better story.
Now what? Television repairs were notoriously expensive. So what were my options?

I already knew the manufacturer’s warranty would not cover it. After all, they are designed to expire prior to any significant problems. That left me with the warranty coverage from my credit card. I placed a call to Chase and found out that, yes indeed, it was still under warranty. This was good. Unfortunately they also had a long convoluted process associated with processing the claim. No surprise there--nothing is ever simple. I would need to get estimates, which of course I could not get without a visit from a repairman. Not only did I need an estimate for the repair, but I also needed an estimate for the estimate. Paper pushers have veracious appetites.

I then went to Samsung’s website and found the name of their local service provider. I placed a call and scheduled an appointment to get the estimate. While describing the symptoms to the receptionist, she remarked, “You know…that sounds like a capacitor…if so, Samsung has acknowledged that they were defective in your model TV.”

“Defective…does that mean it is still covered by Samsung?”

“Assuming that’s the problem, yes.”

A glimmer of hope--perhaps Samsung didn’t have my number. Maybe the Fates care nothing for the neglect of my television.

Three days later my hope was realized. It was the capacitor. I had avoided the red tape of processing the claim with the bank. And best of all, in 10 minutes my TV was up and running, and I paid no out of pocket costs!

Thank you, Samsung for acknowledging the defect and repairing the problem.

Oh…and by the way, I still don’t like my Omnia. But you know what…I don’t think it’s the hardware. In fact I’m certain. It’s the software. It’s that old, archaic Windows Mobile.

Microsoft is to blame!

Survey Says...

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:54:07 PDT

Here is a set of random questions I found on the Internet. Beneath each question I have posted my answer.

50 Random Questions

1. How do you like your eggs?
Over medium. But this seems difficult for many to master so I usually settle for scrambled.

2. Who are you in love with?
My wife.

3. Ketchup or Mustard?
Hmm...that really depends. If it's a hamburger its ketchup, if it's a hot dog then it's mustard.

4. Do you prefer to sleep or eat?
I am rather fond of both, but if I have to choose, I would say I prefer to eat.

5. When is the last time you went to the mall?
Just before Christmas.

6. Do you like reality shows?
In general I hate the concept of them. But I suppose I have been guilty of watching them.

7. How often do you talk on a phone?
As little as possible. I do not like phones.

8. Do you ever feel alone in crowded rooms?
Yes.

9. Can you speak any other language than English?
I have taken Spanish, German and Latin in school. However my German and Latin would not get me very far.

10. Are you hot?
No I am comfortable, but its hot outside.

11. Whats your favorite drink?
Beer.

12. Do you where shorts?
Almost always, except for work of course.

13. Do you wash your car or let the car wash do it?
Neither. I let the rain do it.

14. Does it snow where you live?
No. I live in a desert. So I guess I don't see much rain either.

15. Last food that you ate?
Bacon, eggs and hashbrowns.

16. Whats your favorite sport?
American Football. Go Green Bay!

17. When is the last time you ran?
Yesterday. I run three times a week.

18. How many cousins do you have?
I have no first cousins. I couldn't tell you beyond that.

19. If you were abandoned in the wilderness would you survive?
If I had access to insulin I would.

20. Your dream vacation?
Anywhere with my wife.

21. Do you sleep on your back or your stomach?
Neither. I sleep on my side.

22. Worst injury you've ever had?
I have had some fairly deep cuts, but that's about it.

23. Have you been in love?
Yes.

24. Do you like pizza?
I love pizza.

25. How often do you hit snooze on your alarm clock?
My alarm clock is in my head and I try not to use the mental snooze. It does not work well.

26. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?
I am not sure I ever had one.

27. What is your happiest memory?
The birth of my son.

28. Who is the last person you sent a MySpace message or comment?
I have never sent anything to MySpace.

29. Next trip you are going to take?
An Alaskan cruise or a trip to Disneyland.

30. Ever go to camp?
Yes, twice in my early teens.

31. Were you an honor roll student in school?
In college I was. Before that I never took school seriously.

32. What do you want to know about the future?
Did I make a difference?

33. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne?
No. Soap, water and deodorant is sufficient. Cologne is wasted money.

34. Is there anything hanging from your rear view mirror?
Yes, a Crucifix, a St. Christopher medal and a car deodorizer.

35. Where is your best friend?
At work.

36. How is your best friend?
As far as I know she is fine.

37. Do you have a tan?
Not now.

38. Why does religion cause so much war?
I hate this question. Religion doesn't cause war. People cause war.

39. Would you give your life to save someone else's?
Yes.

40. Who is the biggest gossiper you know?
I won't say in case they read this blog.

41. Last time you got stopped by a cop or pulled over?
Going to Mexico with my Brother-in-laws. We had a lot of beer...

42. Are you scared of flying?
Yes, but I will do it.

43. What does your last text message say?
I can't tell you. It's a number though.

44. Do you like hot sauce?
Yes.

45. Last time you took a shower?
One hour ago.

46. Do you ask for directions?
Only as a last resort.

47. What is your heritage?
I am a bit of a mutt. Scandinavian and German mostly.

48. Do you shave your legs?
No...Do guys shave their legs? I suppose some do.

49. What would you rather have, a nanny, a housekeeper, a cook or a chauffeur?
A housekeeper. I like to cook and drive and my son is too old for a nanny.

50. What were you doing at 12AM last night?
Sleeping.

My iPad Gadget Craving

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 00:02:00 PDT

“How much do we have in the checking account?” I ask my wife.

“Why, what do you want now?” She responds. This is her typical response. It’s appropriate. This question usually means I am considering the purchase of some gadget. She is aware of my weakness. Though she does not share it, she is familiar with the signs. My sudden interest in our financial situation, my incessant scrutiny of the weekly ads, and my lame attempt to win her over to a new technology, are usually clear indicators that my new gadget craving is slowly getting the best of me.

“Oh, I don’t want anything.” I lie. “Just curious how much we had in the checking account.”

She throws out a number.

It’s a good number.

The wheels in my head begin to turn. I told myself I would not buy the iPad, but I am already having doubts about my willpower. I found out that morning, they have a Netflix app for the iPad. Oh the inhumanity of it. How dare they create an app for that. It leaves me drooling like a Saint Bernard. And the iBook and Kindle apps both look remarkable. The one thing I hate about my iPod Touch is the screen size. For the best reading experience, I definitely needed a bigger screen.

Like a Borg, a voice in my head asserts itself. “Resistance is futile…”

A few minutes pass. I walk aimlessly around the house. The remnant of my inner Borg reminds me, this is a hopeless cause. Eventually I wander back to the bedroom. “Hey Lady have you seen the Best Buy flyer?” Lady is a term of endearment for my wife, sort of like honey or sweetie. It’s also a bona fide indicator that something’s afoot.

She looks at me and shakes her head. It’s a look of pity, recognition of my weakened state. She answers. “It’s in your office, where you left it.”

Of course, silly me…I had read the flyer several times that morning. I go to my office to retrieve it.

Ad in hand, I again begin to peruse it, as she walks by. “Did I show you these iPads?” I say, as she passes the door. I try to sound casual. It’s an offhand remark. In my hand I have the ad and I have pulled up the Apple website on my computer. Like a salesman I attempt to market the product. I target selling points that I think would interest her. She patiently absorbs my litany.

“Wow that’s really nice.” She declares, feigning interest. She shakes her head again and proceeds to walk away.

What can I say? I shrug. I am unbelievably transparent.

The HTC Incredible - Thoughts After One Month

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Sun, 30 May 2010 23:42:24 PDT

Here are my thoughts on the HTC Incredible after one month’s use. Some of these observations apply to the Incredible itself, while others apply to the Android OS and its applications.

What I Like:

1.    Surprisingly, I found that synchronizing with a Mac was much easier than I expected. I had much more trouble with my previous Windows Mobile device. My calendar and contacts on my iMac sync with Google already. Google then syncs effortlessly with the Incredible. My Exchange calendar from work also syncs with my phones calendar giving me one place to go, to see my daily schedule. Syncing my iTunes music playlists has been painless using Salling Media Sync. And when I need to transfer other files, the phone is easily mounted as a disk drive. Once mounted I drag and drop whatever is needed.

2.    All around this smartphone is fast. The only time I have experienced any real sluggishness is when using certain live wallpapers. For this reason and the power requirements, I tend to avoid them.

3.    Web browsing is responsive and the pinch to zoom is reminiscent of the experience on my iPod Touch. It is easily the best browsing experience I have encountered on a mobile device.

4.    The amoled display.   It was a bit difficult to see in direct sunlight, but this was corrected for the most part once I realized that the default brightness was set too low. When this was changed to auto, it corrected the problem. In normal lighting conditions the screen is brilliant and the colors vibrant.

5.    Multitasking. I can listen to music while browsing the web or answering an email.

6.    Touch responsiveness. Typing on it is a breeze. My previous phone was a Samsung Omnia which was the complete opposite. It seems just as responsive as my iPod Touch.

7.    Could replace my iPod Touch for daily reading, but only if the battery life is addressed. The only application I have purchased thus far, Newsroom, does a great job of organizing RSS feeds for my morning news.

8.    I like the Sense UI. The HTC widgets give the phone a polished look.

9.    Exchange integration works very well. I have heard of others having problems, but I have not experienced any.

10.    Voice to text. This might prove to be more of a gimmick over time, but the fact that I can speak into the phone and have it converted to text is amazing to me. Half the time I find myself sending texts by voice instead of pecking away on the virtual keyboard.

What I Dislike:

1.    No Audible audiobook support. This one is killing me. I am forced to remove the DRM from my audiobooks, which is often a lengthy process. In addition to this, all the audiobook applications available seem to be works in progress. None of them have the look of a finished product. Audible is currently working on an application for Android.

2.    Battery life is terrible. I usually need to recharge midway through the day. I am probably playing with it more than I normally would, but I still think I will need to buy a battery with a greater capacity.

3.    YouTube video buffering. Why are Apple mobile devices allowed to buffer video by pressing the pause button? My last three phones have been unable to do this. If my connection is slow let me pause the video and buffer it. I would much rather pause a video and wait rather than experience the stuttering. Fortunately this does not happen often.

4.    No Slingbox application. This was a godsend on my Windows Mobile device. Sling is currently working on an application for Android.

5.    Multitasking. Yes it is both a like and a dislike. I really don’t need all these applications running. I wish each application provided an easy way to quit. I have mixed feelings about using a task manager, but at some point I might need to reconsider this. Android is supposed to manage running applications on its own, but I question how well it does this when I continually see the FM Radio application running in the background; I have never even used this application.

6.    Lack of quality applications. Fortunately though, the number is growing.

7.    The Android Market needs work. It is not organized well for searching. A simple organize “by rating” would be a step in the right direction.

8.    Needs more games. I know it is not a gaming platform, but a few fun games would certainly help to pass the time.

9.    The default music players are not very appealing. There may be better ones in the Android Market, but so far I have not seen one that interests me.

10.    My last dislike is the narrowness of the display. A slightly wider display would have been preferable.

All in all, it is a good smartphone, which will only get better with time. I imagine most of my gripes will be addressed in the next 6 months as more applications for the Android platform are released.

Lights Out for L.A. - Arizona's Response to the Boycott

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 20 May 2010 19:26:52 PDT

First, let me go on the record as saying, I am a resident of Arizona and I am not a big fan of the new immigration law. My wife is Hispanic and I know people who have already experienced the reality of racial profiling. But the Los Angeles city council's response to this matter is just as disconcerting. Their desire to make a ”statement” and to “hurt” all of Arizona by boycotting the state, is a juvenile gesture at best.

The memo below is a response to the Los Angeles boycott from the Arizona Corporation Commission. I had to laugh when I found out that Arizona provides 25% of L.A.’s power. Perhaps the mayor and city council of Los Angeles should rethink their stand. Commissioner Gary Pierce’s response, hits to the heart of the matter. People of goodwill should be able to agree, to disagree.

Dear Mayor Villaraigosa,

I was dismayed to learn that the Los Angeles City Council voted to boycott Arizona and Arizona-based companies — a vote you strongly supported — to show opposition to SB 1070 (Support our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act).

You explained your support of the boycott as follows: “While we recognize that as neighbors, we share resources and ties with the State of Arizona that may be difficult to sever, our goal is not to hurt the local economy of Los Angeles, but to impact the economy of Arizona. Our intent is to use our dollars — or the withholding of our dollars — to send a message.”

I received your message; please receive mine. As a state-wide elected member of the Arizona Corporation Commission overseeing Arizona’s electric and water utilities, I too am keenly aware of the “resources and ties” we share with the City of Los Angeles. In fact, approximately twenty-five percent of the electricity consumed in Los Angeles is generated by power plants in Arizona.

If an economic boycott is truly what you desire, I will be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements so Los Angeles no longer receives any power from Arizona-based generation. I am confident that Arizona’s utilities would be happy to take those electrons off your hands. If, however, you find that the City Council lacks the strength of its convictions to turn off the lights in Los Angeles and boycott Arizona power, please reconsider the wisdom of attempting to harm Arizona’s economy.

People of goodwill can disagree over the merits of SB 1070. A state-wide economic boycott of Arizona is not a message sent in goodwill.

Sincerely,

Commissioner Gary Pierce

Technology Marvels - Crosswalk Lights

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Wed, 19 May 2010 07:44:00 PDT

These new stoplights are a shear stroke of genius! I only wonder why it took so long to come up with them in the first place. Where I live, many of our stoplights are monitored by cameras. When a red light is run, a snapshot is taken, and within a few weeks the guilty party is awarded a ticket, courtesy of the local police department. Prior to these new lights I always felt that running a yellow light was a bit of a crap shoot. Would I make the light or would it turn red? I spent more time looking for cameras at intersections, than I did driving my vehicle.

How’s that for safe driving?

Now, no more worries. These new lights are popping up locally everywhere. I now know well ahead of time how many seconds I have before the light turns yellow.

Remarkably simple--a true technological marvel.

Now I can concentrate on my driving again!

How to Customize your HTC Incredibles Boot Animation on MAC OS X

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 20 May 2010 19:39:45 PDT

If you are like me, you might have noticed the HTC Incredible's boot animation is...shall we say...less than incredible. For such a nice smartphone it lacks any real pizazz on startup. Fortunately this is easily changed with one of the many boot animations available on the Internet. Just find one you like and follow the steps below. This does not require "rooting" your phone. This is written specifically for a MAC, but could be easily modified for Windows as well. I had no problems with the procedure, but use at your own risk. That said it seems fairly safe.

How to Customize Android Boot Animation on MAC OS X

1. Connect your phone to your MAC using the supplied USB cable. Set your default connection type to Charge Only.

2. Turn on USB Debugging on the HTC Incredible. Go to Settings -> Applications -> Development -> USB Debugging. Make sure the box is checked.

3. Go to http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html and download the package for Mac OS X. You can also download packages for Linux and Windows.

4. Unzip the files and copy the folder to your Users directory.

5. Download your new boot animation of choice. Keep the file zipped and rename it to bootanimation.zip if it has a different name. Copy this zipped file to your tools directory.

6. Open a terminal window and CD to the tools directory. It should look like the path below substituting yourname with your actual user name.

/Users/yourname/android-sdk-mac_86/tools

7. Run the following command:

./adb devices

If the daemons are not running, you should see output similar to the following:

* daemon not running. starting it now *
* daemon started successfully *
List of devices attached
HT04FHJ00350 device

8. Then run:

./adb push bootanimation.zip /data/local

You will see output indicating that the file has been transfered.

1802 KB/s (4674672 bytes in 2.532s)

9. Ta-da thats it. Disconnect your phone from the USB cable and reboot. At this point you can also turn off the USB debugging. You should now have an incredible boot animation for this stellar phone.

If you are not satisfied with the boot animation you can always revert back to the original Verizon one by following these steps:

How to Revert Back to the Default Boot Animation

1. Open a terminal window and CD to the tools directory. See step 6. above.

2. Run the following command:

./adb shell

3. At the $ command prompt run:

rm /data/local/bootanimation.zip

4. Reboot. You will now have your original Verizon boot animation.

Technology Marvels – My Worst Gadget Purchases

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Sun, 09 May 2010 08:00:18 PDT

I confess I am addicted to electronic gadgets. I drive my wife nuts with my constant need to have the latest and greatest thingamajig. Because of this temptation, I have been lured into some very bad purchases over the years. And so without further ado here they are...

My 5 Worst Gadget Purchases:

Logitech Cyberman – I am not sure why I purchased this thing. In fact, I can’t really remember what it did. Though $60 is not a lot of money, the fact that I bought it, and never used it makes it an extremely silly purchase. Estimated purchase price $60.00.
Phillips PET1030 Portable DVD Player – I only used this gadget 3 times. I bought this for my son and I, to use when we went camping. It turns out, he does not like to camp…besides that, laptops are much more versatile. Estimated purchase price $250.00.
Eye TV 250 Plus – I don’t know what it is about TV tuners for computers, I continue to buy them and they continue to collect dust. The Eye TV 250 Plus is my most recent tuner purchase. It’s nice as far as TV tuners go, but the fact that they want $20.00 a year to use the TV guide really bugs me. Besides that, I also purchased a Slingbox which made the tuner obsolete. Estimated purchase price $200.00.
Buffalo Linkstation NAS – I had hoped to use it as a media center for audio and video. It never happened. I already had several external USB Hard drives that contained this content and no one else in the family saw the benefit in centralizing their data. I hated to see it powered up and not used, so I powered it down. I figured I might as well preserve the lifespan of the disk. Why you ask? I don’t know, I suppose I will find a use for it someday. It has not been powered on since I shut it down about 6 months ago. Estimated purchase price $200.00.
Sharp Zaurus SL5500 – Linux on a PDA? Hmm… I still don’t get the attraction to Linux on the desktop. What in the world made me think this was a good idea? Hopefully my HTC Incredible wipes away this memory. The fact that it was scratched soon after its purchase helped it make this list. Estimated purchase price $350.00.

Honorable Mention: Dell XPS 1730 – For a $3000 laptop it never saw much use. I hated Windows Vista so much I bought a MacBook Pro. I used the “Beast” less than a year before giving it to my son. Yeah I know I could have downgraded to XP, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it…I had to have the latest and greatest OS…even if it wasn’t worth using. Another fault of mine. Estimated purchase price $3000.00.

That’s $4060.00 I have wasted, due to my astonishing lack of restraint.

The Gadget to End All Gadgets

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:55:31 PDT

I can now guarantee that the iPhone will come to Verizon. Why you ask? Because I just preordered the HTC Incredible. Fate rarely smiles on me in these matters. It is an established fact, for me, and for others as well; that whenever a technology purchase is made, something better always comes along. In my case this happens with mindboggling speed. I might not get the new phone out of its box before a leaked revelation of the iPhones genesis on Verizon is announced. This is not to say that the Incredible is inferior. If reviews are any indication, it looks like a solid smartphone. In my case, it is more an expression of a desire to have a desktop and mobile environment that functions simply and seamlessly. Since my desktop and laptop are both Macs, the iPhone is much more likely to provide this.

I will need to make concessions with the new Droid. The crux of my problem is that I need a better mobile web browser. But this is going to cost me functionality that I currently have. It is likely; I will be unable to sync this device with my iMac without additional software. My Audible audiobooks will need to be converted. There is currently no Audbile application for Android. I will lose the ability to stream video from my Slingbox. It too is unsupported. Both Sling and Audible promise an Android application by summer, but summer is long, and it would not surprise me if the release dates were closer to October than May. My pipe dream for a unified mobile and desktop experience will continue to remain out of reach.

I have had the same issue with technology in general for years. Operating systems in particular have often frustrated me. Why can’t I find one OS that does everything? I want an OS that’s open source like Linux, plays games like Windows and is wrapped in a GUI like OSX. Is that too much to ask? Instead I have to dual boot and/or run VM’s to achieve this goal. And speaking of VM’s, wouldn’t it be nice if you could play 3D games in a VM? This would almost solve the problem. At least it would be an acceptable workaround. But it’s not really possible, contrary to what some marketing hype might indicate.

And what about technology as it relates to home theater? Can’t we have a device that plays DVD’s, Blu-ray’s, video tapes, and all the various gaming formats…all built into one TV with a state of the art sound system. I am tired of looking at the stacks of equipment in our entertainment center. One might think that with all the advancements in technology, that number might decrease, but the fact is, these things reproduce like rabbits.

I suppose it really doesn’t matter if the iPhone comes to Verizon. If I were to find this one Holy Grail, I would soon be discouraged with something else. The fact of the matter is, I have the ultimate pie in the sky dream. When it comes to technology, I want one gadget that does it all. I want the elusive swiss army gadget. I want it to run a single OS. I want it simple. I want it streamlined. I want a device that allows me to watch HD video without the limitation of size. But I also want it to fit in my pocket. It must be my computer, my phone, my media player, my remote control and my eBook reader.

I want something that does everything.

Exercise is Bad for Diabetics?

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:59:09 PDT

I have Type I Diabetes. I have had it for 22 years. For most of those 22 years I did little to actually address the condition itself, other than taking my insulin and abstaining from the obvious sources of sugar. I had an A1C that was always well above the recommended 7.0 and would many times veer into the 8.x territory. Needless to say, I did not manage it very well. To complicate matters I also gained 40 lbs and my blood pressure began to rise. I felt sluggish and tired. My bouncing glucose levels showed my diabetes was swiftly spirally out of control.

About 18 months ago this all changed. I started to exercise. Many of these exercise sessions were vigorous and lasted 45-60 minutes. Over the next 6-8 months I lost the 40 lbs. and my A1C’s dropped well below 7.0 (they now range between 5.9-6.5). The sluggishness I felt, disappeared, and my blood pressure returned to normal. And to top it off I was able to cut my short acting insulin dosage in half.

And that is all I did.

So imagine my alarm when I read this title on a blog:

Too Much exercise is bad for Diabetes.

Needless to say, shocking statements like this always grab my attention.

I am not going to argue the accuracy of the author’s assertion, but I do believe that blanket statements like this are not terribly helpful. If there is a high blood sugar concern, which is at the core of the authors argument, why not tell the diabetic who is about to exercise to check his or her blood before beginning a workout. It’s simple enough; we do it all the time. In fact it’s probably a good idea to do this, and avoid the lows, which in my experience are much more common in any fitness regimen. Blanket statements like this fuel unnecessary apprehension. There are many athletes in the world today that are diabetics. You would have a hard time convincing me that they do not work out strenuously from time to time. The important thing is, be aware of your limitations and when in doubt check with your doctor. But for any otherwise healthy diabetic, go and run a mile or two. There is no reason to fear a little bit of vigorous exercise.

Lord of the Rings Blu-ray Swindle

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 06:41:00 PDT

Is the Blu-ray edition of the Lord of the Rings any good? Well 2866 Amazon customers can’t be wrong. One star out of five? Yikes! But this is not an assessment of the movie itself. It’s a response to the typical money grubbing, milk you for all your worth mentality, of the movie studios.

Shame on them for releasing the theatrical version, without including the extended version. At the very least they could have released them simultaneously. Instead they have decided to entice you into buying the theatrical version, if you want to experience the new Blu-ray technology. And if you want to see what is arguably, the complete movie; you will need to wait another two years. Then they will siphon your wallet again, with the temptation of the extended version. At this point, if you are one of the truly hoodwinked you will likely own 4 copies of the movie--and you know what--while the movie is good, no one, except an extreme fanatic needs 4 copies…

I may not be the smartest guy in the world, but I’m not that ignorant. This is one fan of the movies that will not be purchasing the Blu-ray version.

The Extended Edition DVD’s look just fine on an upconverted DVD player, thank you.

Fast Food Folk Song

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:01:18 PDT

It's too bad that the fast food worker at this Taco Bell doesn't work at one in our area. I would never have to double check my fast food order again. This is hilarious. And it's not staged.

Blogumulus Fixed

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:01:02 PDT

A couple of weeks ago my Flash label cloud widget stopped working on this blog. Based on what I have seen it appears to be broken for everyone. It looks like it is an access related issue with Amazon's S3 storage services. It's easily fixed by moving the tagcloud.swf and the swfobject.js files to another hosting service.

A complete fix can be found here.

Do You Still Read Paper Publications?

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:59:54 PDT

Do you still read the printed word? I was considering this question this morning when it occurred to me that over the past 10-12 years my reading habits have changed. It’s not so much what I read, but how I read. I would have to say that the majority of my reading is now done on a computer monitor. This is certainly true for work. Almost all my technical reading is done online and the only paper publications I refer to are training manuals.

But what about recreational reading? I suppose I still leaf through an occasional magazine, as I wait for a haircut, or as I sit in the doctor’s office, but the vast majority of my leisure reading is also done on electronic devices. Several years ago our local newspaper stopped their daily circulation. In its place my iPod Touch has done an admirable job of providing all the local and world news I need. Along with my cell phone it also provides the capability to read eBooks. My only gripe here is a matter of real estate. There is not a lot of room on the screens of these mobile devices. Until now I have been reluctant to purchase an eBook reader. They are too expensive for a single purpose device. However, the recently released iPad might have me reconsidering that decision. It certainly has the screen size and it’s multipurpose as well. Besides electronic reading, I also listen to a lot of audiobooks, while not a new technology it is certainly one which has changed the way I experience the written word.

I know people still read paper publications. Go to any bookstore and this is evident. My wife still reads physical books; of course she works in a Library, it’s a job requirement. But she also likes the feel of books. I doubt any technology short of reproducing the touch and feel of a book would work for her. I think this sensory argument is probably true for others as well. But preferences aside, it’s fairly obvious that there has been a steady decline in the use of paper based publications.

I wonder how much more this might change in the next 10-12 years. I think it will continue to be a matter of degree. Many of the technologies are presently available, but the costs of hardware probably limit any absolute adoption of this type of electronic media. If the hardware were more accessible or disposable, I think we might see significant change. But until that happens, I think there are limits to what can be achieved. The printed word will still remain prominent.

But for me, personally, paper has taken on a less important role. It’s amusing; though I rarely read paper publications, oddly enough, I still purchase them. I like to visit bookstores and I have been gradually filling a couple of bookshelves with books--books which currently have no electronic version. They are part of an ambitious reading plan I hope to carry out when I retire. I suppose it will be a last hurrah to the glory days of old, when the printing press ruled, and all the gadgets of today were nothing more than science fiction imaginings.

My Obligatory iPad Post - Will I buy one?

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:59:47 PDT

Yes, but I won’t be an early adopter. I made that mistake with my iPod Touch. I have one of the first generation models and when I compare it to my sons, I wish I had waited. Apple took the piecemeal approach to enhancing this device, and will likely do the same with the iPad. It’s not like Bluetooth or built-in speakers were new technologies when Apple later added them, but I sure wish I had them in my iPod.

The trick is determining when the best time to adopt is. Obviously you can wait too long. Technology is always changing and if you are waiting for the next best technology or that one missing component you may wait forever. But waiting one or two revisions is probably good common sense. I am perfectly happy with my Macbook Pro (Late 2008). It even has the added benefit of a removable battery. In my opinion, Apple took a step backwards in the newer models when they chose again to make them non-removable. But my Macbook Pro does not have an SD card reader and the 17” model was not available when I made my purchase. Both are things I would have liked, but they are not show stoppers.

Why would I buy an iPad if I have an iPod Touch? Well believe it or not, I use my iPod primarily for reading. With the loss of the daily paper to the annals of history, it has become my source for the daily news. And the larger screen on the iPad would be a welcome addition. But I would also like to see:

•    A USB port
•    An SD card reader
•    Flash support
•    A video camera
•    And a 3G carrier other then AT&T

Yes probably the same old laundry list you’ll see on thousands of other blogs and technology web sites. However, I am not asking for all those features. One or two would suffice. That being the case, I am holding out for the next generation.

JK Wedding Dance

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:59:40 PDT

I missed the whole JK Wedding Dance phenomena, so forgive me that this is old news. I was watching The Office last night; one of my favorite television shows, and learned that the dance at the end of the Wedding episode, was actually based on this video from YouTube. Its one of those videos you can't help but enjoy. It's a wonderful example of normal everyday people celebrating life to its fullest.

This one will leave you smiling. Enjoy.

Here is the original:

And the version from The Office:

iPhone coming to Verizon

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:59:26 PDT

Listen up everyone. This is no April Fool’s Day Joke. The iPhone is definitely coming to Verizon! The Wall Street Journal has just confirmed it. In fact they have cited the all important, people briefed by the company.

To lend credence to their report, I too can confirm the accuracy of it. My wife works with someone, who was once married to the brother-in-law of a Veterinarian, who once cared for the pet hamster of a school friend, of the daughter of the CEO for Verizon Wireless. This person is definitely legit. They too have confirmed the Wall Street Journal’s johnny-on-the-spot report.

Come on WSJ you can do better than this. Either give concrete proof or stop perpetuating this rumor. After two years it’s getting old…

The Health Care Debate - From Hero to Villain

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:35:31 PDT

Reading the headlines one might come to the conclusion that Congressman Stupak is very bad man. Widely lauded in pro-life circles following his sponsored amendment to the original House Health Care Bill, he is now equally despised by both the pro-life and pro-abortion supporters. His decision to support the Senate Bill with the promise of an executive order barring the use of federal funds for abortion, will likely cost him his seat in Congress during the next election, and his image as a pro-abortion candidate will be unfairly realized.

What a terrible set of circumstances to be caught in. On one hand you oppose the killing of the unborn, on the other; you oppose the unnecessary suffering and even death caused by inadequate health care. You have a choice, you can oppose the bill and maintain the status quo, or you can support the bill, which has the potential to be a life saving measure for millions, while potentially advancing the pro-abortion cause.

Not a choice I would want to make.

Some politicians lack integrity and character. Those who claim to be personally opposed to abortion, but do all they can to further its cause, seem to me at the very least, confused. At most they are dishonest with themselves and their constituents. This man obviously does not support abortion, and in normal circumstances he may have done more to further the pro-life cause. Unfortunately his vote became a fulcrum in a debate that never should have surfaced. Simply put, we should all have adequate health care and we should not be killing the unborn. In my opinion, these are fundamental rights. And how they can be debated at all, is beyond me.

But I am reminded; two wrongs don’t make a right. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops was opposed to the Senate Bill that the House adopted, and they encouraged Congress to vote against it. I for one take their comments seriously, but it doesn’t change the fact that the whole situation leaves me conflicted. What does one do when ones heart is for something that one’s head is against? That’s not a demon I would care to wrestle on the national stage.

Call me weak or call me a bad Catholic, but I wonder if my choice would have been any different?

I wonder too, how many other other Catholics, secretly sighed in relief when the House approved the Bill?

Google It

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:59:00 PDT

23 times. That is how many times I used Google today. I don’t know if that that represents an average, but considering what I accomplished today, that number is probably on the low side. As a tool for techies, Internet search engines are invaluable.

What did I do prior to the availability these tools? Well, I read reference books and manuals, relied on the expertise of my peers, and to be perfectly frank, I made a lot of educated guesses.

Twenty years ago physical reference books and manuals were a major source of information. Unfortunately many of them had problems. First they were quickly dated. Like the old hard bound encyclopedias, their content quickly aged. Secondly, they did not do a suitable job of addressing variables. They were written for the masses and did not typically address unique situations. For troubleshooting purposes they were less than adequate. And finally, they weren’t easily accessible. It was rare when a needed reference book was readily at hand.

Peer interaction at that time was probably the most valuable asset. Back then it meant one of two things. Who on-site could assist me or who could I call for assistance? Tapping into cyberspace resources was not something I had at my disposal and experts, usually those on staff were heavily utilized.

And educated guesses were just that…guesses. When push came to shove, I would take what I knew and apply it to the situation at hand. Twenty years ago, trial and error was often the only means to an end. I remember many a time where I would wrestle with a specific issue for days, with little headway.

And today…

I still make educated guesses, but they are often based on consensus derived from online search results. Not everything found on the Internet is accurate. There is a lot of erroneous information, but in many cases, consensus often leads to the correct solution. Peer discussion in its online form; virtually nonexistent twenty years ago, is far and away my most useful tool. And the old reference books…well I rarely consult them, in their physical form anyway, the need is just not there. White-papers, case studies, online manuals and support forums usually provide all the resources I need.

A Middle-aged Morsel of Wisdom

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:58:49 PDT

I was reviewing yesterdays post and it reminded me of something my Father told me about my grandmother. He mentioned this to me for the first time about 30 years ago, but has reminded me of it numerous times since then. She had told him on one occasion, that the old Victor Victrola she listened to as a child had a far greater sound quality than anything available in the modern day. I always found that little anecdote amusing.

But in light of yesterdays post, I now believe I understand what she meant.

The End of Movie Night

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:58:40 PDT

I really miss watching a movie with the wife and kids on weekend evenings. In the 90’s this was a weekly ritual. My wife, the kids and I, would make our weekly pilgrimage to the local video store; grab the latest blockbuster, and pick up a pizza to go. Now this did not happen every week, but it happened often enough that it became the norm. We watched much of Hollywood’s offerings on a small 19” standard definition color TV in the living room…and all was goodness.

Now the movies we viewed weren’t always so great. There were many more bombs than blockbusters. But it’s funny, in retrospect, I really don’t remember the movies…it’s the fact that we watched the movies together, that remains instilled in my memory.

Our unofficial practice of movie night continued for many years, though the source of the movie and the pairing of the pizza would sometimes change. Participants also changed, the older boys grew older and moved away, while our younger son joined in the gatherings when age appropriate material was shown. Frequency too varied, but in the end we would always give in and indulge…like comfort food, it was always satisfying and for its time provided an escape from the rigors of reality.

Near the turn of the century came the first of many technology changes. DVD’s became available and being a gadget geek, I was an early adopter. The better video and sound quality assured a radical change in home theater. Soon that DVD player was complemented by a 55” HD TV and a new audio system—at last a true home entertainment center, and the promise of a theater quality experience--or so I surmised. Unfortunately better technologies do not necessarily equate with better experiences.

The complexity and quantity of the technology brought the greatest changes. In the early days, we had one VCR and one TV, a very simple setup. Now we had the TV, a DVD player, a VCR, a cable box, an audio receiver and an array of remotes. And that was just in the living room. While this did not bother me, it certainly discouraged my wife. But more is better right?

While neither complexity nor quantity should have had a direct effect on our viewing, it did so indirectly. Over time my wife preferred to adjourn to the master bedroom to watch her movies on our old uncomplicated 19” standard definition TV; while I opted for the powerhouse setup in the living room. And rather than sharing a movie that we could enjoy together, we opted to watch movies that appealed directly to each of our tastes.

We soon added a DVR which no longer bound us to broadcaster schedules, and in 2008 when Blu-ray was crowned the victor in the HD wars, I jumped on the bandwagon and purchased a PS3. Then came Netflix and Hulu and a wonderful little gadget called the Slingbox. It was not long before I was steaming video wirelessly throughout the house. Now we could view whatever we wanted, at any time and in any location. With complete freedom there was no longer a need to view anything from the TV in the living room.

And so ended our unofficial custom of movie night. As a group activity it was no more. My son preferred his room to the company of his parents and my wife was quite happy with the antiquated TV in the bedroom. And me…well…more often than not, I would stream video to the computer in my office.

The quantity and complexity of the technology had isolated us…

Of course it’s easy to allow technology to shoulder the blame, and it’s obvious I am looking for a scapegoat. In truth it’s never that simple. Technology may have been a catalyst, but the fact is, people make choices. And we often take for granted such uncomplicated pleasures as watching a movie together. It’s the simple things that elude us, and when they’re gone we are left scratching our heads in wonder…

And what of my home entertainment center--the one which promised the theater like experience--the guarantee of cherished movie nights to come? Sad to say but more often than not it serves as the video output for my sons Xbox, and only rarely does it serve the purpose for which it was intended.

The Pilgrim's Wants

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:58:32 PDT

I came across this video on YouTube. I was captivated by this young lady's reading of this inspiring poem.

And of of course it speaks to the Pilgrim in me...

Woody Does His Silly Walk

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:58:24 PDT

Here's a video of our dog Dakota (a.k.a. Woody) doing his canine rendition of the Monty Python sketch The Ministry of Silly Walks.

Like all yellow labs he will do anything for food and fun. Even though the fun is on him.

Silly Dog.

Have another Cheeto.

My Landline Phone is a Honeypot for Spam

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:58:16 PDT

Does anyone answer their phone anymore? I am not speaking of cell phones, but rather of landline phones. We still have one of these devices in our home and though it rings now, more than it did 20 years ago, we acknowledge its presence far less. It’s like an unwelcome guest. You don't want to be rude and kick it out, but you really don't want to acknowledge it, and thus encourage it to stick around.

Our old landline phone is really not that old. It’s actually one of the newer digital ones, and one of its many features is the ability to speak the name of the caller. Though its pronunciation could use some work, I usually have an adequate idea of the source of the call. It is almost always a telemarketer or a bill collector. Over the past year or so, its incessant drone, has become a constant white noise. More often than not, I ignore it altogether; regardless of its feeble attempts, on occasion, to inform me, it might actually be someone who matters. I can’t tell you how many times I have missed a call from my wife or other family member, simply because I have gotten into the habit of tuning out its electronic nagging.

At one point, my wife added our phone number to the National Do not Call Registry, but that did little good. There are too many loopholes with this. It doesn’t apply to charities, or surveys; and if I purchase something from a company, they are free to engage in further sales, because I established a business relationship. A business relationship—I didn’t ask for a business relationship! I bought something I thought was trivial…and somehow it becomes a relationship.

And then there are the bill collectors. Suffice to say, they are not calling for anyone in the house, but somehow they believe we are the next best thing to 411. Because we are acquainted with someone they are trying to contact, they feel it is our obligation to provide them, with the necessary contact information. Hmm…like that's going to happen.

It makes me wonder if I should even keep it around. It is basically an unmonitored honey pot, a spam magnet that serves no other useful purpose.

I suppose I could try to clean up the calls. I could weather their initial hard sell and ask them to kindly take my name off their calling lists, but it is so much easier to just ignore them in the first place.

Oh well let the noise drone on.

Technology Marvels - Headphone/Power Adapter

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:58:01 PDT

I will never again buy a cell phone that requires a spaghetti like contraption like this, to connect headphones and power. Good work Samsung, this is truly an engineering marvel! I feel absolutely hog tied every time I use it. I know your goal is to make money, so I accept the multiple adapters. But is it too much to ask that all the wires extend in the same direction? Their seems to be no logic to all the forks and bends? The wires on this thing protrude in every conceivable direction.

It’s technology run amok!

By the way this wiring monstrosity connects to a Samsung Omnia…a mediocre touch phone which runs on the touch insensitive Windows Mobile.

A Treadmill, a DVR, a Spare Laptop and a Slingbox - My Motivation to Exercise

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:57:47 PDT

I know this idea is not new, but I thought I would share it anyway. For me, one of the biggest obstacles to exercise is boredom. What can I do, as I mindlessly plod along on my treadmill? I have tried different things like music and audiobooks, but neither of these can hold my attention for a 45 minute workout. I admit, I am probably a victim of this overly visual age, but the fact is, visual stimulation is a must.

I started using the treadmill to drop a few pounds around the midsection. Originally when it was installed, it was setup close to the TV in the living room. Of course, my natural inclination was to watch the television while I exercised. I soon caught on to the idea of recording my favorite TV shows on the DVR, then viewing them during my workouts. While this worked fairly well, I would often crane my neck or shift my posture slightly to get the best viewing angle. This would often result in soreness or discomfort during and after the workouts.

Eventually I moved the treadmill into the family room, its permanent location. This room had a smaller TV and had no DVR. I had a couple of problems. I had to have access to the DVR and the viewing angle to the TV was worse than before. After some research, I purchased a Slingbox Pro HD to address my DVR access. I would stream the DVR's video to my iTouch which was mounted and plugged into the speakers on the treadmill. While the streaming worked, the screen on the iTouch was too small, and anything more than a slow walk resulted in a poor viewing experience.

Building on my earlier success, I realized the only real problem was the screen size. Digging through my old toys I came up with an old laptop. Now I just needed to find a way to mount it on the treadmill. After a quick search of the Internet I came up with the SurfShelf. Though pricey, for a simple mount, it did the trick. I now have a laptop mounted on the treadmill, wirelessly streaming video through the Slingbox, connected to the DVR in the living room. It works great. Boredom and neck strain are a thing of the past. And workouts serve a dual purpose. Not only do I catch up on my recorded TV programs, but I also get my daily dose of exercise.

Now if only I could come up with something to motivate me to do my strength exercises.

Please Rob Me!

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:57:39 PDT

I admit, I am no expert on the subject, so I ask--someone--please tell me, why would you advertise your location on the Internet using geotagging tools available in many of the social networking sites? Doesn't this fly in the face of common sense? As it is, I really don't understand the constant need to be plugged in. But this just seems daft. Are we really that starved for attention that we need the world to know, our every move? Are we that naive that we believe that everyone is driven by good intent?

This would seem like a hackers dream--on second thought, forget the hacker; anyone driven by any kind of deviant behavior could abuse this. It does not necessarily require any technical know-how. With all the reports of predators frequenting cyberspace, you would think that all this geolocational networking would be a no-no. Yet people do it. And many do it without any regard for security. It is one thing to give this information to a friend, it is quite another to broadcast it to the entire world. Unfortunately cyberspace is chock full of the green and inexperienced.

I have been given ample opportunities to enable geotagging features on various social networking sites and until recently I laughed it off, as a gimmick...no one would seriously enable this with such disregard. But apparently people do. Just visit pleaserobme.com to get a taste of the potential. While this site's main goal is to bring attention to the problem. It also illustrates the obvious dangers. Personally I would be more concerned with someone finding and robbing me, then my empty home, but the danger is there nonetheless.

Be safe...use common sense.

Maybe I am getting old and set in my ways...but I just don't get it.

Happy Powder Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:57:31 PDT

I am amazed how different cultures, nationalities and religions, celebrate common holidays and other days of importance. Today is commonly referred to as Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, in traditions familiar to me, and it is the day that precedes Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent. Though the day is often used as an excuse to pig out--I confess I am guilty of this; it is also a day for penance and reflection. It is the day to shrive, or confess one's sins, before the 40 days of Lent.

Depending on your own custom, you may also be familiar with other names for the day, like Pancake Day, Fasnacht Day, and Paczki Day. One, you may never have heard of, however, is Powder Day--Dia de los Polvos as it is known in the village of Tolox, Spain. On this day it is traditional to fling talcum powder at one another. It is especially exciting when this is done to someone of the opposite sex.

Ahem...sounds like fun.

An obvious reason for the custom, is the very Lenten concept, that from dust we were created, and to dust we will return. This is certainly a plausible explanation, but local tradition holds, that the roots of the celebration actually originate in a 15th century quarrel between a Moorish and a Christian girl at a local bakery. Apparently both of them were in love with the same man, and as part of their dispute, copious amounts of flour were thrown about. Peculiar? Certainly. It makes me wonder what my wife would think, if I tossed a handful in her direction?

On second thought maybe not.

And for those of you who hold to such traditions, may your Lenten journey be spiritually fulfilling.

Renaissance Faire

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:57:16 PDT

We made our annual visit to the Renaissance Festival today. We had an opportunity to see the Mediaeval Baebes again, as we did last year. At the bottom of this page is a video I took at one of their early afternoon performances.

As always we took in one of the jousts, probably the last one we will see for a while. Not much changes in these mock battles and I am afraid the material is getting a little old. I was pleased however, that this year, Jack Sparrow was not a part of it. A pirate jousting on a horse? That never seemed right.

For the first time we were able to see the Wildmen Show. They were real good. They did not have the adult LC rating which was a plus because we had a couple of the younger grandchildren along.

Besides these shows we only took in bits and parts of a few others. The afternoon goes by pretty quickly. It’s too bad that it can’t start a little earlier. Three or four shows eats up the afternoon quite easily.

Not much changes at the festival from year to year, but it is still fun to go.

Blizzard Shuts Down Feds

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:01:28 PDT

Hmmm....were they doing anything anyway? Over the past year I have become increasingly aware of why I generally dislike politics. This whole health care debate has left me even more disgusted.

I am a registered Republican, more because I am socially conservative, than any other shared ideology. I am also a Catholic and I feel we have a moral obligation to help those who are less fortunate, so yes, I am in favor of health care reform.

That said, I did not like the Bill coming from the Senate, but I like far less the attitude of Republicans who enjoy being obstinate just for the sake of being obstinate. Isn't there one Republican that can work with the Democrats to come up with something? Jeez, bi-partisan politics at its best.

Enjoy your snow day boys and girls, I too loved them when I was a kid.

GIGO and Weight Gain

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:07:54 PDT

First let me say, I am no fitness or nutrition expert, and I am not recommending this. The fact is, if you are like me, you probably need to get your diet under control, but it is possible to lose weight and still eat whatever you like. You may have heard of the term GIGO, (Garbage in, Garbage out) it is used in computing circles to call attention to the fact that the quality of data input, is directly related to the quality of data output. Well, it applies to your health as well--eating junk food will invariably result in weight gain and poorer health.  

There is a way however to minimize the effects of GIGO. How is it done you ask? The concept is quite simple actually, but it is not easy and it does take time.  

The answer--exercise, exercise, exercise. And when you are done exercise some more. The weight you gain from food is in direct proportion to what you burn through activity. Instead of 10 minutes of exercise a day, try 60 minutes, and watch the pounds shed away.

I know, I'm sorry...not very enlightening, but it does work! I dropped 40 pounds in less then 10 months and made no adjustments to my diet. Though the results will no doubt make you happy, there is one serious drawback--minimizing the effects of GIGO requires you to maintain this pace for the rest of your life. Take it from me, its an enormous time sink.  

On second thought maybe a healthy diet is not such a bad idea.

The Fleur-De-Lis and the NFL

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 09:16:14 PDT

Everyone knows that the Fleur-de-lis is a sign of the French Monarchy. Any cursory search on the Internet will quickly reveal this. But did you also know it is an NFL trademark, and it would be illegal for you to use it. This is what the NFL would have you believe.

Does this mean I will have to get permission from the them if I choose to use a picture of my Fleur-de-lis coaster in this blog. Good grief, it's my coaster! Whats the deal with ownership today. We think we own something, or we use something we expect to be free, and it turns out it is owned by somebody else. It is virtually impossible to observe the letter of the law. I am not a property lawyer, only a layman, but all of this seems overly complex and convoluted.

This brings to mind licensing restrictions in software. Some of these restrictions seem rather silly to me. Tell me--why is it that I can only listen to music downloaded from iTunes on 5 computers.? What if I have 6? Didn't I purchase the music? Yeah I know, I only bought the right to listen to the music as defined, by an arbitrary license agreement. I suppose I could accept this, but then another company like Audible comes along and tells me I can only listen to the audiobooks I purchased, on 3 of my computers. Come on people, can't we have some sort of consistency?

That reminds me of the warning tags on pillows. Will I really get in trouble if I tear one off? Someone please tell me this one is an urban myth? Don't get me wrong I am not advocating the wholesale abolishment of these restrictions. But if I am not making money, nor "verifiably" causing anyone to lose money, can’t you cut me some slack. Yeah I know I am mixing apples and oranges, and blowing this out of proportion, at least where the NFL is concerned; after all their issue is with a specific fleur-de-lis...but still... Anyway being a Packer fan, I guess I can rest easy on this one.

So what does all this have to do with my Fleur-de-lis coaster? Well hopefully nothing. But I have sneaking suspicion if I look at the fine print on the back, there will be some sort of restriction like, Use of this product is limited to beverages that exceed 130 degrees Fahrenheit or 54 degrees Celsius. This of course will mean I can only use this coaster for coffee, when I would prefer to use it with beer. Come on guys, I live in Arizona, cold beverages are a must.

Hmm...maybe I can get special permission, which allows for occasional use of their product with cold beverages--maybe 5 times a week for beer and 3 times a week for iced tea.

Eat This, Not That

noreply@blogger.com (Cyber_Pilgrim) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:08:18 PDT

I love books like Eat This, Not That by David Zinczenko. They minimize guilt, by justifying less guilt inducing alternatives. Who would have thought that an Arby's Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich could be so nutritious? Since reading this book, every visit to Arby's now includes one of these gems. And you know what? I feel good with myself after eating it.

I am pretty disciplined when it comes to exercise, but my diet is my Achilles Heel. Then comes a book like this. This book appeals to our basic human desire to eat, and if you are a visually oriented male the book’s pictures may bring you dangerously close to a run for the border.

The layout of the book is simple, good things on the even number pages, and bad things on the odd numbered pages. And, if you are like me, you'll altogether skip over the odd numbered pages. After all, who wants to reinforce the fact that they are doing anything wrong.

On the even numbered pages you will find Ambrosia--Oscar Meyer Bacon, McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, Pizza Hut’s Thin 'N Crispy Pepperoni Pizza, the aforementioned Arby's Chicken Cordon Bleu and a host of other questionable delicacies. There are even a couple of pages dedicated to beer. Did you know that Guinness Draught only has 126 calories and 10g of carbohydrates? And best of all, it's on an even numbered page.

For those with a sweet tooth there are entries for Dairy Queen, Cold Stone Creamery and Ben and Jerry's.

I was mildly disturbed by the lack of cheese in many of the recommendations but overall I enjoyed the endorsements, many of which were already staples of my deficient diet.