Amid the pantheon of publications to which I am associated, you will find a great many illustrations of women in various states of undress, from an ad for a comic book with a woman's bare ass on the cover to a partially exposed nipple on the cover of a game book. However, a cover featuring four images of a man's penis (http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/vol49/issue6/) is a new one for me. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
Forgot to mention last week that my favorite reality/competition show is back. Last Comic Standing (http://www.nbc.com/Last_Comic_Standing/) is on the air and it's on fire -- literally. No, really, there are flames licking up from behind the TV. It might be on fire. Literally. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
I managed to impose my way into a discussion (somewhat contentious, but I wouldn't call it an argument) between Rob "many tablets" Bushway (http://www.gottabemobile.com/MultiTouch+Scenarios+On+A+Tablet+PC.aspx) and James "when did it become Kevin's blog" Kendrick (http://www.jkontherun.com/2008/05/windows-7-does.html) concerning the uses and usefulness of multi-touch input in the upcoming Windows 7. Rob produced an excellent list of usage scenarios, but they apply largely to specific fields, not necessarily to a mobile professional like James. So the big question is, how can multi-touch improve the mobile computing experience? The answer, I think, lies in that powerful piece of business software known as Microsoft Outlook.
Thought that might grab some attention. No, I don't hold stock in an oil company, but my wife and I did make some smart investments that are paying off in lower expenditures on gas.
First, when it came time to buy a new car in 2005, we got a Toyota Prius (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2005/10/ahead-of-energy-bill-curve.html). At the time, skeptics doubted the savings in gas would be worth the price premium. I said it'll look more worthwhile when the price of gas doubles. Not quite there yet, but my vision of $5 gas in five years seems less silly to everyone now that we're hitting $4 after three years.
Second, I snagged a good job (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2008/03/job-status-after-year-one-awesome.html) near where my wife works, so we've been consistently carpooling for a little more than a year. That cut our gas usage by more than half because her Prius is much more efficient than my Corolla. When we do need to take separate cars, it's for very short trips because...
Three, we moved to Reston (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2007/07/moving-is-almost-over.html) almost a year ago, the area where we both work. Admittedly, this move totally trumps the other two. We could drive to work in separate Hummers and be using less gas than a year ago. However, we do drive to more places than work, usually together, such as Tanya's grandparents' house in Elkton. That's a 200 mile roundtrip, and it only uses half a tank in our Prius.
Made that trip on Memorial Day. Amid all the hubbub over high gas prices, I must say, it's nice to have driven out of town without stopping for gas. And we still have a quarter tank left, which is enough for the rest of the week. So, while we still feel the "pain at the pump", we don't feel it nearly as often as we did a year ago, and that feels pretty darn good. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
The past few months, I've taken to using the stock pen with my Tablet PC, rather than my old Wacom eraser pen (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2005/07/creating-blog-1.html). I bought the Wacom pen because the pen with my old tablet was too squatty. The pen with my current tablet, however, is full size. I was using them interchangeably at first, but found the stock pen more convenient because it has its own garage in the tablet.
But today, my Wacom pen tumbled out of my pack, so I decided to give it a twirl, and I am surprised by how good it feels. The pens are the same size and dimensions or close to it. Using the same nibs too, but the Wacom pen has a smoother writing feel. It feels a bit springier when pressed against the surface, and it has a tad more heft, which adds to my control.
Makes me wish we had a few more options in terms of pen customization. There are different types of nibs from Wacom (http://direct.wacom.com/stores/5/Intuos3_Grip_Pen_Accessory_Kit_P1032C65.cfm), though Tablet PC vendors don't offer them, but nothing along the lines of interchangeable grips, side-button covers, balancing weights, etc. Seems a shame given the premium price of the pen. A few simple add-ons could go a long way to enhancing the tablet experience for many users. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
The next few weeks will be quite telling for the future of my tech setup. Currently, I have long-term plans to upgrade to a Blu-Ray player and media center. But if one of the HDX Dragon contests (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2008/04/month-of-dragon-huge-hp-giveaway.html) pan out, that plan will be obsolete. Not expecting to win, but I'm gunning for it.
The other pending event is the iPhone 2.0 (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2008/04/hacking-price-of-iphone.html) announcement. Reliable rumors peg it in early June. I plan on getting an iPhone regardless, but the announcement and details will impact the timeframe. Basically, there are some variables to watch which could alter my future tech plans.
So how do possible additions to my arsenal lead to streamlining? Well, the Blu-Ray player and media center were planned as incremental upgrades, either as components or separate units. An all-in-one unit would be much simpler. That also applies to an iPhone, which would become my sole handheld device, not counting a standalone camera for when I expect heavy photo and video taking. How sweet that would be, but first we'll see if anything happens to accelerate or alter my plans. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
Since starting the eBoostr trial (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/search?q=eboostr+trial), I have noticed some improvement from it. Apps load a bit snappier and run smoother. Nothing I'd quantify, but there's definitely a difference. However, it's not enough that I'd consider it a really worthwhile upgrade for me, so I'm going to move it to the next level. I'm upgrading my RAM and testing the SuperFetch-type functionality of eBoostr.
No, I'm not upgrading just to further test eBoostr. I was playing around with Superman's (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2008/04/supermans-getting-hp-tx2000.html) HP tx2000 and was blown away by the speed of its 4GB of ram. So I've decided to drop the quest for cooler running and go for speed instead.
Might seem like this would end the eBoostr trial, except that it also allows loading a cache file into the ram, much like Vista's Superfetch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperFetch#SuperFetch) feature. In theory, this will boost performance even further, but we'll see if it actually works.
Also, I do have an older computer with limited ram that could benefit greatly from eBoostr, namely my old tabby. My Electrovaya SC500 (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2005/11/electrovaya-scribbler.html) has a CompactFlash slot that I never really used and is not easily upgraded. eBoostr and a new CF card might be what I need to put it back into service. But I'll look more into that later. First things first. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
Sorry folks, no win this time. I have to admit the guy with the tattoo worked harder for it, but don't think I could get away with doing the same... to Patty (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2008/05/please-pick-patty-please.html). [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
Please, please, go to WindowsConnected.com (http://windowsconnected.com/) and leave a comment asking to Please Pick Patty! No time to explain. Just go there (http://windowsconnected.com/) and ask them to Please Pick Patty, or post an entry on your blog with a link to WindowsConnected.com (http://windowsconnected.com/) and that plea as your title. I'm sorry I can't explain, but perhaps watching this video will help... [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
On the topic of winning (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2008/05/i-won-in-hp-hdx-dragon-contest.html), I was checking links to my blog the other day and found one to my award-winning dessert Buttered Belly Fat (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2007/11/recipe-butter-mochi.html) (or as the norms call it, Butter Mochi) at a blog called edible unknown (http://www.edibleunknown.com/view/index/squishy-mochi-mmmmmm-yumm-).
This one is a double-treat for me (pun intended) because my recipe was selected from among the masses as the one to try and because I so rarely get a link that isn't related to ink blogging or mobile tech. That's right, it ain't all nerd stuff here, people. [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
That's right, I am indeed a winner in one of the 31 Days of the Dragon (http://www.31daysofthedragon.com/) contests. And by the insertion of the preposition "in" you may correctly infer that I did not win a Dragon (http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/ca/en/ho/WF05a/12139188-78299199-78299212-78299212-78299212-80247383.html).
Funny story that. For the BostonPocketPC contest (http://www.bostonpocketpc.com/31+Days+Of+The+HP+Dragon+Giveaway.aspx), entrants were asked to submit a description and photo of their gear bag. If you'll recall, my free camera is broken (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-free-camera-is-broken.html), so I decided to dig up an old photo instead. That's when I remembered this gem.
So I wrote up a description for that along with a description of my real bag. Due to the lack of a photo of my actual gear bag, my entry was disqualified, but I was awarded an honorable mention and a Pantone Huey (http://www.pantone.com/pages/products/product.aspx?pid=79), which among other things, "corrects the color on your monitor so photos [...] print more accurately". But the irony does not end there.
I do have a video camera that takes digital stills, but they're not great quality, so I decided to get creative instead. That creativity got me the award, but if I was thinking, I would have gone back and taken fresh shots to add to the entry. Of course, if I went that route in the beginning, I wouldn't have gotten creative with it and won anything. Bit of a Catch-22.
There's also the fact that I questioned why the first contest was awarded to someone who didn't really follow the twice stated rules (seriously dude, the "hows" are not explained in your story), so naturally I'm going to get hit for not following the rules.
Oh well, there are more contests running currently and ahead, so the big prize is still within reach, and I feel it is somewhat serendipitous to win a monitor calibration tool on a quest to win a computer with powerful visual hardware. Or at least it will prove handy after I hook a Dragon up to my big HDTV. Thanks to BostonPocketPC (http://www.bostonpocketpc.com/default.aspx) for the honor and award! [+/-] Hide/Show Text [+/-] Hide/Show Text
The wife and I have been busy planning and implementing ways to green up the house, quite literally, with plants. vegetables, rain barrels, and new rain gutters.
The plan is motivated by several factors. First, our current rain gutters don't work. Could be clogged with leaves, but considering we practically live in a forest, we felt it wiser to deal with the situation permanently with a LeafGuard system (http://www.leafguard.com/homehtml.asp?mode=html). It'll cost more now, but it's maintenance-free and can handle any amount of rain.
Second, we'll be connecting those gutters to rain barrels in order to minimize the amount of drinking water we'll need for our garden. Even a large plastic bin left in the rain can collect enough water to sustain our potted plants for a while, so using the whole roof for water collection should yield more than enough.
Third, our front area is in dire need of a makeover. The big tree soaks up a lot of sun and water. The rain barrels will fix the water issue while we'll attend to the lack of sun with shade-loving native plants. We recently picked up most of these at the garden fair at the state arboretum (http://www.virginia.edu/blandy/).
We also picked up a few tomato and melon plants to add to our growing collection of vegetables, which includes lettuce, cucumbers, and various herbs. The tomatoes will be planted upside-down in bags (http://www.gardeners.com/Gardener+s%20Revolution%20Planter/VegetableGardening_TerrificTomatoes,37-000,default,cp.html) that hang from a hooked pole. The melons will be grown in a self-watering earth box (http://shop2.mailordercentral.com/EarthBox/prodinfo.asp?number=DB+GRN) we can wheel into sunny spots during the day and out of the way in the evening. Corn, potatoes, more greens, and maybe even asparagus are also planned.
We decided to grow food, not just flowers, to add practicality and utility to our gardening. Plus, I'd like to have a buffer against rising food prices and, with the rain barrels, tightening water supply, much the way our choices with cars and commuting have eliminated our concern over gas prices. Just need to replace the roof shingles with solar tiles to complete the self-sufficiency package.
