What if Microsoft Designed the iPod?

I love this parody of Microsoft. Probably the best little video I’ve seen this year. Must see. Go watch it already.

Technorati Tags: Parody, Video, Microsoft, iPod
 

Microsoft Origami Project

It looks like Microsoft is going after the cool factor that has been Apple’s baby for quite some time now. Project Origami appears to be something I have wanted ever since the tablet came out but no one ever made it. There is a video here that apparently was leaked before Microsoft was ready as they are stating March 2nd as a release date. While trying to unearth some more facts or video I stumbled on this Slashdork link, apparently some things never change. I think the anti-Microsoft has even amplified in recent months. Say what you want about Microsoft, but at least the evangelists don’t live in their parents basement.
Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Origami, Project Origami, Tablet

Apple's Big Event with Little New

Apple had their big event today. What did they announce? Nothing really. An overpriced iPod stereo and sleeve and an Intel Mac Mini. I am kinda excited about the Mac mini just because I am kinda in the market for a media center and this is getting real close now that it comes with FrontRow. I think I will still wait though. Bummer, I was really hoping for a new iPod as I am looking to upgrade my 2nd generation iPod that now longer is recognized by my computer since I upgraded to iTunes 6.
Technorati Tags: Apple, IPod, ITunes, Mac mini, Mac
 

South Dakota passes abortion bill

I know, this is yesterday’s news but I had to weigh in on it after some thought. I don’t think this is a law we should be making. That doesn’t make me for or against abortion, I just think it should be up to the individual(s) involved, namely the mother, and not legislation. I am probably the only person in the world that does not have any strong feelings about abortion, one way or the other. I do, however, have very strong feelings about the government taking our rights away. This is a very personal matter and should be treated as such. With the overpopulation of the world and the many children that grow up in insufficient homes with unworthy parents, I really think we should be taking a broader look at this.

Do we really want to be creating a situation of neglect that a child is imprisoned to? Will the child grow up to be the next serial killer due to the effects of his/her environment? Rape victims as the article mentions are not an exception. Do you really want this memory haunting you the rest of your life? Ever time the child screams in the middle of the night do you want that to remind the mother of her own screams for help? I really think it is time the government takes a backseat in these matters and leave the rights in the hands of those involved. Sometimes more laws does not make it better.

Technorati Tags: Abortion, Pro-choice, Pro-life, South Dakota, Legislation

TextPayMe Instant Payments Service

There is a new service out that is free to join and really cool called TextPayMe. What it does is allow you to send other people money using your cell phone. This would work great to split up restaurant tabs, bar tabs, shopping expenses, etc very easily without the need for carrying cash or credit cards. Pretty neat idea. What’s even better is that it is free to join and they give you $5 to start your account.

Right now, since they are starting out, they are offering an X-Box 360 if you get 36 referrals. I’m not much of a gamer but I figured 36 referrals can’t be that hard to reach. In fact just to try it, I am willing to test out the X-Box 360 and if I don’t like it (or use it) I will silent auction it off privately allowing only my referrers to bid on it and will donate half the proceeds to the Red Cross. I promise. So what is there to lose? You get $5 from TextPayMe, a chance at creating your own referrals after you register to win your own X-Box 360, and the chance of being able to buy mine at more than likely substantial savings due to the fact of a private silent auction of only 36 people.

Go ahead sign up. Do it, now! Thanks!

Technorati Tags: TextPayMe, X-Box 360, Cool, Phone

New H3 Hummer

I think I may have Tandra talked into buying a new H3 Hummer. It would be a blast to drive around town. Hopefully I win this decision! If anyone wants to help along the decision I promise a ride in the new toy!
Technorati Tags: H3, Hummer

Pedro

PS: New Olympic Sport (NSFW)

Rebuttal to Valentines Day Post

Well it looks like a certain someone, prolly Kristy, was giving me a hard time about not gushing about my wonderful girlfriend in my Valentines Day post. (See the post’s comment) Well here is a little known fact about Tandra:
"Call Me" by Blondie was the number one song on the charts the day she was born.
"I Love a Rainy Night" by Eddie Rabbitt was on the top the day I was born.
I know this from a handy little site I found today by Josh Hosler. It lets you find a number one hit from any day on any year.
How’s that for romantic? I know it was kinda lame, but the site is still cool!
Technorati Tags: Song, Billboard, Hit, Pop, Country, List

Miscellaneous Linkage

100 Ways To Be A Better Asshole
How they named companies
Earth Hurtles Toward 6.5 Billion
BTW Jason Kottke looks like he might be entering the work force once again. If you don’t remember this is the blogger that "went pro" last year and quit his job to live off the donations from his blog.
Technorati Tags: Kottke, Earth, Population, Work, Blogger, Company names, Companies, List

Axosoft offers a $490 discount!!!!

This is true. Axosoft is offering an unheard of price on their project management software. 5 user licenses for $5; no catch. The are trying out the blogosphere to see if it is all we claim it to be. Act fast. The deal expires on Friday.

Technorati Tags: Software, Discount, Project management, Axosoft

New iPod Coming?

Like most of you know I have debating the idea of getting a video iPod for quite some time now. Well I just heard news this morning that Apple is going to have a "Fun New Toys" event on February 28th where they usually introduce cool new stuff. I guess I’ll have to wait until then to find out if it will be something iPod related.
Technorati Tags: Ipod, Apple, Toys, Event

T-Bone Tuesday

We all went out and stuffed ourselves tonight in Lincoln at the Tumbleweed bar for T-Bone Tuesday. I hadn’t been out there for awhile but they still put on quite a feed. I remember bigger steaks last time (about 3 years ago) but there was still plenty to fill all of us up tonight. Now I’m on to during homework for the night. That is one thing I can’t wait to be done with for the rest of my life...
Technorati Tags: T-bone, Lincoln, Tumbleweed bar, Tuesday

Mac OS X Exploit Found

I thought I would pass the below along to all the Mac OS X users:

Published: 2006-02-21,
Last Updated: 2006-02-21 09:32:13 UTC by Kyle Haugsness

We received notice from Juergen Schmidt, editor-in-chief at heise.de, that a serious vulnerability has been found in Apple Safari on OS X.  "In its default configuration shell commands are execute[d] simply by visting a web site - no user interaction required."  This could be really bad.  Attackers can run shell scripts on your computer remotely just by visiting a malicious website.

Full text of the article: http://www.heise.de/english/newsticker/news/69862
Proof of concept from the original discoverer (Michael Lehn): http://www.mathematik.uni-ulm.de/~lehn/mac.html

The problem is due to a feature that is activated by default: Open Safe Files after downloading.  A zip file is considered safe and so they will be opened automatically.  Subsequently, a shell script with no #! at the beginning of the script will be executed automatically.  No user interaction!

Recommended action: disable the option "Open ’safe’ files after downloading" in the "General" preferences section in Safari.

Technorati Tags: OS X, Security, Flaw, Patch, Exploit

Personal Software Favorites

Below is a personal list of the little, and not so little programs I install on all of my computers:

• Acrobat Reader


• FireFox


• WinZip


• latest Flash


• Visual Studio


• MS SQL Express


• iTunes


• Google Toolbar


• QuickTime


• MS Office - not so much anymore…


• BlogJet


• Post2Blog - what this post was created with

This list used to be a lot bigger but with the amount of web software taking over I suspect the list will continue to dwindle. Up next, list of web software I use....
Technorati Tags: Software, Client, Programs, Windows

Web2.0 or Broke2.0?

Anyone notice that the Web 2.0 applications of late are all running Ruby on Rails, PHP, or some other open source language? Not that there is anything wrong with these languages, but I find it interesting that all of these feel-good, social-group sites are all without funds and looking to be “flipped”. Flipping of course is design something kinda neat, keep it in BETA, get a bunch of people to use it and think it is cool, then “flip” it to some huge company for mega bucks.

This tells me one thing, all the people participating in the Web2.0 revolution, which should be called the Generation Y Group Hug, cause that is all it really is, are broke. Yup that’s right college kids or close to that age creating these apps with free tools and free software and then making millions of dollars, leaving the huge corporations to deal with the growing pains of lesser grade software to get it up to snuff with their expectations.

Great gig these guys got going. Wish I would have done it!

Technorati Tags: Web2.0, Ruby, Rails, PHP, Flipping

Late Valentines Day wishes

Well since Kristy was giving me a hard time this weekend about not making a Happy Valentines Day post for my great girlfriend Tandra, here it is! I know it’s a little late, a little korny, but hopefully I’ll still get credit for it. To my save, is the fact that Tandra reads my blog very little!



Technorati Tags: Valentines

Earnhardt Finishes Top Ten

There was a while today that I thought Dale Jr. was gonna take the opening race at Daytona this year but I guess I’ll be happy with a top ten spot. Here’s to another great year of NASCAR!

New Google Content

Google released a whole bunch of new widgets to add to your personalized Google homepage. There is some pretty neat stuff in there. I used to have my Google page set as my home page at work but the awful slow internet connection there leaves me with about:blank set as my home page to stay!

Interesting Google Hacks

Things you don’t want Google to find. A great read on the easy ways to get random private info using Google. I am always astounded on the stuff people put visible online. It’s a wonder anything stays private anymore…

One More Reason to Leave Windows

Microsoft is now saying that when you switch motherboards in your computer you need to purchase a new version of windows. That has to be the biggest line of crap I’ve ever heard.

Woot Update

Update on last night’s post: It looks as though they are having some type of Woot-off. Looks like a non-stop 72 hour sale. Get your credit cards ready cause stuff won’t last long.

Scoble's Book

I have been reading Scoble’s book Naked Conversations ever since I got it and I can’t hardly put it down. This is probably the best marketing book I’ve ever read. I know it is not aimed at marketers but more the blogging revolution, but coming from a marketing department, this is a must read. Far above what I expected. Highly recommended

Woot Changes

Looks like our favorite easy shopping site Woot changed its schedule. It seems as though they are offering new deals every 12 hours or so. Maybe its every time they sell out. I’m not sure cause I just noticed it today, but I think this is a welcomed change. I for one always like to see the new item and have a chance at buying although I have never bought anything from them yet, now it gets all the more enticing.

FreeNAS Update

FreeNAS released an update today. Version .6 is out and it features user and group authentication at a local level. One catch is right now it is at a service level only. (ie: login per server) This is OK by me cause it proves progress. This project is really great. They have fast updates. The update process is smooth. It really is a great product. I recommend it to anyone that needs a stable file server in their home or small office.

Blog Changes

I have been contemplating this whole blog thing for awhile now. I have decided a few things right off the bat. First is that I want to blog, and blog more. I want to break up my blogging into different sites. The reason for this being is that I want to have all posts related to my business (Internet Wonders) be on one site. All the posts relating to my DNN module development branch site (GotDNN) on another and my personal and technical stuff not related to either, here (Midspot).

So I have decided to break away from the mold I have been in for quite a few years and try something different. Change is good. I’ve even decided that I need to use something other than DNN for blogging. This has become apparent in recent months as the blogging world has taken off in size and stature. No longer is “home-grown” blogging software able to keep up with the larger blogging platforms in features and “collectiveness”. What I mean by this is that services such as Blogger and Wordpress have tools built in for automatic pings, trackbacks, etc and every time something new comes out you have to hand code your own solutions to integrate with the service if it’s even possible to do such a thing. The blogging tools built into DotNetNuke are great for the hobbyist blogger, but I like to think that I’m going bigger than that. I could have made my very own blogging software but I don’t want to support all the changes and features that come out ever few weeks.

So I guess I am jumping on the bandwagon. The only thing left was the idea of having my blogs hosted somewhere other than my own servers. Well I found out that Blogger supports publishing to an FTP site so I guess all the files will be in my control. Wordpress allows you to set it up on your own server but I don’t like the idea of using a mySQL database for the back end. Not that there is anything wrong with mySQL I just like MS SQL more. So I guess Blogger it is. Hang on cause we are about to go for a ride!

iTunes releases version 6.0.3

iTunes went ahead and released version 6.0.3 today. I want a change log. I want to know why this version is better (worse) than the last.

Last time I upgraded iTunes my 2nd generation iPod stopped being recognized on my Windows machine. It still works on the Macintosh (go figure) but my windows box is hosed. I guess I will update to 6.0.3 and hope it fixes itself…

As you can see

I’ve moved. I decided to give Blogger a try and if I don’t like it, its not like I had anything invested. I have been a member since 2001 though which is kinda odd as I never even made a second post until this month. Oh well here goes nothing.

African Child Loves His New Shirt

I work with a huge Seattle Seahawks fan and found this entirely too good not to post:

Story Link