Blake Helms | Birmingham, Alabama

Why Do We Still Print Receipts? (RANT)

Blake Helms — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:29:49 +0000

Yesterday I had to stop by Home Depot to pick up a part for my refrigerator. I bought one item and received nearly 36 inches of receipt! A large portion was the logo, the phone number and address followed by a line of asterisks, the actual transaction and a huge section dedicated to a survey. Why do I need so much paper for a single transaction. A receipt should serve as proof of purchase why do we need all this extra stuff? It’s both wasteful and unneeded in this age of technology. Now I am not a tree-hugger but I am a Christian and as a Christian I feel that we should be a responsible steward of God’s creation. I don’t think cutting down a small forest to print a sinle receipt is being a good steward. Secondly why are we still dealing with paper. Why can that information not be stored digitally possibly by my bank or credit card company? This should not be that hard to do! At the very least allow me to opt out of getting a receipt. I don’t mean the cashier throws away the printed receipt but never print the receipt at all. I just hate to see such waste when the technology exists to fix the problem!

What I did Last Week on the Web November 9th

Blake Helms — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:56 +0000

	From the Blog: What I did Last Week on the Web October 27th (http://bhnet.me/5r) [helmsb]
	Ok enough rain [helmsb]
	Really cool home movie from San Francisco 1958 http://vimeo.com/6337228 (via @joeygibson ‘s Facebook) [helmsb]
	Shared Is Google Secretly Working On A Free Mobile Navigation App? [Rumor].
	Shared Photo of the Day: “Hell Freezes Over”.
	Shared Schwarzenegger Gives California Legislature A Hidden Finger.
	The Joy of Tech comic… Trick or Tweet! http://bhnet.me/5s [helmsb]
	Shared Schwarzenegger Gives California Legislature A Hidden Finger. Schwarzenegger for PRESIDENT!
	Posted a comment. FriendFeed Schwarzenegger for PRESIDENT!
	Schwarzenegger Gives California Legislature A Hidden Finger http://bhnet.me/5t [helmsb]
	Liked San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge closes after rod snaps.
	Do NOT download the “Chrome OS” linked to by @Gizmodo it is not the “Google Chrome OS !!!!” [helmsb]
	From the Blog: The Great Chrome OS Fake Out of 2009 or Why the Real-Time Web is Broken (http://bhnet.me/5u) [helmsb]
	RT @andybirdwell Speaking of zombies. This is pretty funny: http://bit.ly/A2u4C [helmsb]
	RT @kottke Live re-broadcast of Orson Welles’ War of the Worl http://bit.ly/2PuYEx [helmsb]
	RT @WadeOnTweets BREAKING: Birmingham mayor LARRY LANGFORD FOUND GUILTY in federal court. Details to follow. #langford [helmsb]
	RT @JohnArchibald: Langford is a convicted felon now. Must give up his guns. #langford [helmsb]
	I guess I need to get my sackcloth and ashes out of storage #langford [helmsb]
	I think Langford should be imprisoned in VisionLand (Alabama Adventures). I’d buy season passes to see it! [helmsb]
	Happy Birthday Internet! http://bhnet.me/5v [helmsb]
	Shared Tom from MySpace finally gives Facebook a shot. I think this is a fairly accurate representation
	Posted a comment. Tom from MySpace finally gives Facebook a shot I think this is a fairly accurate representation
	Shared Giz Explains: Why Every Country Has a Different F#$%ing Plug [Giz Explains].
	From the Blog: Bookmarks for October 27th through October 29th (http://bhnet.me/5x) [helmsb]
	WOOT! I just got the new Twitter lists! [helmsb]
	Created a list for Birmingham Folks. If you see that I missed you send me an @reply http://bit.ly/3NRCXl [helmsb]
	From the Blog: The Great Chrome OS Fake Out of 2009 or Why the Real-Time Web is Broken (http://bhnet.me/5u) [helmsb]
	Shared Overloaded truck.
	Shared New Apollo 17 Landing Photo Clearly Shows Lander, Flag [Moon Landing].
	I really hate moving! I’ll be glad when I have everything put back and undisheveled [helmsb]
	I’m at Logan’s Roadhouse in Bessemer, AL http://gowal.la/s/nA7 [helmsb]
	Shared Photo of the Day: “Amish Online Dating”. Dangit! Another one of my ideas have been stolen!
	Posted a comment. Photo of the Day: “Amish Online Dating” Dangit! Another one of my ideas have been stolen!
	Speaker is out so people are taking orders manually — at Chic-fil-a http://gowal.la/s/ojy [helmsb]
	Shared Perfect Sense!.
	I’m at EBSCO Industries International Headquarters in Birmingham, AL http://gowal.la/s/9qz [helmsb]
	Shared YouTube — Christopher Walken Poker Face Halloween.
	From the Blog: What I did Last Week on the Web November 3rd (http://bhnet.me/5y) [helmsb]
	I’m at Milo’s in Birmingham, AL http://gowal.la/s/cKY [helmsb]
	Shared The One And Only Christopher Walken Performing Lady GaGa’s ‘Poker Face’.
	Shared NBC Prepares For The Winter Olympics With Silverlight, HD Video, And Facebook Connect.
	I’m not for a police state but peopleofwalmart.com makes me think they should be allowed to arrest some people just for leaving their house [helmsb]
	Shared Election Turnout.
	Shared Top 10 People Robbed of the Nobel Prize.
	I’m at EBSCO Industries International Headquarters in Birmingham, AL http://gowal.la/s/9qz [helmsb]
	Shared The Mindflex Brainwave Game Gives Me a Headache [Review].
	On my way to church [helmsb]
	Trying to get my office at Lake Blake organized so I can get my computer setup again. Everything is still in boxes [helmsb]
	Shared Nov. 5, 1955: A Flux of Genius.
	Shared Fancy a job at Google?.
	I hate how the NYTimes writes an entire article about a website then fails to give a link!!! [helmsb]
	Shared How Superman Might Read the NY Times [Surface].
	Shared Craigslist by the Numbers: 10 You Need to Know.
	Thanks to @dgottlieb I now have Google Wave! [helmsb]
	EDGE is the “Little Engine that Could” of cellular data networks [helmsb]
	From the Blog: Bookmarks for October 30th through November 3rd (http://bhnet.me/60) [helmsb]
	Shared Corrugated Steel Fallout Shelter Protects Against Most Mild Rainstorms, Probably [Retromodo]. I see a weekend project for Lake Blake
	Posted a comment. Corrugated Steel Fallout Shelter Protects Against Most Mild Rainstorms, Probably [Retromodo] I see a weekend project for Lake Blake
	From the Blog: What’s On Your Home Screen? (http://bhnet.me/61) [helmsb]
	Just got DSL hooked up at Lake Blake! I was beginning to feel disconnected from the world [helmsb]
	Shared 10 More Myths Debunked.
	Shared Blown To Smithereens: The Secret Story Of Survival Town.
	Liked Who on Digg hates this?.

What’s On Your Home Screen?

Blake Helms — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:35:52 +0000

I’m curious, if you own an iPhone what’s on your homescreen? You can post a list in the comments or attach a photo. Below is a screenshoot of mine.

Bookmarks for October 30th through November 3rd

Blake Helms — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:54:51 +0000

NBC Prepares For The Winter Olympics With Silverlight, HD Video, And Facebook Connect -
The One And Only Christopher Walken Performing Lady GaGa’s ‘Poker Face’ -
Photo of the Day: “Amish Online Dating” — Dangit! Another one of my ideas have been stolen!
Overloaded truck -

What I did Last Week on the Web November 3rd

Blake Helms — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:32:43 +0000

	From the Blog: What I did Last Week on the Web October 27th (http://bhnet.me/5r) [helmsb]
	Ok enough rain [helmsb]
	Really cool home movie from San Francisco 1958 http://vimeo.com/6337228 (via @joeygibson ‘s Facebook) [helmsb]
	Shared Is Google Secretly Working On A Free Mobile Navigation App? [Rumor].
	Shared Photo of the Day: “Hell Freezes Over”.
	Shared Schwarzenegger Gives California Legislature A Hidden Finger.
	The Joy of Tech comic… Trick or Tweet! http://bhnet.me/5s [helmsb]
	Shared Schwarzenegger Gives California Legislature A Hidden Finger. Schwarzenegger for PRESIDENT!
	Posted a comment. FriendFeed Schwarzenegger for PRESIDENT!
	Schwarzenegger Gives California Legislature A Hidden Finger http://bhnet.me/5t [helmsb]
	Liked San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge closes after rod snaps.
	Do NOT download the “Chrome OS” linked to by @Gizmodo it is not the “Google Chrome OS !!!!” [helmsb]
	From the Blog: The Great Chrome OS Fake Out of 2009 or Why the Real-Time Web is Broken (http://bhnet.me/5u) [helmsb]
	RT @andybirdwell Speaking of zombies. This is pretty funny: http://bit.ly/A2u4C [helmsb]
	RT @kottke Live re-broadcast of Orson Welles’ War of the Worl http://bit.ly/2PuYEx [helmsb]
	RT @WadeOnTweets BREAKING: Birmingham mayor LARRY LANGFORD FOUND GUILTY in federal court. Details to follow. #langford [helmsb]
	RT @JohnArchibald: Langford is a convicted felon now. Must give up his guns. #langford [helmsb]
	I guess I need to get my sackcloth and ashes out of storage #langford [helmsb]
	I think Langford should be imprisoned in VisionLand (Alabama Adventures). I’d buy season passes to see it! [helmsb]
	Happy Birthday Internet! http://bhnet.me/5v [helmsb]
	Shared Tom from MySpace finally gives Facebook a shot. I think this is a fairly accurate representation
	Posted a comment. Tom from MySpace finally gives Facebook a shot I think this is a fairly accurate representation
	Shared Giz Explains: Why Every Country Has a Different F#$%ing Plug [Giz Explains].
	From the Blog: Bookmarks for October 27th through October 29th (http://bhnet.me/5x) [helmsb]
	WOOT! I just got the new Twitter lists! [helmsb]
	Created a list for Birmingham Folks. If you see that I missed you send me an @reply http://bit.ly/3NRCXl [helmsb]
	From the Blog: The Great Chrome OS Fake Out of 2009 or Why the Real-Time Web is Broken (http://bhnet.me/5u) [helmsb]
	Shared Overloaded truck.
	Shared New Apollo 17 Landing Photo Clearly Shows Lander, Flag [Moon Landing].
	I really hate moving! I’ll be glad when I have everything put back and undisheveled [helmsb]
	I’m at Logan’s Roadhouse in Bessemer, AL http://gowal.la/s/nA7 [helmsb]
	Shared Photo of the Day: “Amish Online Dating”. Dangit! Another one of my ideas have been stolen!
	Posted a comment. Photo of the Day: “Amish Online Dating” Dangit! Another one of my ideas have been stolen!
	Speaker is out so people are taking orders manually — at Chic-fil-a http://gowal.la/s/ojy [helmsb]
	I’m at EBSCO Industries International Headquarters in Birmingham, AL http://gowal.la/s/9qz [helmsb]
	Shared YouTube — Christopher Walken Poker Face Halloween.

Bookmarks for October 27th through October 29th

Blake Helms — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:19:03 +0000

Giz Explains: Why Every Country Has a Different F#$%ing Plug [Giz Explains] -
Tom from MySpace finally gives Facebook a shot — I think this is a fairly accurate representation
Schwarzenegger Gives California Legislature A Hidden Finger — Schwarzenegger for PRESIDENT!
Photo of the Day: “Hell Freezes Over” -
Is Google Secretly Working On A Free Mobile Navigation App? [Rumor] -
Another Auto-Tuned Science-y Song, Now With More Bill Nye The Science Guy! -
Self-Parking Car Works Perfectly, Except For That Whole Running People Over Thing [Automotive] -
I Want to Have Twins Just to Get Them These Awesome T-Shirts [T-shirts] -
Pilots too busy with laptops to remember flight path, go 150 miles off course -

The Great Chrome OS Fake Out of 2009 or Why the Real-Time Web is Broken

Blake Helms — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:49:25 +0000

Earlier today gadget blog Gizmodo posted a story linking to a site purporting to be a Google Chrome OS download site. Thirty seconds of looking around you could tell something wasn’t right. The site was a hosted site on “Google Sites” not a Google product site (ex. google.com/chromeos), second and most damming was the line of text at the bottom of the download page “Chrome OS is not related to Google.” That’s odd Google is not claiming their own flagship OS? Surely Gizmodo vetted their info through contacts at Google or received the link as part of an official Google press release? Even if the news got past the sharp eyed reporter the editor would carefully analyze the information at hand before posting a link to a previously unknown site and announcing to the world that this was the OS they had been waiting for, go and download it? No, none of this happened. Instead, the lure of the almighty Internet “FIRST” award caused the author at Gizmodo to post the link without any editorial or journalistic review. They realized their fault soon after and deleted the post, unfortunately the damage was done. It was already cached in Google Reader and announced to their 34,940 Twitter followers (at the time of this post). They have yet to offer a retraction or publicly state that the link was bad.

This was only the beginning. Soon people began retweeting the news and gleefully downloading the new OS onto their computers. It soon became a snowball effect as more and more people simply followed the mob and retweeted. Even people like John Gruber posted the link which gave it extra relevance. All this with only a handful of people actually looking at the site and realizing it was a fake. Currently “Chrome OS’ is the number 4 trending topic on Twitter and growing steadily. The number of people who will be duped into downloading the ISO will probably number in the thousands. It is not yet known if the fake OS contains any harmful software.

All of this because of one careless blogger trying to make a name by being the first on a big tech story. I hope we can learn that the Internet is a great resource of information but we must use a little discretion before picking up out torch and pitch fork and joining the “Information Mob”

What I did Last Week on the Web October 27th

Blake Helms — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:30:53 +0000

	From the Blog: What I did Last Week on the Web October 20th (http://bhnet.me/5d) [helmsb]
	Shared Manage your tasks with Google.
	I know what I’m buying myself for Christmas! http://bhnet.me/5e [helmsb]
	Mom made homemade Chicken Pot Pie. It was SO good! http://bit.ly/bND35 [helmsb]
	I could have written the great American novel if I had back all the time I spent deleting “Hello Dolly” from WordPress upgrades [helmsb]
	Shared Photo of the Day: “Safe Sex Gone Wrong”.
	Shared Csi zoom story.
	Shared First video from a plane, 1909.
	Shared Signage of the Week Dept..
	Clicking on Trending Topics can be like traveling to a foreign country. Not sure what’s being said and I think someone stole my wallet [helmsb]
	Shared Terry Border Makes Everyday Objects Come Alive (12 pics).
	Shared How To Throw A Windows 7 Torrenting Party Without Getting Arrested.
	Shared Impressive: Ghostbusters Theme Multi-Track.
	Shared For Your Internal Operating System: Japanese Burger Kings Selling Windows 7 Whoppers.
	Shared Psystar’s Rebel EFI allows you to install Mac OS X on any PC, no crazy Hackintoshing required.
	Shared Mozilla’s Raindrop Looks To Make Your Inbox Personal Again.
	Shared 3 Bizarre Cases of Death by Shaving.
	Shared 10 More Fascinating Conspiracies.
	From the Blog: Bookmarks for October 20th through October 22nd (http://bhnet.me/5i) [helmsb]
	RT @ikepigott UAB is live-tweeting a surgery this morning: @uabmedicine #uabor http://bit.ly/25s5Zh [helmsb]
	Shared Hulu Officially Charging for Content in 2010 [Television].
	I’m working on a personal project and I’m thinking of using CouchDB or MongoDB to tryout #nosql. Any thoughts on which is better? [helmsb]
	I’m telling you the Large Hadron Collider is perfectly safe #mylasttweetonearth [helmsb]
	I love it when a movie based on a popular 80’s television show comes together! http://bhnet.me/5k [helmsb]
	Shared Mars can wait; NASA should try landing on asteroids first.
	Shared Attack FOX.
	Shared Apple shuts down ZFS open source project.
	Boxing up my bookshelves and I came across this. I miss Y2K! http://bit.ly/4jLEH1 [helmsb]
	The new CNN.com redesign is live! #CNN [helmsb]
	There are no atheists in foxholes or Bryant Denny stadium right now [helmsb]
	Dear announcer of LSU/Auburn game, Saying “The Tigers recovered the fumble” doesn’t help [helmsb]
	Leave the house shirtless and in boxers chances are you will end up on Cops. [helmsb]
	I love that CNN had the editor from the Huffington post to talk about whether Fox News is biased [helmsb]
	RT @gamerz: I believe WordPress2 iPhone App should be available within the next few days, it’s been more than 12 days since it was submitted [helmsb]
	Shared TaffyBox Combines BitTorrent Search And Web Download.
	Pawn Star reruns. I wish they would hurry up and get some new episodes [helmsb]
	Andrew Lloyd Webber has cancer http://bhnet.me/5n [helmsb]
	“Pawn Stars” is like “Antiques Roadshow” with more profanity [helmsb]
	“The Hunt for Red October” is on! Only Sean Connery could pull off a Russian submarine captain with a Scottish accent [helmsb]
	Shared This $19,660 Batmobile replica is not from China. I am totally going to buy this!!!
	Posted a comment. This $19,660 Batmobile replica is not from China I am totally going to buy this!!!
	Liked Crazy Cat Ladies: The Documentary.
	Shared Crazy Cat Ladies: The Documentary. Wow!
	Posted a comment. Crazy Cat Ladies: The Documentary Wow!
	Shared Lookin’ Gooood: Star Wars: Uncut Trailer.
	Shared CR’s incredible dissolving bag. This is really cool. All magazines should come packaged like this.
	Shared CNN Drops to Last Place Among Cable News Networks. WOW thats pretty bad when MSNBC beats you
	CNN Drops to Last Place Among Cable News Networks. It’s bad when MSNBC beats you! http://bhnet.me/5o [helmsb]
	Posted a comment. CNN Drops to Last Place Among Cable News Networks WOW thats pretty bad when MSNBC beats you
	Posted a comment. FriendFeed This is really cool. All magazines should come packaged like this.
	Missed Antiques Roadshow. Did anyone’s hopes get dashed? People bringing in any cheap imitation Ming Dynasty? [helmsb]
	Shared Photo of the Day: “Most Original Halloween Costume”.
	Watching “American Experience” about the 1929 crash and they played a clip of Pres. Hoover predicting the end of poverty. If he only knew [helmsb]
	Shared Facebook Status: Resting In Peace [Web]. I can’t imagine anything going wrong with this
	Posted a comment. Facebook Status: Resting In Peace [Web] I can’t imagine anything going wrong with this
	Shared Arizona to Privatize Death Row. Discovery Channel could build their own prisons for all their shows
	Posted a comment. Arizona to Privatize Death Row Discovery Channel could build their own prisons for all their shows
	Single worst CSI “technobable” moment ever! God killed an entire litter of kittens after they said this! http://bhnet.me/5p [helmsb]
	Been a long day…going to bed. Don’t forget NASA is launching the Aries I tomorrow at 7am CT. The future of manned space flight is there [helmsb]
	Shared Pilots too busy with laptops to remember flight path, go 150 miles off course.
	The countdown has resumed #AresI-X [helmsb]
	And the countdown has stopped again #AresI-X [helmsb]
	From the Blog: Bookmarks for October 22nd through October 26th (http://bhnet.me/5q) [helmsb]
	Shared I Want to Have Twins Just to Get Them These T-Shirts [T-shirts].
	Come on NASA lets light this candle! [helmsb]
	NASA just scrubbed the launch of the Aries I-X [helmsb]
	Comeback tomorrow and try again #Aries I-X [helmsb]
	Shared Self-Parking Car Works Perfectly, Except For That Whole Running People Over Thing [Automotive].
	I’m missing something, what is the relevance of the suites that LL gave to Oden? #langford [helmsb]
	Shared Another Auto-Tuned Science-y Song, Now With More Bill Nye The Science Guy!.

Bookmarks for October 22nd through October 26th

Blake Helms — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:29:34 +0000

Arizona to Privatize Death Row — Discovery Channel could build their own prisons for all their shows
Facebook Status: Resting In Peace [Web] — I can’t imagine anything going wrong with this
Photo of the Day: “Most Original Halloween Costume” -
CNN Drops to Last Place Among Cable News Networks — WOW thats pretty bad when MSNBC beats you
CR’s incredible dissolving bag — This is really cool. All magazines should come packaged like this.
Lookin’ Gooood: Star Wars: Uncut Trailer -
Crazy Cat Ladies: The Documentary — Wow!
This $19,660 Batmobile replica is not from China — I am totally going to buy this!!!
10 More Fascinating Conspiracies -
3 Bizarre Cases of Death by Shaving -

Bookmarks for October 20th through October 22nd

Blake Helms — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:25:22 +0000

Psystar’s Rebel EFI allows you to install Mac OS X on any PC, no crazy Hackintoshing required -
For Your Internal Operating System: Japanese Burger Kings Selling Windows 7 Whoppers -
Signage of the Week Dept. -
Photo of the Day: “Safe Sex Gone Wrong” -
Manage your tasks with Google -
Ares I-X Rocket Unveiled, Rolls Out to Launch Pad [Space] -
Most Compelling Evidence Of Wall Street Corruption Falls on Kenny Rogers — You got to know when to hold ‘em. Know when to fold ‘em. Know when to walk away. Know when to RUN…RUN Kenny Rogers it’s a trap!