Here there be interwebs!
Posted on 17 December 2010 | 1 response
Being a tech-head, I’ve had computers in the house for ever, or at least it feels that way. Starting back with my first computer, the Timex Sinclair 1000, the computer has been a fixture in my room. Then came the 2400bps modems, BBSs and AOL. Finally, the interwebs. I started using MUDs, PINE and lynx, all from the comfort of my own home. No more going to the computer labs to get stuff done play games. Yep, I’m that old.
But then came kids. Heather and I decided a long time ago, in an internet world that only existed on computers, that we would not allow computers to be in the bedrooms. Keep it public was our idea. Minimize the potential for misuse and exploitation. Back when I was running the forums for SAF, a member of the group, who was just a teen at the time, talked about being grounded due to porn. “If my parents don’t want me looking at porn, they shouldn’t let me have a computer in my room.” Forget about all the personal responsibility issues present in that statement, and think about what you would do to prevent misuse for your kid. His comment spurred our desire for a public computer only. At the time, it was easy for us, because, back then, the computer was also the entertainment center sitting in the middle of the living room.
Fast forward to today. Now the internet and all it’s good and bad are available from just about any electronic device. iPad/iPod Touch/iPhone, any smartphone, Nintendo DS, PSP, etc… Where does one draw the line? Making sure the kids have adequate access to computer resources, I haven’t been shy it getting them laptops. Hayden is using the Hackitosh that I got a while back. Harrison was recently upgraded to Heather’s old MacBook. Heather of course has her own laptop and work is kind enough to me to provide me a laptop so I can work extra hours from home. Then there’s still the computer hooked to the TV. So if I say “no computers in the bedrooms (NCiTB),” it seems simple, but how does that work?
By using the decree of NCitB, I think I’m protecting my kids. However, I’ve just also said, that your room’s can’t be used for homework. OK, we can deal. But that doesn’t say no internet in the rooms, which is really the goal. Does the ban extend to the iPod, the DS, or what ever the future holds for internet connected devices? Does this mean that when Harrison gets his first phone, he can’t use it in his room? Facebook and the bullying that can come along with it, google images, even video, are all easily accessible from any internet connected device.
I do my best to protect my kids. To make sure they have the tools to succeed in life, as well as how to know good from bad, but the internet is a beast that the rules of yesterday just don’t apply to. What are your plans? How are you handling this with your kids? I’d love to know.
A Tale of Two Marketing Strategies
Posted on 10 December 2010 | No responses
Thanks to my friends who posted this video this morning. So what would happen if Starbucks marketed the way Churches do? Here’s a video that explores that idea. Enjoy!
What do you think?
Ditching Dish
Posted on 8 December 2010 | No responses
So, it’s been about 2 months since we removed Dish from the house and we didn’t replace it with cable or DirecTV. Instead, we moved to an internet only solution. It’s taken some time, but all in all, we’re pretty happy. Not only has our monthly bills gone down (Dish was almost $70/month), but we watch a ton less commercials, and a ton less garbage. There are 2 main issues so far; 1) little to no live sports. NFL, NBA, UFC… 2) Constant upkeep.
First let me layout the setup.
- Vizio HDTV: 2 HDMI, 1 RGB/VGA, 2 Composite, 2 Component
- XBox 360: Component connection 1
- Wii: Component connection 2
- MacMini (2.26GHz, 4GB): RGB/VGA connection
- All sound to Yamaha 5.1 DTS capable Pre-amp.
The important thing here are the MacMini, all the rest can be edited to your liking/setup.
So how does having a MacMini let us watch TV? Well, on the Mac, we’re using Plex! Plex is a Home Theater Media PC (HTPC) interface. Simple to control via a remote (mac remote works great), many audio and video plugins, and a media manager that just keeps getting better. All my DVD’s, UFC’s and downloaded content is stored on an external USB drive. Plex not only makes all the content available, it utilizes the interwebs to provide meta data about the content, including images and music.
The plugins allow me to watch the shows I want to watch via CBS.com, Hulu.com, ESPN3.com, ComedyCentral.com. This way, we never miss an episode of The Daily Show! For those few items that aren’t avail, I utilize bit torrents to grab the show and add it to my library. And that’s where the work starts.
See, even though I utilize an RSS Feed scanner to grab shows, sometimes, things don’t work perfectly. Also, Plex is still in beta and is often updated. I also use a program called transpRAR to automatically make RAR’d files available to the media manager without having to uncompress them. All these things work together to keep me involved on a daily basis. Something I didn’t have to do with Dish. Even this level of involvement isn’t the worst part.
The worst part of this setup is the professional sports leagues. None of the sports leagues are making it easy to watch their content on the internet. The NFL is just a blank. Unless you’re a DirecTV Sunday Ticket sbscriber, you’re out of luck! That’s $220 on top of your normal DirecTV bill. The NBA offers the ability to watch some games using League Pass… those that aren’t blacked out or nationally televised. As a Lakers fan, I’m pretty much screwed. The UFC does makes fights available, even in HD. I haven’t tried it yet, but the costs are higher than a fight available on Dish/Direct/cable.
I hope, someday, the professional sports leagues will “get it” and start making content available, but until then, I’ll spend time with friends watching the important games.
Have you made the switch? What have you done to solve some of the issues? What is your setup?
In the Eye of the Beholder
Posted on 6 December 2010 | No responses
Look, I’m all about art and it’s many interpretations, but this is not art. Sorry.
Nor is this:
Anyone out there think this is art and can defend?
Do Cameras talk?
Posted on 28 May 2010 | No responses
Thought this was an interesting link. The guy has a series of images he leaves on his camera so that it can be returned. Would you return the camera after seeing images like this?
Smokin’ Crazy
Posted on 26 May 2010 | No responses
Yeah, I’m all about respecting different cultures… but always to a point. This passes that point.
What do you think?
Running, Lakers, and Work! Oh My!
Posted on 24 May 2010 | No responses
It’s true, it’s been a little crazy. I was going to start off saying “It’s obvious I’ve been busy as I haven’t posted in over a month,” but then I looked at my post history and it’s not so obvious… at least not yet. I’ve tried to keep the posts coming, and I’m sure if I looked back over the month, there were opportunities, but time to write hasn’t been as easy to come by this past month. Running has been pretty key to keeping me sane, the Lakers are in the playoffs and I got to go to a game, and work… well, work has been tough.
Week 7&8 – C25k
Posted on 21 April 2010 | No responses
I realized I’ve been so focused on the 10k and bees that I failed to post my week 7 & 8 C25k experience. Here’s the recap.
Week 7 is considered by many to be the hardest transition week for the C25k as there are no more interval runs and I must say, it was certainly difficult for me. I am often not the smartest guy, and for being in the 200+ club, deciding to cut a week off of the 9 week plan did not show tremendous intelligence. Oh well.
Tuesday was a run outside for 2.5 miles. I had a basketball game but played like 2 minutes, so I needed to get out. This is what came of it. Not bad. I’m consistently having a tough time breathing the first 10 minutes or so, and everything past 2.25 miles is just plain tough. I have to push through I guess, but mentally I’m struggling.
Thursday I bumped to 2.79 miles and it was the first time I ever felt like just stopping. I hurt, plain and simple. My quad was sore, my calf was sore and I just wanted to stop. I didn’t and I’m proud of myself now. Playing basketball on off days is starting to cost me. I’m only getting one day of rest and I’m not sure it’s enough.
Saturday, after talking with a few of my coworkers who run, I decided to head to the gym and run on the treadmill. It’s not my favorite. I much prefer running outside where it’s cooler and the scenery changes. The idea was that my breathing problem is due to my pace, especially in the beginning. When I look over my GPSd runs, the first minutes are always faster then the rest and the longer the run, the slower my pace gets. Taking their advice, I started off slower and increased my pace until I finished with a 2.77 mile run. My breathing was better, but it didn’t make running the total run any better.
Week eight was odd. Tuesday, I, again, had a city league basketball game Tuesday, but this time played a significant amount, so running wasn’t really an option. I was really bummed as this was my first miss. On top of missing the run, this was supposed to be my first 3 mile run and is the last week of running before the 10k.
Thursday I made sure I got back on the treadmill and ran 3 miles. It was extremely difficult. Again, the first 2 or so miles were fine, but that last mile was darn near impossible. I keep hearing about a runners high, but it just hasn’t happened for me. 36 minutes in and I just wanted to die. I know I’m not ready to run a 10k, but I am ready for a 5k 
Miracle Miles 4 Kids was my Saturday “run”
2010 Miracle Miles 4 Kids
Posted on 19 April 2010 | No responses
RUN HANK RUN!
This past Saturday was the 2010 Miracle Miles 4 Kids 10k benefiting the Family Care Network, and my first ever 10k. First, I want to thank the people who sponsored me to run and the generosity each showed in giving to this cause: LEVEL Studios, John, Christie, Rodney, and Traci. I was great to not only show up and run, but to be able to contribute.
It was a beautiful day in Morro Bay and over 1900 people showed up to run from The Rock to the Cayucos Pier. Thanks to my coworker Tim who helped me plan my run, I ran for 4 minutes and then walked for 1, until the race was over, as my training only has me at about 3 miles currently. My goal was to run the 10k in 80 minutes and I completed in 81:02. All in all, I was pretty darn happy. Congrats to all who ran and gave.
Waiting for the start
Looking behind me at Morro Rock
Looking forward towards Cayucos
Crossing the rocks
The SWARM!
Posted on 19 April 2010 | No responses
No, not that really bad movie from the 70′s! However, it did occur right outside our backdoor, so it felt like the movie. Looking at the pictures, what are your thoughts?
Luckily, there are people who come and take care of them. Due to declining bee (honey) populations, I wanted the bees to be taken care of and not just destroyed. The first swarm (the first picture) was taken care of by a local apiarist. After a few days of waiting for the left over bees to go away, it seemed like all was well. Then on Saturday another swarm showed up (second picture). This second swarm decided our vent made a better home than the exposed over hang, which prompted a call to a bee removal specialist.
It’s swarming season, and if one decides your home makes a good new hive, deal with it responsibly. Your fruits and vegitables will thank you.
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